While most of the mountains situated within Daisetsuzan National Park are as high as around 2,000 m above sea level, due to the area's high latitudes, the park is noted for its harsh alpine environment comparable to the mountains of the main island reaching as high as 3,000 m, exhibiting a splendid distribution of the alpine belt.
Noted for its vast area, Mt. Daisetsu hosts diverse vegetation, thanks to its geographical features and harsh weather conditions. While the foot of the mountain is a vast forest zone consisting of needleleaf mainly of the Yezo spruce and Todo fir, and broadleaf trees, as the elevation increases, the appearance changes with a coniferous forest and Erman's birch forest, and further, it changes to the forest limit and creeping pine zone. The communities of alpine plants growing near the mountaintop are home to nearly 250 species, which account for 40% of the alpine plants found in Japan.
Communities of Alpine Plants
Mt. Tomuraushi Viewed over Numa-no-hara High Moor
At the communities of alpine plants, most of the species are also rare species, such as the Oxytropis japonica var. sericea and Lagotis yesoensis indigenous to Mt. Daisetsu, and the Rishiririndou, whose distribution is limited. The mountaintops retain a number of snowy gorges and snow patches even in the middle of the summer, and the area is filled with colorful alpine flora creating splendid alpine meadows. In addition, a distinctive topography of high moors spreads across the marshland in the plateau region, making a habitat for flora unique to the marshlands and dwarf Japanese spruce.
Communities of Geum pentapetalum, etc.
The stunning forest landscape and the appearance of colorful alpine flora indeed creates the landscape called "Kamuimintara" by the Ainu, meaning the Playground of the Gods. In addition, a distinctive topography of high moors spreads across the marshland in the plateau region, making a habitat for flora unique to the marshlands and dwarf Japanese spruce .