Echigosanzan-Tadami
Quasi-National Park-Fukushima Prefecture area-

Characteristics

Japanese beech forests, Tadami River nurtured by the forest, and a variety of activities connecting nature in rural communities.
- Discover sceneries interwoven with nature and life in Oku-Aizu -

Echigosanzan-Tadami Quasi-National Park (Fukushima Prefecture area) is located in the western part of Aizu region. The park straddles Echigo Mountain Range, and part of Mikuni Mountain Range which is located next to Echigo Mountain Range. It also covers the surrounding area of Aga River and its branch river, Tadami River whose headstream is Lake Ozenuma.

The park has an outstanding ecosystem with expansive natural forests of Japanese beech and other trees inhabited by rare species, and is located in one of the deepest snow area in Japan where unique landscapes are seen in the precipitous mountains.

Fantastic scenery is formed through a harmonious connection between people's lifestyles and their surrounding nature, including the river in the neighbouring area of Tadami River.

Valiant picturesque scenary created by rivers is seen in the surrouding area of Aga River.

This land is also a wealth of historical and cultural resources such as temples and shirines which is close to many people`s heart, as well as traditional crafts and cuisine culture cultivated through co-existing with nature.

Furthermore, people use this park in a variety of ways: Trekkers climb the slopes of Mt. Asakusa, Mt. Asahi, Mt. Gamo and such, visitors tour the seasonal scenery interwoven with bountiful nature and the works of man, and tour boats cruise across Lake Tagokura.

Scenery

Japanese beech forests nurtured by abundant water Fantastic scenaries interwoven with the clear streams and life in rulal communities.

Mountain landscape spreads out in the surrouding area of Tadami River where expansive Japanese beech forests and nivation landform, which is created by snow that falls on the mountain slopes in an avalanch, are indistinctively combined.

This distinctive scenery has also been seen at Mt. Gamo, also called "Matterhorn of Aizu".

Lake Numazawa, located in the middle of the Tadami River Basin, is a caldera lake that was shaped some 5,400 years ago by the eruption of Mt. Numazawa. The lake's surface puts the changing seasons on display.

Takizawa River, which is a tributary of the Tadami River, has formed unique rock tunnels with group of potholes carved by the swift flow.

Impressive gorges like Choshinokuchi created by the water gushes are seen in the downstream basin of Aga River.

In the snow-deep area, there are houses lined up with a unique style of pointed roof specifically designed to prevent the building from collapsing due to heavy snowfall.

Fantastic scenary is formed with the houses and the flow of the river.

Plants & Animals

Rare species inhabit
the pristine nature

The mountainous area is home to protected natural forests of Japanese beech, as well as subalpine scrub forests of miyamanara oak trees and other plants that have been largely untouched by human hands. These plants shape an incredible natural forest ecosystem inhabited by large mammals such as serows and Asiatic black bears, as well as rare raptors like golden eagles and mountain hawk-eagles. Furthermore, the wildlife inhabiting the area, mainly in Tadami Town, is confirmed to include endangered species like the Tadami clawed salamander, as well as the hime sayuri, a rosy lily and distinctive local species with a wide distribution throughout the area. Numerous plant and animal species inhabit and breed in the natural surroundings around the town. They include 1,436 species of plants from 160 families. In addition to the swaths of natural Japanese beech tree forests, maples and other deciduous broad trees along the riverbanks and mountainsides take on different appearances with each season to give the park a beautiful landscape.

• Photo credit: Tadami Town Beech Center
  Mt. Asakusa Beech Forest
  (Tadami Town)
• Hime sayuri
  (distinctive local species)
• Photo credit: Tadami Town Beech Center
  Serow
  (special natural monument)
• Photo credit: Tadami Town Beech Center
  Mountain hawk-eagle
  (rare raptor)