Shirakami Beech Forest

Here and there among the beeches of the forest along the slopes are mizunara oaks. Japanese beech trees are not well suited to steep slopes and dry soil, and they are interspersed with oaks, which can withstand such conditions. Besides oaks and beeches, the forest is home to Kuril bamboo, full-moon maple, lindera, and other species characteristic of beech forests in areas that receive heavy winter snows. This is a common forest composition in northern locations along the Sea of Japan.