Beppu Benten Pond is open 24 hours all year round, so you can visit any season. However, the pond is most beautiful when it is sunny or lightly overcast, when the light reflects easily, and when there is no wind. Lightly overcast days offer the best photo opportunities, as the cobalt blue color appears most vivid under these conditions. Rainy or dark days may make the pond appear less impressive. The pond maintains its constant 14 degrees Celsius temperature year-round, and even on hot summer days, the air around the pond remains refreshingly cool.
Yes, the spring water is potable and safe to drink. The water is believed to have a healing effect on those who drink it, bringing good luck, wealth, and longevity according to local legend. The water has a slight bitterness, but it is soft and easy to drink. You can fill water bottles at faucets near the pond, and it is customary to leave an offering of at least 100 yen in the box nearby when taking water home. It's recommended to bring empty bottles or containers with you.
Beyond viewing the pond itself, you can fish for rainbow trout at the adjacent Mine City Trout Farm. One fishing rod costs 300 yen and caught trout cost 1,700 yen per kilogram. The trout farm is open from 9:00 to 16:30. You can have your catch prepared at nearby restaurants that specialize in fresh trout dishes. The Ohmine Sake brewery café nearby serves coffee, sweets, and sake tastings, and is open from 10:00 to 17:00. The pond is also located within Beppu Itsukushima Shrine grounds, where you can explore the shrine and surrounding area.
Public transportation to Beppu Benten Pond is limited but possible. From Shin-Yamaguchi Station, take a Bocho Bus to Akiyoshido, which takes approximately 45 minutes and costs 1,170 yen, then take a taxi for 20 minutes to the pond. Alternatively, you can take a taxi directly from Mine Station, which takes approximately 20 minutes. The pond is only a one-minute walk from the parking lot once you arrive. A private car or taxi is the most convenient option given the rural location.
Akiyoshidai Plateau and Akiyoshido Cave are located about 20 minutes away by taxi from Beppu Benten Pond. Akiyoshidai is Japan's largest karst plateau, and Akiyoshido is the country's largest and longest limestone cave. These natural geological formations make an excellent complement to your visit to the pond, creating a full day of nature-themed exploration in Yamaguchi Prefecture. The area showcases millions of years of limestone formation created by ancient coral reefs.
