In early July we held the 5th monitoring tour for international visitors. In continuing this series of monitoring tours, the first four were all based on existing tour courses, however, this time we created a brand-new course, the first of its kind, the "Best of Samani" tour. This course was created based off of feedback we had received from the participants of the previous monitoring tours. A one-day course to see the best that Samani has to offer. Perfect for visitors who only have a limited amount of time to explore the geopark.

The morning started off overcast with Mt. Apoi hidden behind a curtain of fog. The participants met with the geopark guides in front of town hall and immediately headed to the Mt. Apoi Geopark Visitor Center to get an overview of the geopark. The guides used the new projection mapping display to show the participants the tour route we would be taking that day.

Next, we headed to Mt. Kannon where we were greeted by some young fox kits relaxing in the parking area. Here the participants learned more about the history of Mt. Kannon and the 33 Kannon statues that are enshrined there. We climbed up to the observation deck just in time for the fog to thin and catch a glimpse of Mt. Apoi.

After Mt. Kannon we headed to the Ainu chise located in the Okada district of Samani. This is a traditionally built Ainu building. The roof and walls are made from reeds that were taken from the nearby Samani River. Since the reeds are hollow it makes for excellent insulation in summer and winter. We were able to go inside this traditional Ainu building and see how it was constructed and learn about the different rites and ceremonies that are conducted inside. Even though the sun had come out and it was starting to warm up outside, it was nice and cool inside the chise.

We were closing in on lunch time, so after a quick restroom break we went to the Samani Dam for a very special lunch. Everyone sat down at a small gazebo right next to the dam and eagerly opened up the Apoi Dream Bento boxed lunches. These boxed lunches are designed by the Samani Junior High School students and made from locally sourced ingredients like Apoi Rice, salmon, and sea whelk. It was a wonderful assortment! After everyone finished eating, I began preparing for a special outdoor tea ceremony for the participants to experience some traditional Japanese culture. The participants enjoyed the outdoor tea ceremony in the beautiful weather.

After lunch our guide explained a little about the dam then we headed towards the Samani Folk Museum. Some of the exhibits are in the middle of being renewed, but we were still able to hear more about the history of Samani and see some of the Ainu artifacts.

After visiting the Folk Museum, we went to nearby Cape Enrumu. By this time the clouds and fog gave way to clear blue skies and we were rewarded with a wonderful view of Mt. Apoi and the surrounding area.

The last stop was Oyako-iwa Fureai Beach, where the participants learned the Ainu legend behind the Parent-Child Rocks. We sat down to enjoy a new treat, Mokka Butter Cream Sandwiches in strawberry and kelp flavors that is now being sold in the geopark. Afterwards the participants took off their shoes and headed down to the beach to look for seashells. We found a variety of things including a starfish, a washed-up jellyfish, sand dollar, and goose barnacles. The cold ocean water felt food, and it was a relaxing end to a whirlwind tour of Samani and the geopark.


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We've been experiencing a hotter summer than usual here in Samani.

On Sunday, July 18^th, we held an event to clean up the beach around Cape Enrumu and to learn more about the area.

We had around 50 volunteers made up of Hidaka Credit Union staff, firefighters, Mt. Apoi Geopark guides, and townspeople.

Due to the natural harbor created by the cape there was a quite a bit of trash and drift wood that washed ashore. The volunteers worked hard for 2 hours picking up cans, plastic bottles, plastic containers and more. We filled 50 120-liter bags and 30 45-liter bags. It was a lot, but we still were not able to pick up everything.

Did you know that sand originates from the mountains and that the geological composition of the mountains can change the color of the sand? The sand around Samani tends to be darker in color and one reason for that is a higher iron sand content. We tested this idea by using magnets to see how much iron was in the surrounding sand.

We found several unusual objects that drifted ashore such as a birch buoy that came from abroad, pipes and feeders from eel fishing, and even pumice.

Here are some flowers that bloom along the coastline.

Seashore False Bindweed, Hamahirugao

Hamanigana

It was a hot day, but the coastline is a lot cleaner now.

Prior to the Samani Elementary School climbing Mt. Apoi this year, we held an informative presentation for the students. Every year the geopark sends a lecturer to the school, however, due to COVID-19 we held the first online lecture.

A look inside the classroom.

The students watched the presentation on a monitor in their classroom.

The presentation included information on the flowers, insects, rocks, and important aspects of Mt. Apoi.

From the lecturer's side of the monitor we could hear the student's energetic voices, see them nodding their heads, and taking notes. The presentations were held on different dates for each participating grade level: 6th grade on May 13th, 5th grade on May 13th, and 4th grade on May 19th.

This was the first time this kind of online exchange was implemented in a school in Mt. Apoi Geopark. Thanks to the elementary school faculty who facilitated communication among the students, the presentations were a success. Afterwards, we did realize that it might be best to narrow down the content since it does take more time than an in-person presentation.

Towards the end of February, we held a guided winter hike up Mt. Apoi for foreign visitors. This time we had two participants, two guides, one interpreter, and one geopark staff. Since our participants had never attempted a winter hike, before heading towards the trailhead they were each given a set of spikes to put on the bottom of their shoes. The hiking trail is icy this time of year and this would ensure everyone has the traction needed to safely climb up the mountain. The guides cautioned everyone to keep space between their feet so you don't catch the spikes on your own leg.

As we walked towards the hiking trail our guide started explaining what kind of forest we would be walking through. The woods on the lower half of Mt. Apoi are a mix of coniferous and broad-leafed trees. He continued to point out some of the different pine trees that we could see. A sudden "rata-tat-tat" from a black-woodpecker brought our heads around and our guides were able to spot it high up in the trees.

The hiking trail was completely covered in ice! The ice was so thick and even somewhat clear that at times it felt like we were climbing up a frozen waterfall. The trees prevented the strong wind from getting to us and our bodies quickly warmed up during the brisk hike to the 5th station. Along the way our guides pointed out old holes that were dug by bears, and markings on a tree that were from a deer's antlers. We even came across a fallen tree where the bark had been completely stripped by deer.

About ⅔ of the way to the 5th station our guide pointed out a marked difference in the landscape. From here the area was visibly marked by large peridotite rock outcroppings that suddenly appeared along the sides of the trail.

Shortly after that, we made it to the 5th station mountain hut. Here we took a long rest before heading further up the mountain. Leaving the 5th station also meant we left the tree line behind and the wind soon picked up even though it was a beautifully sunny day. As we climbed higher the views of Samani and the Pacific Ocean opened up before our eyes. The stark contrast of the snowy mountain and the shining blue ocean was breathtaking. As we neared the 6th station our guide began pointing out the Siberian dwarf pine trees and a rare hybrid Hakkoda pine. Even though the trail was buried in the snow there were still enough outcroppings of rock to show some of the different types of peridotite rock.

We also found a few small snow rollers along the path, a rare phenomenon where snowballs form naturally as chunks of snow are blown down a hill.

At last, we made it to our goal, the Horse's Back, just past the 7th station. From here we had a wonderful view of the Samani valley, the Hidaka Mountains, and the peak of Mt. Apoi. Our guides explained how the mountains were formed and how the unique uplifting of the land created the mysterious Apoi Mountainmass. The wind was getting steadily stronger so we decided to head back down to the 5th station mountain hut to have lunch.



After the lunch break, we headed back down through the forest. We stopped once at the 4th rest spot and one of our guides was able to find a sleepy Japanese Crawfish (endangered species) that inhabits the mountain stream. As we came close to the final descent, we spotted a herd of Ezo deer in a small clearing. At first there were only two deer standing a ways away, then three, then five! It was a lovely way to end the hike.

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Mid-October we held a third guided tour for foreign visitors. Compared to the first two guided tours where we visited each site by car, for this tour we decided to hike the historic Samani Mountain Path. This time we had four participants plus one guide and one interpreter.

We met the participants at the Horomon Community Center at nine in the morning. Before heading to the trail head, we first visited the Wasuke Jizo enshrined nearby. We learned about how Wasuke was important in assisting the construction of the Samani Mountain Path, and about his famous grandson, Hakodate Daikei who was a pioneer in Japanese horseracing. Next, as we walked towards the east entrance our guide pointed out Nenbutsu-Zaka. "Zaka" is Japanese for "hill," but it was anything but a hill. This steep cliff used to be one of the few ways a traveler could access the wooded area above the sea cliffs to pass through the area. It is dangerous to climb so travelers would chant "nenbutsu," Buddhist mantras, for safe passage, hence the name Nenbutsu-Zaka.

We reached the east entrance and began our hike. Not long afterwards we found the first porcelain electrical insulator lying on the ground. The Samani Mountain Path was also used as a maintenance path when the first telegraph lines were installed. You can find the shards of these porcelain electrical insulators laying around, as well as the utility poles, all along the trail. Some have company logos on them, and the participants were encouraged to see how many different logos they could find.

"Yama Etsu" is the logo for Yama Etsu Denki Seito (1886~), an electrical company in Seto City, Aichi prefecture.

As we ventured further into the forest there was a section clear of trees. Our guide stopped and asked if the participants knew why this clearing was here. A few offered up some guesses, but none were correct. Apparently, before the mountain path was constructed the people who settled here used to farm here at the top of the cliffs. Can you imagine having to carry farming equipment up and down Nenbutsu-Zaka??

Continuing down the trail we came to Luranbetsu Stream and the lowest elevation along the Samani Mountain Path. Ropes have been installed to help hikers cross the stream and climb up the other side. It was tricky but we all made it safely to the other side.

Shortly after the stream there is a small fork in the path, and if you turn right there is a viewpoint to see the Hidaka Yabakei. We had a lovely view of the cliffside and the beautiful blue ocean.

Another 30-60 minutes later we arrived at the old Harada Inn site. Here we stopped to take a rest and eat lunch. After everyone had eaten the guide told us about the Harada Inn and the archeological excavation that was conducted a few years ago. Even now you can occasionally find old shards of teacups and other pottery laying around on the ground.

It's about an hour hike from the Harada Inn to the Kotoni entrance. Along the way we came across a few more streams, such as the Komamonai and Ohonai Streams. These places were originally named by the indigenous Ainu. Komamonai means "a place of dry leaves," and Ohonai means "deep stream."

Towards the end of the trail our guide stopped to show us claw marks on a tree. The marks went all the way to the top of the tree. This shows that a bear most likely climbed up to the top to reach the fruit or nuts. "But don't worry," said our guide, "these claw marks are old."

After 4.5 hours of hiking we finally made it to the Kotoni entrance. The Samani Mountain Path is a mysterious hike that allows you to step into the past and experience what it was like to travel through the area before modern roads.