Title: From a Miner's Mountain to a Tourist's Mountain-- Japan's First Certified Guided Tour in a Volcano

Destination, Country: Teshikaga Town, Japan
Submitted by: Sanae Kinase, Sustainability Coordinator, Teshikaga Town
In the category: ☒ Destination Management☐ Nature & Scenery☐ Environment & Climate☐ Culture & Tradition☐ Thriving Communities☐ Business & Marketing

The Story in a picture:
Climbing Atosanupuri Volcano with a certified guide

Summary:(1) Problem: Teshikaga Town, a town rich in nature in a national park, had experienced a sharp
decline in the number of tourists since the beginning of the 2000s. Many people said that in order torebuild the town's “tired” economy and to create a new attraction as a tourism destination, amountain climbing tour should be developed at Mt. Io, also known as Atosanupuri, a volcano thathas long been cherished by the local people. However, Atosanupuri had been off-limits since 2000
due to the danger of falling rocks.
(2) Solution: The resources of "Atosanupuri" were designated as a specific natural tourism resource
based on the Ecotourism Promotion Law, and a unique certified guide system was established afterrestricting entry.
(3) Result: A trekking tour up Atosanupuri was developed under the guidance of certified guides. Asystem was also established to return a portion of the tour participation fees to environmental
improvement expenses. The tour won the "18th Ecotourism Grand Prize”. Local residents andelementary school students are also offered the opportunity to climb the mountain free of charge.

Good Practice Story:
Destination description
Brief background of the destination.
Teshikaga Town, located in the eastern part of Hokkaido, is rich in nature, with 65% of the town area
designated as Akan Mashu National Park. Most of the town lies within the Kussharo Caldera, thelargest caldera in Japan. Lake Kussharo, the largest caldera lake in Japan; Lake Mashu, one of theclearest lakes in the world; an active volcano, deep forests, and the Kushiro River, referred to as asacred place for canoeists -- are all located in Teshikaga Town, where many wild animals and about
6,500 people live in harmony amid this abundance of nature.
One of the places in Teshikaga where one can best feel the caldera land is the Atosanupuri volcano,which is still erupting. In the language of the indigenous Ainu people, "Atosanupuri" means "nakedmountain.” This mountain has been important to the Ainu people since ancient times, providing
source of highly acidic hot spring water, which gushes out at the Kawayu Hot Springs at the foot ofthe mountain. The mountain was also used as a sulfur mine from 1877 to 1963 because of thehigh-quality sulfur that could be extracted there. Many miners stayed in the area, where a railroadwas built to transport the sulfur, which played a major role in the development of Hokkaido today.

Issues faced
Problems/issues solved with the Good Practice Story.
In 1991, the number of annual overnight visitors to Teshikaga reached 730,000, of which 560,000
stayed in the Kawayu Hot Springs area alone. However, after that the number of overnight visitors
has since declined sharply, as travel patterns have shifted from group tourists to individual travelers(FITs). By 2015, the number of overnight visitors was one-third of what it was at its peak. The declinein visitors led to a variety of problems for the region, including an increase in the number ofabandoned hotels, population decline, stagnation in the local economy, and deterioration of the fieldenvironment due to a lack of maintenance cost.
In order to rebuild the local economy to solve these problems, many people wanted to develop amountain climbing tour in "Atosanupuri," an important place full of local attractions. After all, this isa special place where one can experience volcanic activity in the Kussharo Caldera, which is also an
important source of hot springs for local residents. However, this mountain, which once prosperedfrom sulfur mining, was closed to visitors by the Forestry Agency, which manages the land, after a
rockfall accident occurred in 2000. We were faced with the challenge of reviving this inaccessiblearea as a tourist destination again and at the same time how protect the valuable resources ofAtosanupuri.

Methods, steps, and tools applied
Solutions implemented to address the sustainability problems or issues.
The most important tool for developing mountaineering tours was the "Teshikaga-style Ecotourism
Promotion Overall Concept," which is a system based on the law and is a guideline set by each region
to promote ecotourism. In 2016, Teshikaga became the first region in Hokkaido to be certified under
the overall concept, clearly defining the nature and rules to be protected.
The overall concept was formulated by the Teshikaga Eco-machi Promotion Council, a resident-led
community development organization established in 2008. The entire council has been promoting
eco-tourism in order to create a sustainable tourist area and a town that residents themselves areproud to live in.

Teshikaga Town and the Teshikaga Eco-machi Promotion Council took the lead in developing themountain climbing tour at the Atosanupuri volcano, following the steps below:(STEP 1) Designated a specific natural tourist resource and restriction of entry:
Atosanupuri Volcano has approximately 1,500 fumaroles and beautiful yellow needle-like sulfur
crystals that can be seen around the fumaroles. To ensure that these rare fumaroles and sulfur
crystals are not damaged by climbing, the overall ecotourism promotion plan was revised in 2020 todesignate the fumaroles and sulfur crystals as "designated natural tourism resources" that require
special protection. Subsequently, Atosanupuri was designated as a restricted-entry zone under the
Ecotourism Promotion Law.
(STEP 2) Established a certified guide system:
Climbing a volcano involves not only concerns about environmental degradation, but also risks suchas eruptions and falling rocks. Therefore, a "certified guide system" has been established so thatclimbers can climb the mountain only under the guidance of guides who are well versed in thenature and characteristics of the mountain. Guides must meet the following four requirements: 1)
hold a Hokkaido Outdoor Guide certification 2) Attend " Atosanupuri Studies" 3) have climbed themountain a specified number of times as a support guide 4) be a resident of the town. By clearing
these conditions and receiving the certification of the Teshikaga Eco-machi Promotion Council, it will
be possible to guide in the restricted area. For the actual implementation of the tour, we also
developed guidelines for the maximum number of participants, how to tell the local story, and how
to ensure safety.
(STEP 3) Established a system to allocate a portion of the participation fee to environmental
conservation:
In efforts to achieve both nature conservation and a circular economy, and to encourage travelers totake responsibility for the local environment, we created a system in which a portion of the tour
participation fee is earmarked for environmental conservation and trail maintenance.
The mountain climbing tour in Atosanupuri developed in this way with full-scale sales beginning in
2021 as the "Atosanupuri Trekking Tour" organized by the regional DMO. By participating in thetours, travelers can learn about the origins of the Kussharo Caldera and Kawayu Hot Springs, the floraand fauna living in the volcano and the unique natural environment, along with the history of sulfur
mining, while also contributing to the conservation of the local natural environment.

Key success factors
Critical elements that led to successfully solving the issues.
Three main success factors were identified:(1) Revision of the overall eco-tourism promotion concept and designation of Atosanupuri as a
restricted-access area. This was the first case in Japan to designate a specific natural tourism
resource, designate a restricted area based on this designation, and restrict the number of visitors tothe area.
(2) We took the time to consult not only with the town office, but also with the Forestry Agency, theMinistry of the Environment, the fire and police departments, guide organizations, and many otherrelated organizations. The Teshikaga Eco-machi Promotion Council, which played a central role in theproject, is an organization with solid public-private partnerships, which also contributed greatly tothe success of the development.
(3) The introduction of a certified guide system. The Council has promoted efforts to support inrefining the skills of guides and institutionalizing requirements for certified guides. This has resulted

in the development of guides with a deep understanding and philosophy of Atosanupuri and itssurroundings.

Lessons learned
Challenges faced while implementing the Good Practice and their solutions.
The most important factors to realize the tour were balancing resource protection and safety,
securing access rights for local residents, and informing them of the rules.
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Resource protection was achieved by touring in small groups with certified guides with in-depth
knowledge, preventing valuable natural resources from being damaged, and at the same time
allocating a portion of the participation fee to resource protection and route inspection andmaintenance costs.
Ensuring safety began with establishing safe routes and emergency evacuation routes with many
stakeholders, including the fire and police departments, Forestry Agency, and Ministry of theEnvironment. We set detailed and strict requirements for the certified guides in charge of theactual tours and limited the number of participants to six to ensure the safety of the tours. Inaddition, to improve the safety of all activities in the area, we also regularly hold "outdoor
guiding skill improvement workshops" for all guides working in the area.
To ensure that this place, loved by local residents for many years, does not become "a distantmountain that you have to pay to climb," local elementary school students are invited toparticipate in trekking tours every year. We also ensure accessibility by holding monitoring tours
for local residents twice a year in cooperation with the Board of Education.
The revenue brought to the community through the tours is returned to the community, with aportion of the proceeds going toward environmental improvements. The increase in the numberof participants improves the local environment and economy.
Atosanupuri has clearly defined rules to control visitors, but at the same time, we have put up
easy-to-understand signs at the entrance of the climbing route indicating that it is off-limits sothat people who do not follow the rules do not violate the law and invade the mountain. Also,
leaflets are distributed at visitor centers in the district and stores at the foot of the mountain to
educate visitors.

Achievements and Results
Direct and indirect results of the Good Practice.
1) Developed and launched the Atosanupuri trekking tour as a new tourism resource.
2) Designated the fumaroles and sulfur crystals of Atosanupuri as designated natural tourism
resources.
3) Designated the area as a restricted-entry zone based on the Ecotourism Promotion Law for thefirst time in Japan.
4) A total of 71 people has participated in the "Atosanupuri Studies" course, which is a requirement
for certified guides.
5) "Atosanupuri Trekking Tour" by certified guides has been on sale since the spring of 2021. In 2022,
196 people participated in the tour, generating a sales amount of 1,482,000 yen, of which 106,200
yen was donated to Teshikaga Town as an environmental improvement fund. This fund is used fortrail maintenance in the town, including Atosanupuri, as part of giving back to the community.
6) Every year, local 5th and 6th graders are invited to a trekking tour free of charge.
7) Twice a year, we offer the opportunity for town residents to participate in the Atosanupuri
trekking tour as a "town resident monitor tour." In 2022, 40 people participated, and all responded"satisfied" or "very satisfied" in a questionnaire conducted after the climb.

Tips for other destinations
Your suggestions or recommendations for other destinations facing the same issues or implementing
similar solutionsFirst, it is important to establish a policy.
First is to discuss, establish, and share a policy within the community regarding what resources must
be protected as a community, what needs to be done to protect those resources, what needs to bepreserved for the next generation, and what kind of visitors the community would like to receive.
It is also important to help the residents develop a love for their community. Love of the community
is the most important element, the cornerstone of all efforts. Initiatives that can support thevoluntary activities of local people and platforms that can reflect their opinions in policies will help todevelop tourist destinations with more consideration for the community.
We must remember that we are not aiming for a good region for visitors, but for local residents.

Recognitions and Additional references
Recognitions and awards the Good Practice received and supporting evidence.
In February 2023, the Atosanupuri Trekking Tour received the Grand Prize, the highest award
presented at the 18th Ecotourism Awards, an event jointly sponsored by the Ministry of theEnvironment and the Japan Ecotourism Society.
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18th Ecotourism Grand Prize https://www.env.go.jp/press/press_01217.html
Teshikaga Eco-machi Promotion Council https://teshikaga-ecomachi.studio.site/
Teshikaga-style Ecotourism Promotion Overall Concept
https://www.town.teshikaga.hokkaido.jp/kurashi/soshikiichiran/kankoshokoka/3/ecotourism.html
https://www.town.teshikaga.hokkaido.jp/material/files/group/9/ecotourism2.pdf
Atosanupuri Trekking Tour https://www.masyuko.or.jp/at/- Atosanupuri Trekking Tour Pamphlet
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QOyvYnaKwzV1OPkmiyulND_6_sr5dWRu/view?usp=sharing- Atosanupuri Trekking Tour Video https://youtu.be/LmExzksKrp0
Teshikaga Hokkaido Japan video https://youtu.be/uj2iWUE-1WM
Teshikaga Town pictures and videos
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1tidtAHMPGJXK4ctYSCZXYgpabxuSUp-e?usp=sharing