Daisetsuzan National Park

The Daisetsuzan National Park lies in the center of the most northerly of the main Japanese islands, Hokkaido. Its imposing series of peaks have earned if the name of the "roof of Hokkaido". The park contains three volcanic massifs with the highest peaks on the island - Mount Ashai (7,513ft/ 2,290m), Mount Tomuraushi (7,025ft/ 2,141m) and Mount Tokachi (6,815ft/ 2,077m). In the eastern part of the park are Mount Ishikari (6,437ft/ 1,962m) and Lakes Shikaribetsu and Nukabira.

At the higher altitudes there is mountain vegetation of extraordinary richness. At the foot of the hills, between areas of virgin forest and on the banks of crystal clear streams, are numbers of small mountain villages. Within the National Park are the sources of the rivers Tokachi, Ishikari and Chubetsu, which form beautiful gorges, the best known of which is the Sounkyo Gorge (30mi/ 50km) east of Ashikawa.

The Sounkyo Gorge, in the north of the National Park, extends for 15mi/ 24km between the northern outlier of Daisetsu and Obako to the south. The road, which winds it way through the gorge, affords superb views of the beautiful area. On either side the rock walls rise to a height of 500ft/ 150m, with waterfalls tumbling down at intervals (Ryusei-no-taki, Ginga-no-taki). At the upper end of the gorge are two basins, Kobvako ("little box") and Obako ("big box"), so called because anyone standing within the vertical walls of these depressions feels he is enclosed within a box.

Halfway along the gorge is Sounkyo-onsen, one of the most popular holiday resorts in Hokkaido, with a cableway running up several stages to a height of 4,265ft/ 1,300m, from which a chair lift continues on the ascent. From the top there is a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains and the wooded countryside with its idyllic little villages. At the higher altitudes there are many species of mountain vegetation.

The Daisetsu Highway, which provides a link with the Akan National Park, runs east from the gorge to the Sekihiko Pass (3,445ft/ 1,050m) on the east side of the Daisetsuzan National Park. To the west of the pass, 25mi/ 40km southeast of Asahikawa, lies the health resort of Tenninkyo from which Mount Tomuraushi (7,025ft/ 2,141m), to the south and Mount Asahi (7,513ft/ 2,290m), to the north can be climbed. Near Tenninkyo are the Hagoromo Falls ("feather cloak"), 820ft/ 250m high and enclosed between steep rock walls. The valley adjoining the falls is known as the Tenninkyo Gorge.

To the east of the gorge, on the southern slopes of Mount Asahi, is the health resort of Yukomambetsu-onsen (3,445ft/ 1,050m), 27mi/ 43km east of Asahikawa. This is a good base from which to climb Mount Asahi. Mount Hokuchin (7,369ft/ 2,246m) and Mount Kuro (6,510ft/ 1,984m), to the north and Mount Aka (6,818ft/ 2,078m), to the east, as well as being a popular winter sports center.

The southwesterm part of the National Park can be reached from Asahikawa by rail. 5mi. 8km from this attractive resort is the volcano of Tokachi, which last erupted in 1962; its slopes are considered to be one of the four best skiing areas on Hokkaido. Near the volcano are Mount Biei (6,733ft/ 2,052m), to the north and Mount Kami-Horokamettoku (6,191ft/ 1,887m) to the south.

To the east of this range of mountains, beyond the River Tokachi, is another range, with Mount Nipesotsu (6,605ft/ 2,013m) and Mount Upepesanke (6,135ft/ 1,870m) on the east side of which lies Lake Nukabira (1,970ft/ 600m), a man-made lake with a circumference of 20mi/ 33km and an area of 3sq.mi/ 8.2sq.km through which flows the River Otofuke. This is a very attractive vacation area with beautiful little towns and villages. Nukabira-onsen, near the lake, has hot saline springs at temperatures of 140°F/ 60°C. A road running southwest from here comes in a 14mi/ 23km to Lake Shikaribetsu, on the west side of Mount Tembo (3,852ft/ 1,174m), which can also be reached by bus. The lake lies in the middle of a forest, which is particularly attractive in the fall with its vividly colorful foliage. On the shores of the lake are the resorts of Shikaribetsu Kohan-onsen and Yamada-onsen