As of today, out of season, returns ~December. Earth Exhibit tracks the live conditions and flags it the moment it is on.
On clear, calm deep-winter mornings, typically in January and February, sections of the Tokachi River produce dense steam fog that often forms rising columns and billows photographers call 'unryu' or dragon clouds.
The effect is caused by warm river water meeting sharply colder air, producing sculpted mist over long stretches of river valley.
Where to see it
A taste of where to see it. The full map, exact coordinates and the best timing for each spot live in the app.
| Viewing spots |
|---|
| Tokachigawa Onsen Riverside Park |
| Obihiro West Bank - Riverside Viewpoint near Midori Bridge |
| + 1 more spot, with exact coordinates and timing, in the app → |
This is the short version
This page shows a taste. The app has the full list of where to see this, the exact timing, and live conditions for 1,000+ natural phenomena worldwide, so you know the moment one is genuinely worth the trip.