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Known as the inspiration for a work by painter Higashiyama Kaii, this scenic pond has a mirror-like surface that reflects the changing landscape of each season.
This scenic pond lies in the mountains at an elevation of 4,900 feet. Its name comes from a Suwa Taisha Shrine ritual in which deer were offered to the gods.
Originally built as an agricultural reservoir in the early Showa period, it was used to warm the cold water from the Yatsugatake Mountains in the sunlight before irrigating rice fields. The pond’s water remains an important resource for the Sasahara district at the foot of the mountains, and local residents maintain the surrounding area. Its highly acidic water cannot support fish, which is said to account for its exceptional clarity.
The clear surface reflects an inverted image of the surrounding mountains, creating an ethereal scene. The view has inspired many people and is also known as the inspiration for <i>Vibrant Greens</i>, a famous work by renowned Japanese painter Higashiyama Kaii.
The surrounding larch forest changes color with each season: fresh green in spring, deep green in summer, golden foliage in fall, and white snow and ice in winter.
The pond takes on a different appearance depending on the time of day, making it a place worth visiting again and again. Note: This is a local agricultural facility, and entry inside the embankment is prohibited.
Mishaka Pond in summer, as though the landscape in Higashiyama Kaii’s <i>Vibrant Greens</i> had come to life
The larch forest glows golden in fall
In winter, the entire landscape is blanketed in white
