Nishiki Pond
Nishiki Pond is a rust-colored pond 20 minutes southwest of Lake Akan on Route 949, and about 1.5 kilometers from Meakan Onsen on the way to Lake Onneto.
The pond’s reddish-brown color comes from its iron-rich sediment. It is a quiet spot in early summer, when the color of the water contrasts with the deep green of the surrounding Sakhalin spruces. In winter, it is a popular destination for visitors snowshoeing from Meakan Onsen. In spring, the area around the pond blooms with pink Hakusan rhododendron flowers (Rhododendron brachycarpum).
The water from Nishiki Pond flows into Lake Onneto and contributes to the high mineral content of the lake’s water. There is a spot on the Lake Onneto East Bank Trail where you can see Nishiki Pond’s iron-colored water merge with the bluish-green water of the lake.