Shirakumo Pond

Built around 400 years ago to store water for farmland, Shirakumo Pond in Unzen takes its name from the way it mirrors the sky on clear days. The shoreline once served religious ceremonies, and a stone washbasin and sacred cypress trees still mark those origins. Today the pond is ringed by a campground with tent sites, bungalows, boat rentals, and cooking facilities. Swimming is prohibited to protect the resident carp. The surrounding forest is habitat for narcissus flycatchers and Japanese pygmy woodpeckers. From the nearby trailhead, Mt. Kinugasa is an accessible hike with views over Unzen Onsen Town and Tachibana Bay.