‘Diamond dust’ sparkles in morning sunlight in Gifu town

The Yomiuri Shimbun

15:09 JST, January 9, 2022

TAKAYAMA — Ice crystals sparkle in the sunlight over the Mumaya River in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, on Saturday morning. Dubbed diamond dust, the crystals can be seen on cold, sunny mornings when there is no wind. Diamond dust was observed in the Shokawa district, located at an altitude over 1,000 meters, when the district recorded a temperature of minus 16.8 C, the second-lowest mercury reading this year. Water vapor that rose from the river and froze in the air appeared to glow, creating a magical scene in the 7:40 a.m. sunlight. “I’ve seen the winter’s most beautiful diamond dust,” said a local resident who took a photo of the scene.