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
Summer brings the heat and the water activities with it!
Monday, June 2, 2025

Bye, spring!

Meteorological summer is here!
High pressure and heat
Monday, June 9, 2025

Why & how does it work?

High pressure & extreme heat
Saturday, May 3, 2025

May astronomy outlook

Meteor shower and the Flower Moon
All weather news
This might also interest you
Friday, June 13, 2025

Daily briefing

Stormy Friday east of Rockies
Track hurricanes & tropical storms on the Weather & Radar app!
Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Hurricane season

Track hurricanes on the app
Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Daily briefing

Stormy Rockies, Texas
All articles
Weather & Radar

www.weatherandradar.com

instagramfacebookthreadsContact uslinkList
Privacy policy | Legal info