Not terribly uncommon in Hokkaido, so you will have a fair chance of getting a glimpse of this beauty if you are an early riser. It happens in the early morning on a pure, clear day. The phenomenon is so strikingly beautiful, it was believed to be a good luck charm since the days of yore. When the moisture inside the clouds near the sun reflects the light, they take on stunning rainbow-like colors. The shape keeps changing before your eyes as the sun rises, or sets, it is almost like observing a UFO! In Hokkaido, along the coastline of the Okhotsku, such as Notsuke peninsula, is an ideal location to observe this spectacle. It takes a considerable gap between the temperatures of the atmosphere and the surface of the sea for this to happen. When the atmospheric refraction plays a trick at sunrise or sunset, the sun takes on a curious shape. In Hokkaido, the lake Akan and the lake Kussharo are especially famous for their frost flowers.。 8. Distorted Sun The temperature needs to be below -15C/5F, the ice surface must not be too thick, it takes a highly specific condition for the frost flowers to appear. When the vapors near the surface of a lake crystalize themselves due to the low temperature, they form curious shapes resembling flowers. Piyashiri near Nayoro is a famous spot to observe this phenomenon. The condition needs to be still without wind, and in an extremely low temperature. Stunning effect of the hectagonal ice crystals in the atmosphere reflecting on the rising or setting sun, creating an illusion of a brilliant column in the sky. The unique phenomenon of a thick steam rising up from the sea can be observed along some of the coastal regions such as Kushiro and Rumoi. It is called “Kearashi” in the local dialect. When the moisture of the sea/river surface meets an extremely cold temperature of the atmosphere, below -20C/-4F, a special type of fog is formed. This phenomenon may be spotted anywhere in Japan, however phantom suns only appear in an extremely low temperature, so Hokkaido is a great place to spot them. sun dogs, or mock suns) can be found on the perimeter, or just one phantom sun away from the ring. You will see a luminous ring around the sun, sometimes two phantom suns (or a.k.a. When the ice crystals among the clouds reflects the sun light, it creates a brilliant spot in the sky that looks like a second sun.
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Shiretoko peninsula is especially famous for large blocks of ice floe, you can also admire the scene from the coast. From January to March, you can walk on the frozen sea, or put on a diving gear and swim among the floating ice.
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The sea surface of the north-eastern Hokkaido becomes icy due to its extreme temperature. The trees can take on various shapes depending on the amount of snow, and they create a fairy tale like scenery. Daisetsu are particularly famous for the majestic frost covered trees. This phenomenon can be seen in just about everywhere in Hokkaido, but around the lake Mashu, Tokachi and Mt. When the droplets and mists on the branches freeze, they can turn the entire trees into crystal white wonders. They are witnessed several times a year in the inland area of Asahikawa and Tokachi. Diamond dusts appear when the temperature is below -10C/14F, on a clear day, combined with several other particular conditions. Rightly so, when they glitter and twinkle against a clear blue sky under the sunshine. Tiny particles of ice crystals, created by the frozen moisture in the atmosphere, is called diamond dusts.