Wild Hokkaido!

Our new program "Wild Hokkaido!" offers tourist information highlighting the wonderful nature of Hokkaido. In this episode, actress Charlotte Kate Fox visits the Kushiro area of eastern Hokkaido. After taking in the magnificent landscape of Kushiro Marsh, which is Japan's largest wetland, Fox encounters the Red-crowned crane, a bird that is symbolic of the area. These cranes stay with their partner for the entirety of their lives. Fox was moved by how the cranes synchronize their cries and take off together. She even had the opportunity to witness their mating ritual. The program also includes rare footage of the Red-crowned cranes, documenting their ecology in detail.

In this episode, we are visiting Hakodate in southern Hokkaido, which is gathering increased attention since the bullet train started its operation. Right next to the city stands the home to a breathtaking rich nature, Mt. Hakodate. Actress Charlotte Kate Fox is going up to the peak of Mt. Hakodate via ropeway. From where you can see Mt. Hakodate from a distance, you can enjoy the beautiful spring scenery of southern Hokkaido by riding a Dosanko, the native horse of Hokkaido. We'll also reveal the rare footage of Mt. Hakodate going through changes.

In this episode, we are visiting Furano in central Hokkaido. The cultivated flat lands have been used to create lavish lavender fields, a popular attraction among foreign tourists. Torinuma is one of the few remaining areas in Furano where the original landscape remains intact. Many wild birds gather at the lake because of the abundance of fresh spring water. Charlotte Kate Fox has begun bird-watching! She has spotted a duck floating upside down reaching for algae as well as a woodpecker searching for insects in trees.

In this episode, Charlotte Kate Fox visits Otaru, which is a 45-minute drive from Sapporo. The retro canal is a very popular tourist attraction. Otaru was a prospering town in the past and fished over a million tons of herring annually. For a period, the herring population had declined, but successful spawning has been observed in recent years. We will show you the impressive footage of the herring spawning later in the show. Charlotte will also try skishoe trekking for the first time on a mountain with an amazing ocean view! Join her, as she gets close to nature while enjoying the scenery of a snowy forest.

In this episode, our stage is the city that is home to the New Chitose airport and is known as the Sky's gateway to Hokkaido, Chitose. The Chitose River, which flows through the city, is well known for its clear streams as well as the salmon that swim upstream. Thanks to the abundance of nature along the stream, the river is also home to a wide variety of birds. In this program, we will witness rare footage of these birds that capture their ecology, and our host Charlotte Kate Fox will also visit a bird-watching café on the outskirts of the city to capture the wild birds on camera.

In this episode, our stage is a popular tourist destination that is also registered as a "UNESCO Global Geopark", Lake Toya. The caldera lake that was created 110,000 years ago creates a myriad of breathtaking views. In the lake and surrounding rivers, the spawning of Masu salmon can also be seen, and they, along with many other fish, develop healthily thanks to the nutrients provided by the volcanic ash. In this program, we will witness the rare footage of wild animals that capture their ecology, and our host Charlotte Kate Fox will also go on a hike around the surrounding area.

Our stage today is Mt. Usu, a registered UNESCO Global Geopark. Our host will visit the Volcano Science Museum and explore the crater that was formed by the eruption of 2000. Steam rises from the crater of Mt. Usu even to this day and gives visitors a sense of the power that the volcano that erupted 4 times in the 20th century possesses. In addition, NHK has been documenting the changes to the surrounding nature of Mt. Usu since the eruption. These precious footages display the destructive power of volcanoes, as well as nature’s incredible ability to restore itself.

In this episode, we will visit the town that is home to numerous world-renowned ski resorts, Niseko. We will introduce a side of Niseko's vast nature that can only be experienced during its short summer period. Our host will raft down the Shiribetsu River, which has stronger currents during this season due to the snowmelt. Niseko is also well known for the wide variety of vibrant flowers that blossom near the mountaintops. How do these flowers survive the long winters of Niseko? Our precious footage will uncover the many strategies for survival that these plants possess.

Our stage today has the largest surface area of its kind in Japan, the Kushiro Wetlands. Our host will canoe down a river that flows through that wetland. Due to the quietness of canoes, it is ideal for observing wild animals. We encounter sika deers and white-tailed eagles, whose wingspan can reach up to 2 meters. In addition, we will witness the rare footage of a red-crowned crane couple warming up their eggs, as well as Siberian salamanders laying their eggs that can only be found in this area in Japan. Please enjoy the great nature of the vast Kushiro Wetlands.

This episode's stage is Shimukappu, located near the center of Hokkaido and a 90-minute train ride away from Sapporo. Forests cover 90% of Shimukappu's landscape. Mesmerizing fog covers the lush faces of the mountains from summer to autumn. Our host will travel up the mountain to behold the awe-inspiring beauty of the scenery, and then go deeper into the forest on a mountain bike. We have also prepared rare footage of the creatures that live in the foggy forests.