What to know
Shirakami Sanchi (白神山地) is a vast mountain range straddling the border between Aomori and Akita prefectures in northern Tohoku, Japan. Its core contains the last remaining virgin beech forests in the country, earning it designation as one of Japan's first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1993.
The main draw of Shirakami Sanchi is its network of hiking trails that wind through forests to waterfalls, mountain peaks, and lakes. The most popular route leads to Anmon Falls on the northeastern side, a set of three waterfalls about 90 minutes from the trailhead (closed late November to late April).
The trail to the falls starts paved and flat, then becomes elevated and narrow deeper into the valley. About 45 minutes in, the path steepens significantly before reaching the first waterfall (26 meters). Ten minutes beyond is the second waterfall (37 meters), where many hikers rest. Continuing uphill to the right for another 15 minutes leads to the tallest fall (42 meters).
Another popular area is Juniko ("twelve lakes"), a series of small lakes and ponds connected by hiking trails on the northwestern side of Shirakami Sanchi, along the Sea of Japan coast. The area offers scenic day hikes, fishing, boating, and camping. One lake, Aoike, features strikingly blue, almost surreal water. The Juniko Eco-Museum Center Kokyokan provides information about the local forests.
Don't miss Nihon Canyon, Japan's miniature Grand Canyon, with colorful brown and grey rock walls near the Juniko entrance. A walking trail links the canyon to the Juniko lakes and ponds. From late November through March, roads to Juniko and Nihon Canyon are closed and the area is inaccessible.
Other hiking trails lead to peaks around Shirakami Sanchi, but many trailheads are car-accessible only. A popular easy trail is to Mount Futatsumori in the southwest, along the prefectural border. The ascent from the parking lot to the peak is steep but takes only one hour, rewarding hikers with commanding views over the World Heritage Site's core area.
Another popular but more time-consuming hike on the northwestern side leads to Mount Shirakamidake, the highest peak in the range. It is one of the few trails accessible by public transport, as the trailhead is a 30-minute walk from Shirakamidake Tozanguchi Station on the JR Gono Line. The round trip to the peak takes about eight hours from the station.
There are also several hiking trails on the eastern side of Shirakami Sanchi, including a small network in the scenic Dairakyo Gorge along Route 317. An unpaved road branches off from the gorge into the mountains, leading to a trail that ascends Mount Komagatake and passes the pretty Tanashiro Swamp.