Guide
Beppu Benten Pond is a breathtaking spring located within the Akiya-dai Karst Plateau in Mine City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. It is officially recognized as one of Japan's Top 100 Water Sources. The pond has a depth of approximately 4 meters and boasts such high transparency that the bottom is clearly visible. The way the water surface transforms into vibrant cobalt or turquoise blue depending on the angle of the sun is a mesmerizing sight that attracts many visitors. This pond is formed by groundwater welling up from the bottom of a depression known as a 'doline.'
The site is steeped in local legend. It is said that an old legend tells of a wealthy man who, while attempting to cultivate this land, suffered from a severe water shortage. After receiving guidance from an old man in a dream, he performed a ritual, and water began to spring forth. Today, the site is cherished as the grounds of Beppu Itsukushima Shrine. Every year on the first Sunday of September, the