List of national parks of Japan explained

and of Japan are places of scenic beauty that are designated for protection and sustainable use by the Minister of the Environment under the of 1957.[1] National parks are designated and in principle managed by the Ministry of the Environment. Quasi-national parks, of a slightly lesser beauty, size, diversity, or state of preservation, are recommended for ministerial designation and managed by the prefectures under the supervision of the ministry.[2]

History

Japan established its first or public parks in 1873 (Asakusa Park, Asukayama Park, Fukagawa Park, Shiba Park, and Ueno Park). In 1911 local citizens petitioned that the shrines and forests of Nikkō be placed under public protection. In 1929 the National Parks Association was formed. In 1931 the first was passed. After much study and survey, in March 1934 the first parks were established — Setonaikai, Unzen and Kirishima — with five more in December and a further four two years later. Three further parks were established under the old National Parks Law, in colonial Taiwan in 1937: the Tatun National Park (the smallest in Japan); Tsugitaka-Taroko National Park, (the largest); and Niitaka-Arisan National Park (with the highest mountain in then Japan).[3]

Ise-Shima was the first to be created after the war, and a further seven had been added by 1955.

In 1957 the Natural Parks Law replaced the earlier National Parks Law, allowing for three categories: the national, quasi-national, and prefectural natural parks. With minor amendments this established the framework that operates today.[4] [5]

As of 1 April 2014, there were 31 national parks and 56 quasi-national parks, with the national parks covering 20,996 km2 (5.6% of the land area) and the quasi-national parks 13,592 km2 (3.6% of the land area). In addition, there were 314 prefectural parks covering 19,726 km2 (5.2% of the land area).[6] On 27 March 2015, the 32nd national park was established, Myōkō-Togakushi Renzan National Park,[7] on 15 September 2016, the 33rd, Yanbaru National Park, and on 7 March 2017, the 34th, Amami Guntō National Park, subsuming Amami Guntō Quasi-National Park.[8] [9] On 25 March 2016, a further quasi-national park was established, Kyoto Tamba Kogen Quasi-National Park, on 27 March 2020, Chūō Alps Quasi-National Park, and, on 30 March 2021, the 58th, Akkeshi-Kiritappu-Konbumori Quasi-National Park.[10] [11] On 25 June 2024, Hidaka-sanmyaku Erimo Quasi-National Park was redesignated Hidakasanmyaku-Erimo-Tokachi National Park, making it the 35th national park.[12]

Protection status

The area of each national and quasi-national park is divided into ordinary, special and marine park zones. Special zones are further subdivided into special protection and class I, II, and III special zones, restricting access and use for preservation purposes. The state owns only approximately half of the land in the parks.[13]

Map of national parks

This map shows the locations of the national parks in Japan. Note Ogasawara National Park is not visible on the map.

List of national parks

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NameEstablishedRegionArea [ha]Photo
Akan Mashu National Park1934Hokkaidō
Minami Alps National Park1964Chūbu
Amami Guntō National Park2017Kyūshū
Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park1972Shikoku
Aso Kujū National Park1934Kyūshū
Bandai-Asahi National Park1950Tōhoku
Chichibu Tama Kai National Park1950Kantō
Chūbu-Sangaku National Park1934Chūbu
Daisen-Oki National Park1936Chūgoku
Daisetsuzan National Park1934Hokkaidō
Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park1936Kantō
Hakusan National Park1962Chūbu
Hidakasanmyaku-Erimo-Tokachi National Park2024Hokkaido
Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park1972Kyūshū
Ise-Shima National Park1946Kinki
Jōshin'etsu-kōgen National Park1949Kantō
Kerama Shotō National Park2014Kyūshū
Kirishima-Kinkowan National Park1934Kyūshū
Kushiro-shitsugen National Park1987Hokkaidō
Myōkō-Togakushi Renzan National Park2015Chūbu
Nikkō National Park1934Kantō
Ogasawara National Park1972Kantō
Oze National Park1972Tōhoku and Kantō
Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park1974Hokkaidō
Saikai National Park1955Kyūshū
Sanin Kaigan National Park1936Kinki
Sanriku Fukkō National Park1955Tōhoku
Setonaikai National Park1934Kinki, Chūgoku, Shikoku, Kyushu (Joint management)
Shikotsu-Tōya National Park1949Hokkaidō
Shiretoko National Park1964Hokkaidō
Towada-Hachimantai National Park1936Tōhoku
Unzen-Amakusa National Park1934Kyūshū
Yakushima National Park2012Kyūshū
Yanbaru National Park2016Kyūshū
Yoshino-Kumano National Park1936Kinki

List of quasi-national parks

Hokkaidō

Tōhoku

Kantō

Chūbu

Kansai

Chūgoku and Shikoku

Kyūshū

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Natural Parks Act (1957) . . 1 February 2012.
  2. Web site: Natural Park Systems in Japan . . 4, 12 . 1 February 2012.
  3. Web site: Landscapes of National Parks in Taiwan During the Japanese Colonial Period . Kanda Koji . . 8 October 2016.
  4. Book: National Parks of Japan . Sutherland, Mary . Britton, Dorothy . . 1995 . 6f . 4-7700-1971-8.
  5. Web site: Natural Park Systems in Japan . . 1f . 1 February 2012.
  6. Web site: Summary table of area figures for Natural Parks . . 1 April 2014 . 29 November 2015.
  7. Web site: Birth of Myoko Togakushi Renzan National Park . . 10 June 2015 . 29 November 2015.
  8. Web site: http://www.env.go.jp/nature/np/yambaru.html . ja:やんばる国立公園について . About Yanbaru National Park - Summary . ja . . 8 October 2016.
  9. Web site: http://www.env.go.jp/press/103074.html . ja:奄美群島国立公園(仮称)の指定及び公園計画の決定等に関する意見の募集について . Consultation about the Establishment of Amami Guntō National Park . ja . . 6 October 2016 . 11 March 2011.
  10. Web site: 京都丹波高原国定公園の指定日について . . ja . 24 March 2016 . 12 June 2016.
  11. Web site: https://www.env.go.jp/press/109371.html . ja:58カ所目となる国定公園「厚岸霧多布昆布森国定公園」が誕生します . 58th Quasi-National Park "Akkeshi-Kiritappu-Konbumori Quasi-National Park" Created . Japanese . . 26 March 2021 . 5 August 2021.
  12. Web site: The 35th National Park "Hidakasanmyaku-Erimo-Tokachi National Park" was born! . . 25 June 2024 . 9 July 2024.
  13. Web site: Natural Park Systems in Japan . . 2f . 1 February 2012.