Beppu Benten Pond

Beppu Benten Pond is a natural spring pond located within the grounds of Beppu Itsukushima Shrine in Mine City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. The pond originates from Akiyoshidai Plateau, Japan's largest karst plateau, and was selected as one of Japan's "100 Best Waters" in 1985 by the Environment Agency. According to local legend, a community leader suffering from water shortage received a prophecy in his dream to enshrine the goddess Benzaiten, and water suddenly began to spring from the ground. The pond's name honors this divine gift, and locals perform the Beppu Nenbutsu Dance every September to express gratitude.

The pond measures approximately 40 meters in circumference and reaches 4 meters deep at its center. Its most striking feature is the crystal-clear cobalt blue water that gushes at a rate of 186 liters per second, producing 55,000 tons of water daily. The water maintains a constant temperature of 14 degrees Celsius year-round and is rich in calcium from limestone. Local tradition holds that drinking this water brings good luck, wealth, and longevity. The pond appears most photogenic on sunny or lightly overcast days when light reflects optimally on the still surface.

Visitors can fill water bottles at faucets near the pond, with a customary 100 yen offering for taking water home. The adjacent Mine City Trout Farm allows visitors to fish for rainbow trout (fishing rod 300 yen, caught trout 1,700 yen per kilogram), which are raised in the pond's pristine water. Nearby restaurants serve freshly prepared trout dishes, with grilled trout being a local specialty. The Ohmine Sake brewery, which uses the pond water to produce its internationally recognized sake, operates a minimalist café serving coffee, sweets, and sake tastings.

Beppu Benten Pond is free to visit and open 24 hours. The site is located approximately 25 minutes by car from Mine IC on the Chugoku Expressway. Public transportation options are limited. From Shin-Yamaguchi Station, take a bus to Akiyoshido (approximately 40-45 minutes, 1,170 yen), then a taxi for 20 minutes to reach the pond. Alternatively, take a taxi directly from Mine Station (approximately 20 minutes). Parking is available on-site, with the pond just a one-minute walk from the lot. The nearby Akiyoshidai Plateau and Akiyoshido Cave, Japan's largest limestone cave, are approximately 20 minutes away by taxi.