Dainichidaira, Highland and Ramsar site in Ashikuraji, Japan.
Dainichidaira is a highland plateau with a lava base that holds about 1,000 shallow ponds scattered across its surface. These waters form from snowmelt and rainfall, creating a network of small lakes that define the landscape.
The area gained international protection status as a Ramsar site in 2012, which formalized its conservation significance. This designation meant the site fell under national park management for ongoing environmental care.
The highland holds meaning for those who practice traditional mountain worship, and visitors can sense this through how the landscape is cared for and respected. The quiet setting invites reflection on the relationship between people and high-altitude environments.
A mountain hut at the site offers lodging and meals prepared with local ingredients during the warmer months. It helps to check opening times ahead of time and bring layers for the cool, elevated environment.
The highland is home to rare bird species and insects found in very few other mountain regions of the world. These creatures depend on the specific conditions created by the shallow ponds, which exist nowhere else in quite the same way.
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