Taisetsuzan: Summer Alpine Discoveries

Taisetsuzan, also called Daisetsuzan, is a mountain range home to Hokkaido's highest peak. In addition to its excellent hiking trails, Taisetsuzan is popular for its clusters of alpine flowers that blossom all the way up to the summit in late July, when summer is in full swing. The primeval woodlands at the base of the mountain range are a habitat of the higuma brown bear. Summer visitors often see the animals frolicking on slopes where there are still snow patches. Taisetsuzan lies at a high latitude, so its alpine zone starts at around 1,700 meters above sea level, 800 meters lower than in the Japanese Alps. Komakusa, Ezo azalea and penstemon grow past that point, as well as spectacular clusters of Aleutian avens. On this episode of Journeys in Japan, Peter Skov visits a recently opened flower garden, learns about the brown bears, and sees spectacular fields of alpine flora.