'''Shirakami-Sanchi''' (_____R_n) [http://www.pref.aomori.lg.jp/nature/nature/shirakami.html] is a World Heritage Site in the northern Tohoku region of Japan, straddling the prefectures of Akita and Aomori.
Understand
Shirakami-Sanchi is one of Japan's, and Asia's, few remaining beech (_u_i ''buna'') forests.
History
Landscape
Flora and fauna
Climate
Tucked away in a remote, mountaineous corner of the cold north, Shirakami-Sanchi is snowed in and all but inaccessible between November and May.
Get in
Konan Bus (_O___o_X) [http://konanbus.com/sirakami/sirakami.html] runs 3-4 buses per day from spring to early autumn from Hirosaki railway station to ''Aqua Green Village'' (_A_N_A_O___[___r___b_W) near the rather impressive Anmon-no-taki waterfall in the unrestricted zone. The bus information desk, to the left of the bus stops in front of the railway station, has a pamphlet in English with bus schedules, rudimentary maps, etc. At last visit (in summer 2008) there was a discount on return tickets available, but only if you buy ticket's beforehand, at the bus information desk mentioned before. One-way is ¥1660, return tickets are ¥2490.
Fees/Permits
Access to protected buffer zone, around the World Heritage site, requires a permit from the Aomori office of the Tohoku Regional Forest Office (tel. 017-781-2117, [http://www.jomon.ne.jp/~eirin001/index.htm]), and the bureaucracy pretty much requires that you can handle Japanese or get someone to do it for you. However, the park's most popular attractions, including the Anmon-no-Taki Falls, do not require permits. And there is also a good trail along the border to the restricted zone
Get around
For a day trip there are mainly two options:
One is is staying on the earliest bus to the ''Aqua green village'' and continuing onwards to the Tsugaru mountain pass stop, from where there is a 2-5 hour lovely trek over a mountain ridge and back to the ''Aqua Green Village'', but be forewarned, this hike has some '''VERY''' steep and challenging parts, where you, very untypically of Japan, are almost hanging onto dear life on a rope suspended along a steep part of the mountain ridge for a good 45 minuttes of the hike. If you plan doing this, remember to bring enough liquids, sundries, good shoes and preferably a phone, as it's only a few hikers doing this trek every day.
Or you can do a light trek on the trail to the Anmon-no-taki waterfalls from the Aqua Green village, it's a good 45-60 minute walk if you are in decent shape, and this is where the hordes of tourist and tour bus are decending.
See
'''Anmon-no-Taki Waterfall''' (________). Three-tiered waterfall cascading 26, 37 and 42 meters. About 1:30 on foot from the visitor center.
'''Visitor Centre''', [http://www.shirakami-visitor.jp/]. Entry is free, but the IMAX movie on the park (shown 5 times a day) costs ¥200. Open around the year.
Do
Buy
Eat
Drink
Sleep
Lodging
Camping
Backcountry
Stay safe
Get out