- Address: 1-2 Ichibanboridori-cho, Chuo-ku, Niigata 951-8132, Niigata Prefecture, Japan
- Phone: +81 25-225-3021
- Foundation date: November 12, 1962
- Area: 477 sq. M. km
- Cost of visit: free of charge
- Working hours: 24 hours
One of the biosphere reserves of Japan is the beautiful Hakusan Park. It is located in a mountainous area on the island of Honshu and belongs to the Niigata Prefecture.
Description of the protected area
The official opening of the institution took place on November 12 in 1962, and 12 years later a research center for studying climatology, botany, ecology and folklore of the whole region was founded here. Today 15 scientists work in the institution. In 1980 the park was included in the list of the World Organization of UNESCO.
Today the territory of Hakusan is 477 square meters. km, and the altitude varies from 170 to 2702 m above sea level. Based on the zoning rules of the reserves, the entire area of the National Park is divided into 2 parts: a buffer (300 sq. Km) and a core (177 sq. Km).
The most important peak of the reserve is the volcano of the same name. It belongs to one of the three sacred mountains of the country, on which there are no settlements. Near its base are small villages, where up to 30 thousand people live.
Near the foot of the volcano is the Tedori River. Most of the territory of the park Hakusan occupy a variety of water bodies, gorges and ponds. For example, Lake Sęзяyazhaike is covered with ice all year round and is in the crater of an extinct volcano .
Flora of the reserve
The vegetation world of the national park varies according to height:
- in the area up to 1200 m one can find virgin coniferous forests consisting of Pinus aristata, Abies mariesii fir, Japanese cryptomeria (Cryptomeria japonica);
- in the interval from 1200 to 2000 m, the following species grow: the spinaceous fingergrass (Orchis aristata), the narcissose flower anemone (Anemone narcissiflora), sometimes there are individual coniferous trees;
- The area above 2,000 m high is covered with alpine meadows where Altherbosa grows;
- on the territory of the protected area is located a traditional Japanese garden, which is located just near the entrance.
Fauna of the park
The animal world of Hakusan is quite diverse. Here live such mammals as Japanese macaques, spotted deer, white-bearded bear, etc.
In the park there are about 100 species of birds, for example, crested mountain eagle, golden eagle, various kinds of ducks and other birds. In the reservoirs live carp and sazans of large sizes.
Features of visit
Park Hakusan is best visited in the warm season to see the flowering of plants (including cherry trees), their fruits, as well as observe the animal world, meditate and relax in nature. The entrance to the protected area is free, and the institution is open 24 hours a day.
The territory can be moved on foot or by bicycle, for the movement on which there are laid special paths.
How to get there?
From the city of Niigata to the Hakusan National Park, you can drive by car along the Hokuriku Motorway. The distance is about 380 km, on the way there are toll roads.
The nearest settlement is Ishikawa, from which the park can be reached in 2 hours by highway number 57 and 33. From Tokyo , aircraft fly to the city.