- Address: Ajigasawa, Nishitsugaru District, Aomori Prefecture
- Phone: +81 172-85-2810
- Founding date: 1949.
- Area: 1300 square meters. km
- Highest point above sea level: 1232 m
Siracami Santi is a mountain Japanese reserve, located in the northern part of Honshu Island, in Aomor prefecture. Its vast territory, which occupies 1300 square meters. km, lies on the slopes of the eponymous mountain range. Founded in 1949, Sirakami Santi is called upon to guard the natural complexes of maple and beech forests, pine and cedar groves in a remote mountainous area off the coast of the Sea of Japan. This is the only large array of virgin beech forests in East Asia. In addition to unique flora and fauna, the reserve attracts tourists with its diverse walking routes.
Sights of the reserve
One of the popular places of Sirakami Santi is Dzyuniko - a series of small ponds and lakes, united by footpaths. Nature here has to walk through picturesque corners, boating or fishing. In this area there is its Ecological Museum Center Dzyuniko Kokyokan, where you can get acquainted with the information about beech forests of the mountainous area. In the most frequent forest is the famous triple waterfall Ammon - a popular place for excursions .
Several central tourist centers are located in the central part of the Siracami Santi Reserve. The most informative of them is the World Heritage Conservation Center. The largest tourist center is between Hirosaki and the Ammon Falls. Here you can visit the rich museum and cinema IMAX, where tourists are shown 30-minute films about beech forests. In addition, the pride of the reserve are such representatives of the fauna as the golden eagle, jay, marten, antelope-goral and wild boar.
At an altitude of 1232 m above sea level is the highest point of the Siracami Santi Reserve - the peak of Sirakami Sanchi. From here you can see a fascinating view of the picturesque landscapes of the reserve and the local landmark - the Japanese Canyon. Its walls are formed of gray and brown rocks. Various concerts take place here. You can get here only from April to November, because the rest of the time, the roads leading to the canyon are closed.
Tourist destinations
The main advantage of the reserve are hiking trails leading through the forests to waterfalls, lakes and mountain peaks:
- The most popular track goes to the Ammon Falls, from the starting point it takes about 90 minutes.
- In the south-west of Shirakami Santi there is an easier trail that leads to Mount Futatsumori. The starting point can only be reached by car.
- A long route leading to the high mountain chain of Sirakamidake lies in the northwest of the reserve. This track in both directions takes about 8 hours.
- In the eastern area of Shirakami Santi there are hiking routes that pass along the picturesque Dairako gorge near the 317 road. The road from here goes to the mountains, past the Tanasiro swamp reaches the mountain peak of Komagatake.
- In the central part of the reserve there is a protected area, which is considered a World Heritage site. Tourists here usually do not get in, because to visit this area you need permission. You can receive it by e-mail, making an official request at least one week before the trip.
How to get to the reserve?
By public transport in Siracami Santi is best to leave Hirosaki or Nosiro. The bus follows the starting point of the route to the Ammon waterfall, you can drive further - to the Tsugaru Toge Pass. The trip from Hirosaki takes about an hour, the ticket costs $ 14. The protected area can be reached by train from the city of Akita or by air. The nearest airport Odate-Nosiro every day takes flights from Tokyo and Osaka .