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
On the left, a satellite image of a hurricane over the sea; on the right, a man in a clearance vehicle clearing debris and food in a flooded supermarket.
Friday, August 29, 2025

Twenty years ago today

Hurricane Katrina hit Gulf Coast
Dark sky full of stars. Several shooting stars fly in different directions – typical of a meteor shower.
Attention not translate yet!Saturday, August 16, 2025

Night sky photos

Night sky in the spotlight
setting-sun
Saturday, September 6, 2025

Coldest time of the day

Lowest temperature is just after sunrise
All weather news
This might also interest you
Monday, September 8, 2025

Daily briefing

Touches of autumn
Sunday, September 7, 2025

The perfect fire recipe

Dry vegetation, low humidity and winds
Hurricanes approaching the coastline can cause extensive impacts, including flooding, even before landfall.
Saturday, September 13, 2025

Knowledge is power

What to know this hurricane season
All articles
Weather & Radar

www.weatherandradar.com

instagramfacebookthreadsContact uslinkList
Privacy policy | Legal info | Accessibility statement