Hiking in the rich nature of Mt. Mokoto,

a treasure trove of topography.

A hiking expert captures fascinating scenery on camera.

The mysterious Lake Kussharo lies below.

It's astoundingly beautiful.

Come on a journey to discover spectacular scenery

created by this unique terrain.

Wild Hokkaido!

Located in eastern Hokkaido is Mt. Mokoto.

Its elevation is 1,000 meters.

All the way to its peak,

it's covered in a lush green during the summer.

Here today to encounter this distinctive scenery

is mountaineering enthusiast, Jon Mott.

Nice weather. Looks like a good day for a hike.

Jon is a veteran hiker who has climbed many peaks

both in the US and Japan.

This will be a light hike for him,

so he'll have a chance to really soak up the scenery.

Nature guide Katase Shinobu knows this area well

and will accompany Jon on the hike today.

It's a family friendly mountain,

so even a little kid can climb up.

And when we get there, we can see Lake Kussharo.

It's a very good view.

Below Mt. Mokoto is Lake Kussharo, a freshwater lake.

It's home to a variety of wildlife.

At the summit, they'll be rewarded

with an impressive view of the lake.

So today, I brought my camera.

And I'm looking forward to taking some pictures of the different plants

and also the scenery from the top of the mountain.

Jon loves taking photos.

He's especially captivated by the mysterious shapes found in nature.

What kind of shots will he take on the way up Mt. Mokoto?

Before they start their hike,

they'll do a safety check.

Katase-san, I see you're carrying a bear bell and bear spray.

Is it necessary?

Yeah, I think so. So that we don't see them,

we should use a bell to inform them that we are here.

So that we don't need to see them up close.

If a bear comes close to us,

then maybe we need to use the bear spray,

but this is only for an emergency.

Taking proper safety measures will ensure

both humans and brown bears can stay safe.

Looks like they're ready, so it's time to set off.

Dense trees narrow the path,

lining both sides of the mountain trail.

It's like a tunnel in here.

The thicket of branches do make it seem like

they're walking through a green tunnel.

This is called Haimatsu.

Siberian Dwarf Pines are evergreen trees

that grow in alpine areas.

Generally, they grow low to the ground,

but here, they have grown to the height of an adult.

This mountain is not really high,

but the temperature is very low.

It doesn't get strong wind, so that's why it grows high.

So this tunnel formed by pines

is a sight unique to Mt. Mokoto.

They climb up the winding path.

Then...

Ah, this is cool.

Jon has found a rotting tree.

Its bark is peeling away from the trunk.

What is it about this particular tree that caught Jon's interest?

This section is interesting.

He seems interested in the surface of the tree trunk.

He's captured a mysterious whitish pattern on the trunk.

What exactly is this patterning?

Lichen. These are cool pictures.

Growing densely on the tree's bark is a type of lichen.

Lichen is the result of a symbiotic relationship between algae and fungi,

and has created this interesting pattern.

They keep looking around as they walk.

Great photographic subjects can be found

in the most unassuming places.

When they come across an open space...

Jon found something else.

That's a pretty one. Do you know the name?

This yellow flower is a species of European Goldenrod, an alpine plant.

It looks like Jon is intrigued by something about it.

He sets up his shot.

He's using a tripod to take a steady shot.

The flowers sway when the wind blows,

so he waits for the perfect moment to snap a picture.

Ah, that was pretty good.

The shot also showcases an unusual feature of this flower.

In fact, it's not a single flower.

It's actually composed of a cluster of many tiny flowers.

A characteristic of the aster family.

It seems that there's hidden beauty to be found

even in the tiny world that exists beneath our feet.

Now for "SENSEI's Tips."

A beautiful bloom deserves a beautiful photo, right?

Here's a simple trick to get the perfect lighting.

All you need is some aluminum foil.

Reflect the light of the sun off the foil,

and try aiming it at your subject.

By doing this...

it looks like it's lit by a spotlight.

Now you can get a beautiful shot, too!

As they gain elevation, the vegetation changes and the path widens.

They've reached the mountain ridge.

Below them lies Lake Kussharo.

It's astoundingly beautiful. Quite wide. Graceful.

The calm surface of the lake reflects the blue sky above,

looking like a polished mirror.

In the distance stands Mt. Oakandake.

It's an imposing silhouette.

The island in the lake's center is called Nakajima.

Landing is prohibited, so its nature remains untouched.

They continue to climb hoping that

they will be able to see an even more impressive sight.

All the while overlooking Lake Kussharo,

they continue along the mountain ridge.

I need more wind.

I know! I want to go swimming in the lake.

After a little while, a large rock formation appears before them.

That's a pretty cool rock.

This rock is called "Byobuiwa."

Byobuiwa translates to "folding screen rock."

Thousands of years ago, magma flowed through a lava chamber,

which then cooled and hardened.

Cooled lava is extremely hard,

so this unique shape has persisted

even though the other rocks have been weathered away by wind and rain.

The mountaineers will climb the notches etched into the back of Byobuiwa.

It's formed a natural staircase.

But the steps are tricky, so take care.

There's no feeling like conquering rocky terrain.

Once they climb it, the summit is within reach.

Okay.

- Nice job.
- Yeah, we made it.

What a great view.

Yeah, we can see everything today.

Stupendous!

The view from the top of Mt. Mokoto is truly majestic.

Lake Kussharo can be seen in its entirety.

As Jon admires the view, he seems to notice something.

Now that we have a full view of the lake,

I can see it's surrounded by mountains.

It's true that the lake is surrounded by a ring of mountains.

Actually, this Lake Kussharo is a caldera lake.

So that means it was all a volcano before?

Lake Kussharo is Japan's largest caldera lake.

Enormous volcanic eruptions formed several large pits here,

which then filled with water,

creating the original shape of Lake Kussharo

around 30,000 years ago.

So there used to be a big mountain from this slope.

- Going up?
- Going up.

So, this is the left over from the ancient mountain.

The sheer scale of nature is hidden here in the land.

Jon imagines what it could have been like,

and tries to capture that history.

This one shot reveals the ancient secrets of this magnificent mountain.

And so, Jon finishes his day of hiking,

having discovered the many unique sights of Mt. Mokoto.

Yeah, beautiful views and an enjoyable mountain overall.

I'd like to come again tomorrow and explore the mountain a bit more.

There's definitely some mysterious aspects to it

that I have yet to understand.

Wait, he's climbing it again?

Just what kind of view is Jon hoping to see tomorrow?

It's 3 am the next morning.

They're at the trailhead.

It's still nighttime,

and I'm about to hike up the mountain pretty much in the dark.

Fortunately, I've got my headlamp,

so I should be able to see the trail as I go.

They'll climb to the summit while it's shrouded in darkness.

They're certainly experienced hikers.

The moonlight guides the way along the mountain path.

They make it to the summit once again.

Perfect timing.

The sunrise from the top of the mountain.

Basking in the early morning sunlight. How refreshing.

Jon is thrilled to have seen the sunrise.

And then, he spots yet another incredible scene.

So, it looks like in the distance, there's still quite a bit of clouds.

It's a sea of clouds.

This sea is caused by mist from the Pacific Ocean

flowing into the Kussharo caldera.

Because the caldera is surrounded by mountains,

the clouds become trapped and accumulate,

resulting in a sea of clouds.

Jon is able to capture the mysterious sight of the clouds

covering the expansive landscape.

The early morning hike gave them the chance

to encounter this miraculous scenery.

For me, mountains are just an easy way

to be outdoors, to connect with nature,

to challenge yourself and get some good exercise,

and feel like you've accomplished something

after you've gone up and down the mountain.

Mt. Mokoto's changing scenery evokes a new impression with every visit.

Wild Hokkaido! takes you on great activities

in the great outdoors of northern Japan.

Join us next time for another adventure!