Home / Editor's Pick /

Valentine's phenomenon: Japan's diamond jewellery ice

02:00 PM
February 16, 2025

Winter phenomenon
Japan's diamond jewelery ice

Jewellery ice washed up on Otsu beach in Toyokoro, Hokkaido.Jewellery ice washed up on Otsu beach in Toyokoro, Hokkaido. - © picture alliance

Every winter, Japan's Hokkaido coast is graced by a rare natural phenomenon called "jewelery ice", where the ice sparkles just like diamonds.

The weather is never in short supply of feeling romantic with Japan's jewelery ice. It is created along the country's Hokkaido coast and forms as ice from the Tokachi River breaks apart at the river's mouth and gets washed up on the beach.

Sand and waves together polish the ice to become extremely smooth and shiny. The phenomenon occurs only on Otsu Beach in Hokkaido, during the coldest days of winter, generally between January and February.

During winter, the temperature of the Tokachi River can drop below -4°F, but it can take a long time to freeze. This gives the ice a high transparency with no impurities.

Throughout the day, the angle of the sun bathes the ice rounds in different colors; in an orange glow at first light, to a deep blue later in the day.

Becca Parker
More on the topic
Derecho iowa
Sunday, June 22, 2025

Stay severe weather-aware

What are derechos?
Happy Earth Day
Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Employ renewable energy

Earth Day 2025 - Our Power, Our Planet
Stonehenge during the June 2020 summer solstice.
Friday, June 20, 2025

Longest day of the year

Today marks the summer solstice
All weather news
This might also interest you
Thursday, July 3, 2025

Daily briefing

Transitional day, before the forecast irons out
Sunday, July 6, 2025

At least 45 dead

Catastrophic flooding in central Texas
Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Daily briefing

Flash flood threat for the Southeast & more
All articles
Weather & Radar

www.weatherandradar.com

instagramfacebookthreadsContact uslinkList
Privacy policy | Legal info | Accessibility statement