Outdoor Photography How To

Every winter something enchanting happens on the Island of Hokkaido in Northern Japan when temperatures fall well below freezing. The Tokachi River freezes over, and what was once crystal clear water breaks up into diamond-like fragments of ice that wash ashore in a spectacle locals refer to as “jewelry ice.”

 

A photo posted by megu Inaba (@megu_chito) on Feb 5, 2017 at 1:58am PST

This phenomenon is especially bedazzling at sunrise when the jewelry ice appears blue, and at sunset when it takes on an orange cast. Throughout the day the color of the polished frozen gems can change depending upon the sky overhead.

 

A photo posted by HokkaidoToyokoro.jp (@tokachi_toyokoro.jp) on Feb 5, 2017 at 12:34am PST

Tourists and photographers tend to converge on the small town of Toyokoro in January and February when temperatures are the coldest and the jewelry ice season is at it’s peak.

 

A photo posted by Mi_Chan_nel (@mizu.taki) on Jan 10, 2017 at 3:39pm PST

University of Cambridge ocean physicist Peter Wadhams explains that, unlike sea ice, the Tokachi River ice is completely transparent because of its total lack of salt.

 

A photo posted by Hiroyuki Sakai (@yukkis20) on Mar 7, 2016 at 8:01am PST

You can see more amazing images on the Toyokoro Instagram page that is devoted to the glistening event. And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram at @ShutterbugPix where we’re sharing our favorite photos from our followers.

 

A photo posted by Hamamoto Shumi (@shumi3) on Jan 12, 2017 at 6:36am PST

Via New York Times