🗺️ Shirakami-Sanchi

The Shirakami-Sanchi is a mountainous area that spans the northwest of Akita Prefecture and the southwest of Aomori Prefecture, covering approximately 130,000 hectares. This entire mountain range is home to the largest primeval beech forest in the world, which has remained largely untouched by human activity since ancient times. The area maintains a diverse range of habitats and a precious ecosystem, and was registered as a "World Natural Heritage" site in 1993. The World Heritage area is divided into a "core area," which features unique and precious plant communities that have been minimally disturbed by human activity, and a "buffer zone" that surrounds it. The core area located in Aomori Prefecture has trails and 27 designated routes for entering the mountains, but it is necessary to follow regulations and complete entry procedures to walk on these designated routes. Within Shirakami-Sanchi, there are many well-known attractions such as "Anmon Falls," "Jūni Lakes," and the "Takakurayama Trail," which can be easily visited without the need for entry procedures. The "Shirakami-Sanchi Visitor Center" located in Nishimeya Village, Aomori Prefecture, provides explanations of hiking routes and features exhibition halls that introduce the Shirakami-Sanchi ecosystem and beech forests, making it the first stop for travelers to experience the charm of Shirakami-Sanchi.

The largest beech forest in Asia is preserved as a precious World Heritage site. There are several walking paths and scenic routes that can be easily accessed by those with no mountaineering experience. To enter the core area of the World Heritage site, it is necessary to follow the regulations and complete the relevant procedures. In order to pass on this precious World Heritage to future generations, please strictly adhere to etiquette when visiting.