, or Taisetsuzan is located in the mountainous center of the northern Japanese

Geography of Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia comprising a stratovolcanic archipelago extending along the Pacific coast of Asia. Measured from the geographic coordinate system, Japan stretches from 24° to 46° north latitude and from 123° to 146° east longitude...

 island of Hokkaidō

Hokkaido

, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...

. At 2267.64 square kilometers, Daisetsuzan is the largest national park in Japan.

The name means "Great Snowy Mountain(s)", an apt description of these peaks — there are 16 peaks over 2000 meters with trails and many more without trails — that offer some of the most rugged scenery in Japan.

There are three volcanic mountain groups. The groups consist of stratovolcano

Stratovolcano

A stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, is a tall, conical volcano built up by many layers of hardened lava, tephra, pumice, and volcanic ash. Unlike shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes are characterized by a steep profile and periodic, explosive eruptions...

es piled on top of each other. As one vent becomes active, it builds a peak then stops until a new vent appears. These groups are:

• Daisetsuzan Volcanic Group
  Daisetsuzan Volcanic Group
  The is a volcanic group of peaks arranged around the wide caldera in Hokkaidō, Japan. In the Ainu language it is known as Nutapukaushipe or Nutaku Kamushupe. These peaks are the highest in Hokkaidō...
  
   — lies in the northern part of the park and includes Hokkaidō's tallest mountain, Mount Asahi
  Asahidake
  is the tallest mountain in Hokkaidō, Japan. Part of the Daisetsuzan Volcanic Group of the Ishikari Mountains, it is located in the northern part of the Daisetsuzan National Park....
  
  .
• Tokachi Volcanic Group
  Tokachi Volcanic Group
  is a volcanic group of mainly stratovolcanoes arrayed along a southwest-northeast axis in Hokkaidō, Japan.The volcanic group lies on the Kurile arc of the Pacific ring of fire, and consists of andesite, basalt, and dacite stratovolcanoes and lava domes...
  
   — lies in the southwest of the park north of the Yubari
  Yubari Mountains
  is a mountain range of Hokkaidō, Japan.Part of this range is protected by the .-Geology:The Yūbari Mountains continue the north-south line begun by the Teshio Mountains. The mountains are the result of the collision between the Kurile Island Arc and the Northeastern Japan Arc. Three formations make...
  
   and Hidaka Mountains
  Hidaka Mountains
  Hidaka Mountains is a mountain range in southeastern Hokkaidō, Japan. It runs 150 km from Mount Sahoro or Karikachi Pass in central Hokkaidō south, running into the sea at Cape Erimo. It consists of folded mountains that range from 1500 to 2000 metres in height. Mount Poroshiri is the highest...
  
  . It includes Mount Tokachi
  Mount Tokachi (Daisetsuzan)
  is an active volcano located in Daisetsuzan National Park, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is the tallest volcano of the Tokachi Volcanic Group. It is one of the 100 famous mountains in Japan....
  
  
• Shikaribetsu Volcanic Group
  Shikaribetsu Volcanic Group
  is a volcanic group of lava domes surrounding Lake Shikaribetsu in Hokkaidō, Japan. The Shikaribetsu volcanic group is located in Daisetsuzan National Park...
  
   — lies in the eastern part of the park and includes Mount Ishikari
  Mount Ishikari
  is part of the Ishikari Mountains, Hokkaidō, Japan. On its slopes are the head waters of the Ishikari River.- References :* , Seamless Digital Geographical Map of Japan, Geological Survey of Japan, AIST . 2007....
  
  .

These volcanic groups lie around a central highlands dominated by Mount Tomuraushi

Mount Tomuraushi (Daisetsuzan)

is located in the Daisetsuzan National Park, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is one of the 100 famous mountains in Japan.-Geology:The peak of Mount Tomuraushi consists of mainly non-alkalai mafic rock from the Pleistocene to the Holocene.-History:...

The park is famous for its wildlife, including brown bears, its alpine meadows and remote backcountry.

Daisetsuzan National Park also includes the hot spring resorts of Asahidake Onsen

Asahidake Onsen

is a small village in the Taisetsuzan National Park, Hokkaidō, Japan.The village consists of a few hotels and a youth hostel. It a popular base for hikers in the national park, and for tourists using Asahidake Ropeway to climb Asahidake, Hokkaidō's highest peak. There is also a hot springs resort,...

, Fukiage Onsen, Sounkyo Onsen and Tenninkyo Onsen

Tenninkyo Onsen

Tenninkyo Onsen is a small onsen resort in the Daisetsuzan National Park, Hokkaidō, Japan. It consists of a number of high-rise concrete hotels, and has two waterfalls that attract a number of visitors: the 270 meter Hagoramo Waterfall and the Shikishima Waterfall...

.

See also

• List of national parks of Japan
• List of Special Places of Scenic Beauty, Special Historic Sites and Special Natural Monuments

External links

• Official Website of Daisetsuzan National Park
• Daisetsuzan National Park at Biodiversity Center of Japan, Ministry of the Environment
• Gretel Ehrlich: Daisetsuzan, National Geographic Magazine
  National Geographic Magazine
  National Geographic, formerly the National Geographic Magazine, is the official journal of the National Geographic Society. It published its first issue in 1888, just nine months after the Society itself was founded...
  
  August 2008 link