Shirakamisanchi 2

Straddling the border of Aikita and Aomori prefectures in Japan’s northern Tohoku region, the Shirakami Sanchi is the largest stand of old-growth beech forest in East Asia.
About 1,300 square kilometers of beech forest remain here. A near perfectly preserved core portion of the forest, amounting to 170 square kilometers, has been designated a World Heritage Site, with access and development restricted. In this area, only hiking trails allow human entry into the forest, and permission to hike here must be gained in advance from Forest Management officials.

The forest is about 800 years old, and while there are a number of tree species represented here beech is distinctly dominant. Why beech? The winters here are especially harsh, with deep snowfall. The strength and flexibility of beech, compared to the other deciduous species present, allows their branches to withstand the weight of accumulated snow. An additional human factor is that beech is uniquely well suited to the cultivation of shiitake mushrooms, and generations of shiitake farmers in the region have taken pains to preserve the integrity of the forest.

The forest and mountainsides also harbor an abundance of wildlife, including Asiatic black bear, Japanese serow (a mountain goat-antelope), monkeys, endangered golden eagles and black woodpeckers, and more. Visitors who hike to the summit of Shirakami-dake, the highest peak in the area, will be rewarded with stunning views of the surrounding wilderness. Because the peak is not within the World Heritage area, you won’t need to seek permission for the climb. Within the World Heritage area, a favored tourist destination are the Anmon-no-taki, or Shadow Gate Falls, a beautiful trio of crystal clear cataracts that plunge alongside the path leading through mist shrouded virgin forest.

Some visitors may balk at the restrictions to travel within the World Heritage area, but they are in place for a good reason. Outside the protected area, the recent increase in visitors has begun to damage the forest, resulting in compacted soil, loss of mulch and topsoil, and exposure of vulnerable root systems. Some travelers even bring pets, whose droppings can pose a grave threat to the ecosystem here. So walk lightly, enjoy the view and the precious gift of silence, and be grateful that this unique setting is being preserved for the future.

Matt Mangham

JR Hirosaki station====(70 min. by car)====Anmon-no-taki Entrance

Camp site:
1,000 yen (off-season), 2,000 yen (on-season)

Cottage:
From 10,000 yen/room (without meals)
From 7,000 yen/person (with breakfast and dinner)

Hot spring:
Adult (Junior High school student and older ): 550 yen, Child: 350 yen
*If you make a reservation, they prepare food for BBQ.