Higashi-Taisetsu VR video
Higashi-Taisetsu Skywalk
1. Rugged peaks, dense forests, and picturesque lakes comprise Higashi-Taisetsu, the southeastern area of Daisetsuzan National Park.
2. The park is located on the Kurile arc of the Pacific Ring of Fire. Many of the mountains in Daisetsuzan were created by volcanic activity. However, the Ishikari mountain range was formed by the collision of tectonic plates and the emergence of rocks along the fault line.
3. Mt. Ishikari is the tallest peak in the Ishikari range. It is the source of the Ishikari River, which flows for 268 kilometers. It is the longest river in Hokkaido, and the third-longest in Japan.
4. At 2,013 meters Mt. Nipesotsu is the highest mountain in the Higashi-Taisetsu area, easily recognized by its sharp, spear-like peak. The 7-hour ascent to the summit rewards mountaineers with panoramic views of the Ishikari and Tokachi mountain ranges.
5. Mt. Maruyama is the only active volcano in the Higashi-Taisetsu area, though its most recent eruption was in December of 1898. Fumaroles (volcanic vents that emit steam and gas) and dome-shaped calcareous sinter cones dot its slopes.
6. Long ridgelines make Mt. Upepesanke a hiker’s paradise. The mountain’s name in the Ainu language means “one that delivers abundant snowmelt.” Hikers can enjoy unobstructed views of Lake Shikaribetsu and Lake Nukabira from its 1,848-meter summit.
7. Mt. Nishi-Kumaneshiri and Mt. Piribetsu look almost identical from a distance. The Ainu call these twin peaks “the stage upon which the gods crafted land.”
8. The massive Tokachi-Mitsumata Caldera was formed during an eruption about one million years ago. The wide, shallow crater, covering 140 square kilometers, is blanketed by a dense forest of conifers.
9. Sakhalin fir and Yezo spruce are among the precious woods that grow in the fertile volcanic soil of this wilderness conservation area. Rare animals such as the boreal owl and the three-toed woodpecker inhabit the forest.
10. Higashi-Taisetsu is home to a rich variety of wildlife, including species native to the region.
11. Lake Shikaribetsu, located at an altitude of 800 meters, is the highest lake in Hokkaido. It is the only known habitat of Miyabe char, a subspecies of the Dolly Varden trout. Visitors can stay at a hot-spring inn on the shore.
12. Two smaller lakes, Shinonome and Komadome, are located near Shikaribetsu. The collapse of an ancient crater formed Lake Komadome.
13. Lake Shikaribetsu is an ideal jumping-off point for a range of outdoor activities, from canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding to birdwatching and hiking. In winter, visitors can enjoy ice fishing or snowshoe trekking.
14. Lake Nukabira, an artificial lake, is a relatively recent addition to the landscape. It was created when the Nukabira Dam was constructed in 1956 to provide hydroelectric power to eastern Hokkaido.
15. Higashi-Taisetsu offers visitors a treasure trove of natural beauty: towering volcanic peaks, serene lakes and wetlands, forests rich with flora and fauna, and thrilling outdoor adventures. The wonders of Higashi-Taisetsu await.