Daisetsuzan: Japan's Largest National Park with Richard Smith / Adventure Hokkaido

Snow Country Stories Japan

Today's episode - Episode 25 of the podcast - kicks off Season 3 as we make our way north to Hokkaido and onto Japan’s largest national park, Daisetsuzan. Established in 1934, Daisetsuzan National Park is known for its alpine landscapes, abundant flora and fauna, and seasonal beauty including its deep snow of winter. For many, Daisetsuzan is the crown jewel of Japan’s 34 national parks and without any doubt, is one of the snow country’s most rewarding destinations.

In this episode I speak with Richard Smith, an experienced guide who leads multi-day hiking tours in Daisetsuzan with Adventure Hokkaido. Adventure Hokkaido is a Hokkaido-based tour company offering small group hiking, cycling and nature tours to many of the islands most rewarding destinations including, but not limited to, Daisetsuzan. Originally from the United Kingdom but now based in Hokkaido, Richard knows Daisetsuzan very well and as such, offers great insight into the park while discussing the tours he leads and how to can yourself there, should you wish to.
For more information, use the links above to click through to the websites for the national park and Adventure Hokkaido, and make sure to head to the episode page on the Snow Country Stories Japan website for yet more information, images and a map showing you where the park is.
Snow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

Chapters

1. Episode Introduction (00:00:00)

2. (A Little Bit of) Richard's Story (00:03:06)

3. Daisetsuzan: An Overview of the Park (00:06:23)

4. Hiking in Daisetsuzan: What to Expect (00:11:11)

5. The Flora & Fauna of Daisetsuzan (00:15:27)

6. The Volcanic Character of the Park (00:20:16)

7. Adventure Hokkaido's 6 Day Hiking Tour (00:22:56)

8. Other Tours Offered by Adventure Hokkaido (00:29:22)

9. Tips When Planning Your Own Hike in Daisetsuzan (00:32:13)

10. How to Book a Tour with Adventure Hokkaido (00:36:17)

11. Episode Close inc. How to Get to Daisetsuzan (00:38:49)