HOKKAIDO FOREST RESEARCH STATION

Shibecha Branch
553 Tawa, Shibecha-cho, Kawakami-gun, Hokkaido, 088-2339
Tel. +81-15-485-2637 Fax. +81-15-485-4016
Shiranuka Branch
8-1-10 Nishinijo-kita, Shiranuka-cho, Shiranuka-gun, Hokkaido, 088-0322
Mail. hokuken*mail2.adm.kyoto-u.ac.jp ( * –> @ )

Chief, Associate Professor
　KOBAYASHI, Kazuya, D.Agr. (Hokkaido Univ.), Evolutionary Ecology
Assistant Professor
　SUGIYAMA, Yoriko, D. Human and Environmental Studies (Kyoto Univ.), Fungal ecology

This forest is composed of two parts, Shibecha (1,447ha) and Shiranuka (880ha). These forests are located in the eastern part of Hokkaido Prefecture and are situated close to three national parks: Akan, Shiretoko, and Kushiro-Shitsugen. The climate is greatly influenced by the Pacific Ocean. Consequently it is characterized by sea fog and cloudy weather in summer, and cold (min. temp. -30 deg. C and dry winter. The annual mean temperature and the annual precipitation are 5.7 deg. C and 1,157mm in Shibecha, and 7.3 deg. C and 1,318mm in Shiranuka respectively.

Three quarters of Shibecha forest is covered with natural deciduous broad-leaved trees and the rest is artificial forests, such as Larix kaempferi. Though the vegetation type is secondary forest, it is of great value since very few natural forests remain in the Konsen district. Shiranuka forest is mostly natural mixed stands with conifers and deciduous broad-leaved trees.

The main subjects of research are the stand dynamics of natural forests and the improvement of silvicultural techniques. Field practice for students involving the classification of vegetation in the eastern part of Hokkaido, methods of thinning, and investigation of the structure of snow and ice is available three times a year, during summer and winter.

URL : http://fserc.kyoto-u.ac.jp/wp/hokkaido/

Access Shibecha Branch * By airplane from Tokyo — By airplane from Haneda Airport(HND) to Kushiro Airport(KUH) [1h 35min] * By airplane from Osaka — (1) By airplane(Peach Aviation) from Kansai Airport(KIX) to Kushiro Airport(KUH) [2h or 2.5h] — (2) By airplane from Kansai Airport(KIX) or Osaka International Airport(ITM) to Kushiro Airport(KUH) via Haneda Airport(HND) [3.5h (excluding transfer time)] * By public transport or car from Kushiro Airport(KUH) — (1) By bus from the airport to JR Kushiro sta. on Kushiro Airport Shuttle [45min] —- By JR train from Kushiro sta. to Shibecha sta. [55min] —- By taxi from Shibecha sta. to Shibecha Branch (3km) [10min] ※40min on foot, 10min by bus — (2) By car from the airport to Shibecha Branch via Route 391 (71km) [1h 20min] * By car from JR Kushiro sta. — By car to Shibecha Branch Station via Route 391 (50km) [1h] * By car from Sapporo city — By car to Shibecha Branch via highway (350km) [5h] Shiranuka Branch For access to the Shiranuka Branch, please contact by e-mail. Mail. hokuken*mail2.adm.kyoto-u.ac.jp ( * –> @ )