Visiting in winter, I found a lake completely covered in ice and snow. The "phantom bridge," which normally emerges from the lake only from winter to early summer, stood quietly on the frozen surface. It was so beautiful that I couldn't take my eyes off it.
The bridge has a history spanning half a century. Although time has gradually weathered and deteriorated it, this has also given it a unique, timeworn beauty. In the depths of winter, the bridge and the endless frozen lake form a striking scene together, as if time itself has stopped at this moment.
What surprised me most was that a winter visit also offered views of ice bubbles on the lake and unusual mushroom-shaped layers of ice stacked on top of one another. Nature truly is incredible!
Standing in this world of ice and snow and looking at this old bridge filled with history, I could feel both the grandeur of Hokkaido in winter and the traces left by time. The phantom bridge, frozen lake, ice bubbles, and mushroom-shaped ice made this winter trip truly worthwhile!
