Shiretoko
A new heritage site just registered in 2005 The area features an ecological system with few equals in the world.
Places:Shari-cho, Shari-gun / Rausu-cho, Menashi-gun, Hokkaido
Shiretoko, a new natural heritage site registered only in July 2005, is considered to be the last pristine wilderness remaining in Japan. Shiretoko is a long narrow peninsula located in northeastern Hokkaido. The volcanic Shiretoko mountain range runs down the center of the peninsula and includes the highest peak of the range, Rausu-dake (1,661 m above sea level) and the active volcano Iouyama. The Sea of Okhotsk lies on the western side of the range and the Nemuro Straits on the eastern side. The coastline cliffs facing the Sea of Okhotsk rise up more than 100 m high, and you can glimpse waterfalls large and small cascading directly into the sea, and colonies of seabirds.
The salmon and trout that breed in the sea off Shiretoko are an important food resource supporting the terrestrial ecosystem with rare birds such as Blakiston's fish owl, Steller's sea eagle and the white-tailed sea eagle, as well as brown bears. The Shiretoko ecosystem is a dramatically clear example of the linkage between marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and it is considered an important wildlife reserve, with unique features unlike any other in the world.
Shiretoko, blessed with mountains, lakes and an abundance of plants and animals, offers many places of interest throughout the seasons. A good example is the Shiretoko Goko or Shiretoko Five Lakes, situated on a lava plateau surrounded by old-growth forest. The five lakes don't have individual names; they are referred to by number from Lake No. 1 to Lake No. 5. If you take a stroll along the walking trail (takes approximately 1 hour), you may see wild animals and will certainly enjoy the beauty of the changing seasons.
n the fall, when the mountains are adorned in red and yellow, the hoards of salmon and trout swarming up river to spawn are an incredible sight. In winter, there is also beautiful scenery as the drifting ice changes the Sea of Okhotsk into a white snowfield. There are various nature experience programs available at the site such as night tours for animal watching under wonderful starlit skies, daytime treks for alpine plant spotting while surrounded by birds singing, or nature watching enjoying waterfalls and wild animals while walking along the trail. It is highly recommended to contact Shiretoko Nature Center before departing.
Shirakami-sanchi
The vast primeval beech forest, which is home to a precious population of animals and plants, is just like a forest museum.
Aomori prefecture / Akita prefecture
A range of mountains reaching an altitude of around 1000 m extends east and west over an area of 130,000 ha that straddles the prefectures of Aomori and Akita. The central area (16,971 ha) in these mountains was registered as a natural heritage site in 1993. This is one of the last natural beech forests left in East Asia. One of the main features of the Shirakami-sanchi area is the rough mountainous landscape cut through with deep gorges by its numerous rivers. The area is peppered with valleys and waterfalls including the Mase Valley, Anmon Falls and Daira-kyo Gorge and attracts many anglers and trekkers. It is also home to some of the most unique plants in the world, as well as rare animals including a protected species of dormouse, the black woodpecker, Japanese serow and golden eagle.
The best season to visit this area is in the summer when there is plenty of water in the rivers or in the fall when the mountains turn red with tinted leaves. The fall colors in the valleys viewed from the top of a gigantic bridge are breathtakingly beautiful. The course taking in the Anmon Falls that form a 3-step waterfall (approx. 1 hr. 10 min. one-way hike up a well-tended path) is extremely popular with people who enjoy walking. There are also full-fledged climbing courses to reach mountain summits such as Shirakami-dake and Tengu-dake, so why not try one of these if you are a keen climber. The Shirakami-sanchi Visitor Center, which operates as a tourist information office, also has much to offer. The wildlife and ecosystem of Shirakami-sanchi are presented in 3D models, and the charms of Shirakami-sanchi can be viewed on a huge screen in a 30-min. film shown 5 times a day in the visual experience hall. There is an entry procedure that must be followed before you are allowed into the core part of the Shirakami-sanchi World Heritage Area (on the Aomori prefecture side), so you need to inquire at the Aomori office of the Tohoku Regional Forest Office (Tel: 017-781-2117) http://www.jomon.ne.jp/~eirin001/index.htm. However, there is no need to apply beforehand to enjoy the hike up to the Anmon Falls.
Many beech forests around the world lost much of their ecological diversity due to the formation of continental glaciers some 2 million years ago; however, the beech forests and primeval plant population survive in Japan because continental glaciation did not occur here. Beech trees are extremely resistant to the weight of heavy snow, allowing these trees to survive the huge snowfalls on the Japan Sea side of the islands. There used to be many beech forests in Japan, but because this wood is not particularly useful as lumber, the trees were cut down after World War II and many beech forests were lost. However, this situation threatens the wellbeing of Asiatic black bears and black woodpeckers, and now there is an active conservation movement to preserve primeval beech forests. When visiting Shirakami-sanchi, please follow the rules of good hiking etiquette such as taking all garbage home, visiting the toilet before going to the mountains and not feeding the animals, in order to protect this precious wilderness.
The Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama
Historic villages in an area of heavy snow
celebrating the beauty of the seasons
Gifu prefecture / Toyama prefecture
The remote mountain villages of gassho-style houses in Shirakawa-go and Gokayama on the Hida Highlands were registered as cultural heritage sites in 1995. The scenery of the mountain villages blending in with the nature of each season - fresh green leaves in spring, tinted leaves in autumn, winter snow - and the atmosphere of the villages with traditional houses standing side by side looks just like a fairy tale.
Houses built in the "gassho style" are defined as having a roof in the shape of a triangle, similar to hands folded in prayer. In the multilayer structure, the 3rd and 4th floors are particularly characteristic as they demonstrate the wisdom of the farmers who are able to raise silkworms even in the harsh winters. The area for the silkworms is up in the attic where the heat from the first floor, filled with people and activity, rises up. The roof has an impressive slope of 60° to allow the heavy snow (sometimes as much as 4 meters) to slide off more easily.
The observatory at the site of Ogimachi Castle is a popular spot from which to view "Shirakawa-go Ogimachi village" where 59 houses are clustered. This upland vantage point is perfect for a panoramic view of the Gassho-style village in the verdure of spring, the tinted leaves of autumn or the snows of winter. "Wada House" and "Nagase House" in Ogimachi village are open to the public, offering an opportunity to learn about how people lived long ago. Many tourists visit here specifically to see the water-discharge exercise performed on the last Sunday in October every year.
In Gokayama, we recommend a visit to "Ainokura Village" where 24 houses stand against a background of mountains, and "Suganuma village" with 9 houses including 2 that were built during the Edo era. Well worth a visit are the following houses, designated as important cultural assets of Japan: "Murakami House" where the head of the family relates the history of Gokayama to visitors as they sit around the open hearth, "Haba House" that retains the most well-preserved gassho structure with very little renovation, "Iwase house", which is the largest gassho-style house in Gokayama with 5 floors and an interior constructed of zelkova wood.
Shirakawa Village Ohno-gun Gifu prefecture, Kamitaira Village / Taira Village Nanto City Toyama prefecture
Himeji-jo Castle
A classic example of Japan's beautiful castle architecture
The world of bygone days still lingers
Hyogo prefecture
Because its pure white appearance with white plaster coating looks like a dancing Shirasagi (Egret) with wings spread, this famous castle is also called the "Shirasagi-jo" or "Hakuro-jo". It was spared from damage during the war and from many other disasters and is in a remarkably preserved state compared to other castles. Seventy-four structures within the castle site including a tower and gate are designated as important cultural assets of Japan.
The year of establishment was 1346. Later, the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1589), who ruled over most of Japan, built a full-scale castle wall, which became the base for present-day Himeji-jo. At the start of the Edo period, the castle underwent considerable renovation over a 9-year period to create the magnificent appearance we see today.
If you are confident in the strength of your legs and back to climb up and down, you should take a look around the inside of the castle. Clearly, beauty was not the only priority of those in power throughout the ages. Its complicated structure, particularly the three tall watchtowers connected by columns and winding maze-like passages, functions well as a war fort and conceals a mechanism to halt the invasion of enemies and throw them into confusion. The design is intended to prevent access to the tallest watchtower and castle keep, situated at the heart of the castle, which functions as a center, so beware if you go there without a map, you may get lost!
Among the many gates are the remains of gate mechanisms for dropping stones on the enemy if they manage to enter, or gates with an extremely narrow passageway so that not many people could pass at once. Numerous holes to shoot from are made in the castle wall and there are windows from which to drop gigantic stones on the enemy, too. It is very interesting that there is a kitchen in the inner court in case the castle falls under siege or an attempt is made to starve out the occupants. By the way, the thick coating of white plaster on the outer surface is not just there for aesthetic purposes but also for defense, because of its excellent resistance to fire and bullets.
The castle keep rising from the peak of Mt. Hime-yama is built with a total height of 32 m on a stone wall approx. 15 m high, and the view from the top of the keep is spectacular. On a fine day, you can imagine the emotions of a feudal warlord with his ambitions to dominate the whole country. At night, the entire castle is lit up, so a visit after sunset is highly recommended as well.
Himeji City, Hyogo prefecture
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