[Aomori Prefecture] There are two world heritage sites in Tohoku! What is the appeal of Japan's first World Heritage Site, Shirakami-Sanchi?

Did you know that there are two World Heritage Sites in Tohoku? These are the natural heritage Shirakami Mountains and the cultural heritage Hiraizumi. Of these, the natural heritage site ``Shirakami-Sanchi'' is Japan's first World Heritage Site.

We will introduce in detail the charm of "Shirakami Sanchi".

Shirakami Sanchi is home to the world's largest virgin beech forest!

Shirakami Sanchi was registered as a World Heritage Site in 1993.

Currently, five natural heritage sites in Japan are registered as World Heritage Sites: Shirakami Mountains, Yakushima, Shiretoko, Ogasawara Islands, Amami Oshima, Tokunoshima, Northern Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island. Along with Yakushima, it was registered as Japan's first World Heritage Site and a valuable Japanese natural heritage site.

We will introduce why it has attracted so much attention as a natural heritage site.

The Shirakami Mountains are a mountain range that stretches from southwestern Aomori Prefecture to northwestern Akita Prefecture. At approximately 130,000 hectares, it is one of the world's largest natural forests and has been registered as a natural heritage site.

The vast Shirakami Mountains were created when the Sea of ​​Japan rose about 2 million years ago. It can be said to be a vast beech forest that has grown over a long history dating back 8,000 years.

The primeval beech forest that remained on the vast site due to no human intervention is a major attraction as a natural heritage site.

A world heritage site that you can climb is attractive! The charm of power spots!

Another appeal of the World Heritage Site, Shirakami-Sanchi, is that you can climb mountains. To protect the virgin forest, the route is not maintained, but it is possible to climb the mountain.

The Shirakami-Sanchi World Heritage site is divided into a core area and a buffer area, and although there are no established routes in the core area, it is possible to climb. Also, by not maintaining it, we continue to protect nature.

There are 6 climbing courses. The Shirakami Mountain Range has its main peak, Mt. Shirakami, and from there, 130,000 hectares of natural beech forest, the "Forest of the Gods," spreads out, and you can climb it from six trails. There are also 27 designated routes. It is now possible to climb a mountain to a power spot, where you can walk and smell the scent of a beautiful natural beech forest.

There are also many easy-to-visit places in the buffer zone, such as the Beech Genetic Resources Conservation Forest, where you can take a walk.

The "Beech Genetic Resources Conservation Forest" is a forest that is protected for the purpose of preserving the Japan Sea-type beech genes. It is highly recommended that you can walk around this place in one hour, which can be said to be a natural power spot.

Stroll around waterfalls and ponds created by beech forests

Shirakami-Sanchi also has a walking path called the Juniko Walking Course. This is a popular course where you can see the mysterious Aoike Pond, which is famous for its blue glow, and Kozuike Pond.

Shirakami-Sanchi is dotted with 12 lakes (actually 33), so named because there are 12 of them.

The ``Twelve Lakes'' (actually 33 lakes), which were created in 130,000 hectares of primeval forest, are said to have been created by a major earthquake during the Edo period. You can take a stroll through a mysterious pond created by nature.

The 3-hour round trip trekking course that takes you to see three waterfalls, including Anmon Falls, created by the virgin beech forest that stores rain, is also very popular.

You can bathe in negative ions by heading towards the three waterfalls created by the beech forest. It can be said to be a walking or trekking course where you can feel the breath of nature with your body.

The Shirakami-Sanchi World Heritage Site is a natural heritage that you can experience and want to protect.

As we have introduced in detail so far, the Shirakami production area, which stretches from southwestern Aomori Prefecture to northwestern Akita Prefecture, has a major appeal as a world heritage site that you can experience. By experiencing it, you will be able to feel the great power of nature.

You can spend an eternity surrounded by nature and the earth, strolling through the vast land and surrounded by a vast primeval beech forest and visiting beautiful ponds and waterfalls.

The appeal of Shirakami-Sanchi is that it is easily accessible from Tokyo. If you go by Shinkansen, you can go from Shin-Aomori Station. You can do this by taking a conventional line from Shin-Aomori Station to JR Hirosaki Station, and then boarding a bus bound for Shirakami-Sanchi at the bus terminal.

It would be a good idea to experience this vast world heritage site, which is easily accessible from Tokyo.

[INFORMATION]