Hokkaido's Taisetsu Mountains Burn with Fall Colors
By wchung | 01 Mar, 2026
The foothills of the Taisetsu Range boast some of the world’s most spectacular eruptions of autumn colors. These mountains form the central backbone of Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan’s four main islands.
The many peaks that stretch along the range’s 32-mile east-west ridgeline rise over 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) above sea level and are snow-covered 8 months of the year. The highest peak is Mt. Asahidake on the western edge which is thought to be erupted as recently as 500 years ago.
The indigenous caucasoid people known as the Ainu called the region “God’s Garden”. Today it’s called “The Roof of Hokkaido” and is Japan’s biggest National Park, covering 230,000 hectare in the very center of the island. It attracts large numbers of skiers as well as hikers and tourists.
Left: Hikers take photos of autumn leaves reflected on Takimi Lake on Taisetsu Mountain Range at Kamikawacho on Japan's northern main island of Hokkaido on Monday, Sept. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Kyodo News, Kota Ishikawa); Above: Mt Asahidake is the tallest of the volcanic peaks in the Taisetsu Range.
Articles
- Iran Attack Likely to Divide Largely Isolationist MAGA Base
- Nvidia to Launch Inference-Centered Chip for OpenAI, Other AI Firms
- China Cuts Tariffs on Canadian Canola in Strategic Push to Tighten Relations
- World Reviles Lawless US-Israeli Distraction Attack on Iran
- Asian Cafes Refresh the Bay Area Coffee Scene
Asian American Success Stories
- The 130 Most Inspiring Asian Americans of All Time
- 12 Most Brilliant Asian Americans
- Greatest Asian American War Heroes
- Asian American Digital Pioneers
- New Asian American Imagemakers
- Asian American Innovators
- The 20 Most Inspiring Asian Sports Stars
- 5 Most Daring Asian Americans
- Surprising Superstars
- TV’s Hottest Asians
- 100 Greatest Asian American Entrepreneurs
- Asian American Wonder Women
- Greatest Asian American Rags-to-Riches Stories
- Notable Asian American Professionals