Daisetsuzan National Park

Daisetsuzan National Park, often called the Roof of Hokkaido, is Japan's largest national park at over 2,267 square kilometers, roughly the size of Kanagawa Prefecture. The park encompasses the Daisetsuzan volcanic group including Mount Asahidake, Hokkaido's highest peak at 2,291 meters, along with dramatic gorges such as Sounkyo with its towering columnar cliffs. In summer, the alpine meadows burst with wildflowers and the area offers Japan's earliest autumn foliage, typically beginning in September. Extensive hiking trails connect hot spring villages, mountain huts, and volcanic landscapes, while the Asahidake Ropeway provides easy access to the highland terrain. The park's remote interior remains one of Japan's last true wilderness areas, home to brown bears, pikas, and rare alpine flora.