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 (自然公園法) 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 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. In 1929 the National Parks Association was formed. In 1931 the first National Parks Law (国立公園法) 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]

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.^[12]

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

Name	Established	Region	Area [ha]
Akan Mashu National Park	1934	Hokkaidō	90,481 hectares (223,580 acres)
Minami Alps National Park	1964	Chūbu	35,752 hectares (88,350 acres)
Amami Guntō National Park	2017	Kyūshū	42,181 hectares (104,230 acres)
Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park	1972	Shikoku	11,345 hectares (28,030 acres)
Aso Kujū National Park	1934	Kyūshū	72,678 hectares (179,590 acres)
Bandai-Asahi National Park	1950	Tōhoku	186,389 hectares (460,580 acres)
Chichibu Tama Kai National Park	1950	Kantō	126,259 hectares (311,990 acres)
Chūbu-Sangaku National Park	1934	Chūbu	174,323 hectares (430,760 acres)
Daisen-Oki National Park	1936	Chūgoku	35,353 hectares (87,360 acres)
Daisetsuzan National Park	1934	Hokkaidō	226,764 hectares (560,350 acres)
Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park	1936	Kantō	121,695 hectares (300,710 acres)
Hakusan National Park	1962	Chūbu	11,345 hectares (28,030 acres)
Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park	1972	Kyūshū	40,653 hectares (100,460 acres)
Ise-Shima National Park	1946	Kinki	55,544 hectares (137,250 acres)
Jōshin'etsu-kōgen National Park	1949	Kantō	148,194 hectares (366,200 acres)
Kerama Shotō National Park	2014	Kyūshū	3,520 hectares (8,700 acres)
Kirishima-Kinkowan National Park	1934	Kyūshū	36,586 hectares (90,410 acres)
Kushiro-shitsugen National Park	1987	Hokkaidō	28,788 hectares (71,140 acres)
Myōkō-Togakushi Renzan National Park	2015	Chūbu	39,772 hectares (98,280 acres)
Nikkō National Park	1934	Kantō	114,908 hectares (283,940 acres)
Ogasawara National Park	1972	Kantō	6,629 hectares (16,380 acres)
Oze National Park	1972	Tōhoku and Kantō	37,200 hectares (92,000 acres)
Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park	1974	Hokkaidō	24,166 hectares (59,720 acres)
Saikai National Park	1955	Kyūshū	24,646 hectares (60,900 acres)
Sanin Kaigan National Park	1936	Kinki	8,783 hectares (21,700 acres)
Sanriku Fukkō National Park	1955	Tōhoku	28,537 hectares (70,520 acres)
Setonaikai National Park	1934	Kinki, Chūgoku, Shikoku, Kyushu (Joint management)	67,242 hectares (166,160 acres)
Shikotsu-Tōya National Park	1949	Hokkaidō	99,473 hectares (245,800 acres)
Shiretoko National Park	1964	Hokkaidō	38,636 hectares (95,470 acres)
Towada-Hachimantai National Park	1936	Tōhoku	85,534 hectares (211,360 acres)
Unzen-Amakusa National Park	1934	Kyūshū	28,279 hectares (69,880 acres)
Yakushima National Park	2012	Kyūshū	32,553 hectares (80,440 acres)
Yanbaru National Park	2016	Kyūshū	13,622 hectares (33,660 acres)
Yoshino-Kumano National Park	1936	Kinki	61,406 hectares (151,740 acres)

History

Protection status

Map of national parks

List of national parks

List of quasi-national parks

Hokkaidō

Tōhoku

Kantō

Chūbu

Kansai

Chūgoku and Shikoku

Kyūshū

See also

References

External links