A Walk in the Shirakami Mountains
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Port
Aomori, Japan
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Activity Level
Strenuous Activity
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At (prices in USD)
$300
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 8 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals included
Put on your walking shoes and travel a scenic route from the port into the heart of Aomori Province for a day-long trek through the last virgin beech forest in Japan.
Renowned as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Shirakami Mountain area is home to black bears, monkeys, golden eagles and beech forest. So many majestic and natural wonders lie just outside of Aomori. Tucked among the Shirakami Mountains, the Shirakami-Sanchi forest offers the opportunity to stroll through a primeval woodland, untouched since ancient times. Covering over 170 square miles, the mountains reach up to 3,900 feet into the sky.
To learn more about the area's delicate ecosystem, you'll stop at the Shirakami Mountain Visitor Center to see exhibits that explain how the mountains and forest are a haven to more than 500 different kinds of plants and a variety of animals.
Then, you'll travel a short distance to the beginning of the trail, which is situated at Aqua Green Village in the town of Nishimeya. Before you begin your walk, you'll sit down for a boxed lunch in this breathtaking setting.
Hit the trail on a hike that winds through the verdant forest of 70-foot-tall wingnut trees and 79-foot-tall Japanese beech trees. Be on the lookout for the various animals that call this forest home, two of which are endemic to Japan. The Japanese serow is a goat-antelope that was once near extinction and is now a designated National Treasure; and the cute, little Japanese dormouse is not a mouse at all — it is more like a chipmunk that builds its nests in trees. If you look up, you may see a golden eagle or a hawk eagle soaring above you.
After you take in the picture-postcard scenery, walk back down the trail to your waiting coach for a pleasant trip back to the ship.
Please note: This is an active tour, and the walk is strenuous at times. Terrain includes even and uneven surfaces, steep inclines, gravel, grass, and many steps. Not advisable for guests using a wheelchair or for those with mobility limitations. Wear sturdy non-skid walking shoes. Bring a light jacket or windbreaker. Tour operates from June through November. Tour operates rain or shine, but may be canceled by the operator in the event of extreme weather or unsuitable conditions. If the Shirakami Mountains Visitor Center is closed, a visit to the Beech Nishimeya Shopping Center will be substituted. Tour operates subject to meeting a minimum number of participants. Unfamiliar accents can be challenging; feel free to ask your guide to repeat or elaborate on information, and to speak more slowly so you can fully comprehend and converse.