Shirakomaike (Shirakoma Pond), with its stunningly crystal clear water, is located in an old growth forest at the foothills of Mt. Kita-Yatsugatake. It is the largest lake that can be found above an elevation of 2,100 meters in Japan and it boasts a 5.8-meter degree of water transparency. On a calm, sunny day, the surface of the pond transforms into a mirror, reflecting the surrounding forest and the sky above. The lake presumably got its name from a tragic legend that tells of a young girl who disappeared into Shirakoma Pond together with her white horse (Shirakoma literally means "white foal").

The forest surrounding Shirakoma Pond is covered in a beautiful, deep green blanket of moss. Abundant in moisture, approximately 485 different kinds of moss are spread about the forest floor. You would be pressed to find a more beautiful, mossy ecosystem anywhere else in Japan. There are 10 special named locations in the forest around the pond where you can see the different mosses and unique parts of the woodland environment. We highly encourage you to bring your magnifying glass to take an up-close look at various “faces” of the mosses growing here! Each species has its own characteristic colors and shape, but even more importantly, is the special niche where each kind of moss grows. Don’t forget to breathe in the clean forest air as you enjoy the relaxing walk beneath the trees.

(quoted from Sakuho Town Tourism Association Official Website for Travel and Tourism Information in Sakuho, Nagano (yachiho-kogen.jp))