List of national parks of Japan

Itsukushima in Setonaikai National Park, the first of Japan's National Parks (established 1934)

National Parks (国立公園 Kokuritsu Kōen) and Quasi-National Parks (国定公園 Kokutei Kōen) in Japan are places of scenic beauty designated for protection and sustainable usage by the Minister of the Environment under the Natural Parks Law (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 kōen (公園) 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 and in 1929 the National Parks Association was formed. In 1931 the first National Parks Law was passed and, 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 three two years later. 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 of park, the National, Quasi-National, and Prefectural Natural Parks. With minor amendments this established the framework that operates today.^[3][4]

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).^[5] On 27 March 2015, the 32nd National Park was established, Myōkō-Togakushi Renzan National Park.^[6]

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.^[7]

List of National Parks Hokkaidō Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park Shiretoko National Park Daisetsuzan National Park Akan National Park Kushiro Shitsugen National Park Shikotsu-Tōya National Park Tōhoku Towada-Hachimantai National Park Sanriku Fukkō National Park (formerly Rikuchū Kaigan National Park) Bandai-Asahi National Park Kantō Nikkō National Park Oze National Park Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park Jōshinetsu Kogen National Park Ogasawara National Park Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park Chūbu Chūbu-Sangaku National Park Hakusan National Park Minami Alps National Park Myōkō-Togakushi Renzan National Park Kansai Ise-Shima National Park Yoshino-Kumano National Park Chūgoku and Shikoku Sanin Kaigan National Park Daisen-Oki National Park Setonaikai National Park Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park Kyūshū Saikai National Park Unzen-Amakusa National Park Aso-Kujū National Park Kirishima-Yaku National Park Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park Kerama Shotō National Park

List of Quasi-National Parks Hokkaidō Abashiri Quasi-National Park Hidaka-sanmyaku Erimo Quasi-National Park Niseko-Shakotan-Otaru Kaigan Quasi-National Park Ōnuma Quasi-National Park Shokanbetsu-Teuri-Yagishiri Quasi-National Park Tōhoku Shimokita Hantō Quasi-National Park Tsugaru Quasi-National Park Hayachine Quasi-National Park Kurikoma Quasi-National Park Minami-Sanriku Kinkazan Quasi-National Park Zaō Quasi-National Park Oga Quasi-National Park Chōkai Quasi-National Park Kantō Suigō-Tsukuba Quasi-National Park Minami Bōsō Quasi-National Park Meiji no Mori Takao Quasi-National Park Tanzawa-Ōyama Quasi-National Park Chūbu Echigo Sanzan-Tadami Quasi-National Park Myōgi-Arafune-Saku Kōgen Quasi-National Park Sado-Yahiko-Yoneyama Quasi-National Park Noto Hantō Quasi-National Park Echizen-Kaga Kaigan Quasi-National Park Yatsugatake-Chūshin Kōgen Quasi-National Park Tenryū-Okumikawa Quasi-National Park Ibi-Sekigahara-Yōrō Quasi-National Park Hida-Kisogawa Quasi-National Park Aichi Kōgen Quasi-National Park Mikawa Wan Quasi-National Park Kansai Suzuka Quasi-National Park Wakasa Wan Quasi-National Park Tango-Amanohashidate-Ōeyama Quasi-National Park Biwako Quasi-National Park Murō-Akame-Aoyama Quasi-National Park Kongō-Ikoma-Kisen Quasi-National Park Yamato-Aogaki Quasi-National Park Kōya-Ryūjin Quasi-National Park Meiji no Mori Minō Quasi-National Park Chūgoku and Shikoku Hyōnosen-Ushiroyama-Nagisan Quasi-National Park Hiba-Dōgo-Taishaku Quasi-National Park Nishi-Chūgoku Sanchi Quasi-National Park Kita Nagato Kaigan Quasi-National Park Akiyoshidai Quasi-National Park Tsurugisan Quasi-National Park Muroto-Anan Kaigan Quasi-National Park Ishizuchi Quasi-National Park Kyūshū Kitakyūshū Quasi-National Park Genkai Quasi-National Park Yaba-Hita-Hikosan Quasi-National Park Iki-Tsushima Quasi-National Park Kyūshū Chūō Sanchi Quasi-National Park Nippō Kaigan Quasi-National Park Sobo Katamuki Quasi-National Park Nichinan Kaigan Quasi-National Park Amami Guntō Quasi-National Park Okinawa Kaigan Quasi-National Park Okinawa Senseki Quasi-National Park

See also

• Special Places of Scenic Beauty
• Places of Scenic Beauty
• National Government Parks
• Wildlife Protection Areas in Japan
• List of Ramsar sites in Japan

References

1. "Natural Parks Act (1957)" (PDF). Ministry of the Environment. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
2. "Natural Park Systems in Japan" (PDF). Ministry of the Environment. pp. 4, 12. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
3. Sutherland, Mary; Britton, Dorothy (1995). National Parks of Japan. Kodansha. pp. 6f. ISBN 4-7700-1971-8.
4. "Natural Park Systems in Japan" (PDF). Ministry of the Environment. pp. 1f. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
5. "Summary table of area figures for Natural Parks" (PDF). Ministry of the Environment. 1 April 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
6. "Birth of Myoko Togakushi Renzan National Park". Ministry of the Environment. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
7. "Natural Park Systems in Japan" (PDF). Ministry of the Environment. pp. 2f. Retrieved 1 February 2012.

External links

• National Parks of Japan (Ministry of the Environment)