World Natural Heritage
in Japan

Discover Japan
Nature Click on what interests you at the four World Natural Heritage sites!

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  ShiretokoPonhoro Pool

  

  Ponhoro Pool

  Shiretoko

  Ponhoro Pool is known as the “mystery swamp” of the Shiretoko Peninsula, a range of volcanic peaks jutting into the North Pacific. The pool appears quietly between May and early July only, the final destination for meltwater from the snowy mountains after a long winter. Ponhoro Pool and the hiking trail that leads to it are enveloped by virgin mizunara oak and birch forest. Under the light of early summer, their verdant color reflects on the surface of the pool. On misty days, the line between water and air is obscured, creating a mysterious, otherworldly scene. In midsummer, the pool dries up and turns into a lush green field of grass. In autumn, the grass takes on red and yellow hues. This miraculous beauty spot is like an art gallery that is transformed every time you visit.

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  ShiretokoWhale watching

  

  Whale watching

  Shiretoko

  Off the east coast of the Shiretoko Peninsula is the Nemuro Strait. This stretch of water is rich in plankton due to the sea ice that drifts in between January and March. From aboard boats, visitors enjoy watching whales that come in search of this plankton. From late July to October, giant sperm whales of around 18m appear in these waters, offering breathtaking views as they breach, flip and spout water through their blowholes. Other species to look out for are the Steller’s and white-tailed sea eagles from January to March, fur seals from late April to June. Orcas and dolphins can be seen between May and early July. Be awed by the dynamism and size of the mammals that survive in this great ocean.

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  Shirakami-SanchiAoike Pond

  

  Aoike Pond

  Shirakami-Sanchi

  The Aoike Pond is one of the 12 lakes nestled amid one of the biggest virgin beech forests in East Asia, in the west of Shirakami-Sanchi. The Juniko Lakes are the name given to the collection of 33 lakes and ponds dotted throughout the virgin beech forest. Right at the end of the walking trail is the shining cobalt-blue Aoike Pond. The pond has a blue tint and is extremely clear, giving it a distinctive aura that those who view it find mesmerizing. The tint of the pond changes with the angle of the sun. It is an especially gorgeous sight around midday between June and August. Nobody has yet discovered the definitive reason why the pond has a blue tint. Peering into the brilliantly clear waters reveals small fish swimming and a depth of some 9 meters.

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  Shirakami-SanchiThe Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus)

  

  The Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus)

  Shirakami-Sanchi

  The Japanese serow, designated a Special National Monument by the Japanese government, is a unique bovine deer that lives only in the Japanese archipelago. In the Shirakami-Sanchi, a peculiar beech forest close to the Arctic Circle that has been undeveloped since its origins around 50 million years ago, is home not just to the serow but to the endangered birds such as the golden eagle and the black woodpecker, 14 species of large mammal including the Asiatic black bear, 94 bird species and around 2,000 types of insect. Due to its extreme rarity, you will not necessarily come across the serow. But do not be surprised if you do spot one.

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  Ogasawara IslandsGaze out over the Bonin blue from the lookout

  

  Gaze out over the Bonin
  blue from the lookout

  Ogasawara Islands

  Surrounded by the Bonin blue (from the English for the Ogasawaras, the “Bonin Islands”) seas, covered in deep green forest, the Ogasawaras are indeed a “Pacific paradise”. The group is made up of around 30 islands, the largest of which are Chichijima and Hahajima. Both Chichijima and Hahajima have mountains and lookouts from which to enjoy the views of the sparkling Bonin blue. And the red of the sea and skies at sunset will take your breath away. At night, the Milky Way of stars above seems close enough to touch, as if you have woken to find yourself in space. This is a place to experience the natural world, as the sounds of the crashing waves, the wind, the birdsong and the call of the wild.

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  Ogasawara IslandsSwimming with dolphins

  

  Swimming with dolphins

  Ogasawara Islands

  The clear, subtropical waters of the Ogasawaras are home to coral reefs, tropical fish, whales and dolphins. Dolphins live around the islands all year round, so tours swimming with Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins are always available. For those who prefer to enter the sea in nothing more than a swimsuit, the best season is late June to mid-November. From late November, you can swim in a wetsuit. The experience of looking a dolphin in the eye while swimming will leave you speechless.

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  Amami・OkinawaAmami Islands Certified Eco Tour Guide

  

  Amami Islands Certified Eco Tour Guide

  Amami・Okinawa

  The Kinsakubaru Forest is a subtropical forest with thickly growing natural subtropical plants like cyathea lepifera, also known as the brush pot tree, that can grow over 10 meters high. It is also home to rare animals like the Lidth’s jay that is a designated natural monument and the Ryukyu tree lizard. You cannot enter the Kinsakubaru Forest without a certified ecotourism guide. Join a tour led by a local certified ecotourism guide to experience the natural environment of the Kinsakubaru Forest. Experienced guides with a wealth of knowledge about the Kinsakubaru Forest ecosystem describe the ecology of the local flora and fauna in great detail so that you can experience the wonders of nature.

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  Amami・OkinawaInnojofuta

  

  Innojofuta

  Amami・Okinawa

  On the west coast of Tokunoshima, the Amagi shoreline facing the East China Sea is sprinkled with sheer rock faces, cliffs, and caves, the most well-known being an unusually-shaped rock called the Eyeglass Rock. They were created by many years of erosion of a raised coral reef by seawater, wind, and rain and show the strong power of the natural world. At sunset, you can see stunning evening views and diverse magnificent scenery. You can see humpback whales from December to April each year, and some lucky visitors can see them swimming by through the Eyeglass Rock.

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  YakushimaThe Jomonsugi cedar

  

  The Jomonsugi cedar

  Yakushima

  Jomonsugi, the symbolic tree of Yakushima, is a giant specimen estimated at between 2,170 and 7,200 years of age. While the average life expectancy of a cedar is typically around 500 years, there are a number of trees on Yakushima that are over 1,000 years old. This is due to the extremely slow growth of cedars on an island blessed with around 10 times the world average annual rainfall and the nutrient-poor soil of the granite mountain range. To reach the Jomonsugi requires a trek of around 22km, which takes up to 10 hours. The best season is spring. An encounter with the giant Jomonsugi, the roots of which are so spread out they appear to become one with the earth, will fill you with a sense of nature’s majesty and mystery.

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  YakushimaTrekking Shiratani Unsuikyo Forest

  

  Trekking Shiratani
  Unsuikyo Forest

  Yakushima

  Shiratani Unsuikyo Forest is a 424ha nature park in the northeast of Yakushima. This is a place to enjoy the beauty of a gorge thousands of years in the making, including hundreds of varieties of moss that cover the deep green forest in the ravine, giant rocks and the Yayoisugi cedar which is estimated to be over 3,000 years old. The trekking course is about 6km. The forest spreads over an area from 600m to 1,000m above sea level and requires 4-6 hours of walking. The final hurdle is the Tsuji Toge Pass, but just a little more sweat will be rewarded with a majestic panorama from atop Taikoiwa (Drum Rock).