Journeys in Japan
Season 8 Episode 24 - 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.
Episodes in Season 8
Koza: A Rhythm All Its Own
28 min
Ogawayama: A Rock Climber's Paradise
28 min
Niseko: Snowy Adventures
28 min
Suruga Bay: The Bounty of the Deep
28 min
Tokoname: City of Ceramics Past and Present
28 min
Ibaraki: Savoring Winter Flavors
28 min
Hokkaido: Sculpting Winter's Ice and Snow
28 min
Mt. Norikuradake: A Peak Winter Experience
28 min
Odate: The Land of the Akita Inu
28 min
Oya, Utsunomiya: Stone Town & Quarry Ruins Tour
28 min
Nagoya: Samurai Warlord Chronicles
28 min
Hakuba: Off Piste to a Hidden Hot Spring
28 min
Nara: Ancient Sanctuary for all Living Creatures
28 min
Monobe, Kochi: Tales from the Magical Mountain Hamlet
28 min
Manazuru: Good Living by Design
28 min
Nanyo, Ehime: Water for Life and Fun
28 min
Meiwa-cho, Mie: An Ancient Legend Comes to Life
28 min
Mount Daisen: Mystical Rites, Local Life
28 min
Murayama, Yamagata: Local Delicacies, Local Pride
28 min
Tottori: Sculpted by Nature
28 min
Deep into the Unspoiled Forest: Shirakami Sanchi
28 min
Yonaguni: Wild West Escapades
28 min
Obuse, Nagano: Walking and Running for Fun
28 min
Taisetsuzan: Summer Alpine Discoveries
28 min
Kochi's Summertime Fever: The Yosakoi!
28 min
Awa Odori Festival: Spirited Away in Tokushima
28 min
Yanai: Old Town of Goldfish Lanterns
28 min
Nagara River: Pristine Beauty, Waterborne Bounty
28 min
Minami-Izu: Unspoiled Seaside Getaway
28 min
A River Runs Through Hokkaido
28 min
Kagoshima: The Taste and Style of "Kuro" Culture
28 min
Kikuma, Ehime: Pride and Pageantry
28 min
Togakushi: Autumn Hues at a Sacred Mountain
28 min
Passage of Time: Lake Towada in Autumn
28 min
Karatsu: Festival Floats, Deep Community Spirit
28 min
