Located in the precincts of Itsukushima Shrine, Beppu Benten Pond is a cobalt blue spring pond of mystery and legend.
The bottom of the pond is transparent, making it appear shallow at first glance, but the water is approximately 4 meters deep.
The pond is part of the Akiyoshidai Karst Plateau, and is a doline (a depression) formed by rainwater erosion on a plateau made of limestone and other rocks that easily dissolve in water.
The water gushes from the bottom of the dolines and the volume of water gushing out is about 186 liters per second.
The water temperature is 14 degrees Celsius throughout the year.
The color of the pond reflects cobalt blue or turquoise blue, depending on the angle of the sunlight, due to the unique calcium-bicarbonate water quality of the karst region.
The clear, cool water, rich in minerals, is available for drinking at the water station.
Selected as one of the 100 best waters in Japan, it is also used as a source of water for domestic use and for trout and sturgeon aquaculture.
25 minutes by car from the Mine IC of the Chugoku Expressway