地域観光資源の 多言語解説文データベース

A Tale of Two Birches

Birch trees are a common sight in cool, northern climates around the world. Two birch species are most prominent in the Northern Japanese Alps: the white birch, called shirakaba (Betula platyphylla), and Erman’s birch, called dakekanba (Betula ermanii). The birches serve as a natural altimeter, since the elevations each inhabits only barely overlap. Visitors traveling the winding forest road to the top of Mt. Norikura can spot the distinctive, pale-gray trunks of white birches up to elevations around 1,500 meters. From there, they are gradually replaced by the pinkish-brown trunks of Erman’s birch, which grows from 1,500 meters to 2,500 meters.

Up close, other features distinguish the two species. Besides the difference in bark color, their leaves are also distinctively shaped. White birch leaves are triangular and flat-bottomed, with five to eight pairs of veins. Erman’s birch leaves are more elongated and spade-shaped, with seven to twelve pairs of veins. On white birches, tree branches extend diagonally upward from the trunk, while Erman’s birch branches sprout at roughly 90-degree angles. Both species have bark that peels off like paper, but mature Erman’s birches show significantly more peeling.

White birch trees have special associations in Japanese culture. While cherry blossoms symbolize new life, sometimes tinged with the sadness of impermanence, and brilliant red maples evoke the fiery, transient beauty of autumn, white birches conjure images of highland recreation. Historically associated with upscale mountain resort towns, the birch brings to mind post-World War II days, when outdoor leisure pursuits in the mountains became popular with the general public.

兩種樺樹的故事

樺樹的身影在全世界涼爽的北方氣候帶到處可見。在日本北阿爾卑斯山脈，最具代表性的樺樹品種有兩個：一種是白樺（Betula platyphylla）；另一種是岳樺（Betula ermanii）。樺樹是天然的高度計，不同品種生長的海拔不同，生長帶極少重合。蜿蜒穿行在通往乘鞍岳頂峰的林間道路，攀爬至海拔1500公尺左右的沿途，入眼便是白樺樹那引人注目的灰白色樹幹。再往上走，身邊景色將逐漸變成岳樺的粉棕色樹幹，它們的生長區間是1500公尺至2500公尺。

仔細觀察可以發現，這兩種樺樹還有更多顯著區別。除了樹皮色澤不同，葉片形狀也各有特色。白樺的樹葉呈三角形，底邊齊平，有5至8對葉脈；岳樺的樹葉則是略細長的鏟形，葉脈為7至12對。白樺的樹枝往斜上方伸展，而岳樺枝條的伸展方向與樹幹接近直角。兩種樺樹的樹皮都會像紙片一樣剝落，但成熟的岳樺樹上明顯斑駁的痕跡更多。

白樺和日本文化有著特別的關聯。櫻花象徵新生，或時時還會勾起些許對無常的感傷；耀眼的紅楓喚醒的是秋季熱烈而轉瞬即逝的美；白樺觸發的則是多姿多彩的高原休閒場景。白樺樹猶如一個歷史符號，讓人們聯想起二戰後高山戶外活動在日本大眾間蓬勃興起的那段時光。看到它們，大家的腦海中就會浮現出那些高級山地度假村的影像。

两种桦树的故事

桦树的身影在全世界凉爽的北方气候带到处可见。在日本北阿尔卑斯山脉，最具代表性的桦树品种有两个：一种是白桦(Betula platyphylla)；另一种是岳桦(Betula ermanii)。桦树是天然的海拔表，不同品种生长的海拔不同，生长带极少重合。蜿蜒穿行在通往乘鞍岳顶峰的林间道路上，攀爬至海拔1500米左右的沿途，入眼便是白桦树那引人注目的灰白色树干。再往上走，身边景色将逐渐变成岳桦的粉棕色树干，它们的生长区间是1500米至2500米。

仔细观察可以发现，这两种桦树还有更多显著区别。除了树皮色泽不同，叶片形状也各有特色。白桦的树叶呈三角形，底边齐平，有5至8对叶脉；岳桦的树叶则是略细长的铲形，叶脉为7至12对。白桦的树枝往斜上方伸展，而岳桦枝条的伸展方向与树干接近直角。两种桦树的树皮都会像纸片一样剥落，但成熟的岳桦树上明显斑驳的痕迹更多。

白桦和日本文化有着特别的关联。樱花象征新生，或时时还会勾起些许对无常的感伤；耀眼的红枫唤醒的是秋季热烈而转瞬即逝的美；白桦触发的则是多姿多彩的高原休闲场景。白桦树犹如一个历史符号，让人们联想起二战后高山户外活动在日本大众间蓬勃兴起的那段时光。看到它们，大家的脑海中就会浮现出那些高级山地度假村的影像。