List of national parks of Japan#History

Japan established its first {{nihongo|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 {{nihongo|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).{{cite web |url=http://www.lit.osaka-cu.ac.jp/geo/pdf/frombelow/0308_frombelow_kanda.pdf |title=Landscapes of National Parks in Taiwan During the Japanese Colonial Period |author=Kanda Koji |publisher=Osaka City University |access-date=8 October 2016}}

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.{{cite book |title=National Parks of Japan |author1=Sutherland, Mary |author2=Britton, Dorothy |publisher=Kodansha |year=1995 |pages=6f |ISBN=4-7700-1971-8}}{{cite web |url=http://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/nps/park/doc/files/parksystem.pdf |title=Natural Park Systems in Japan |publisher=Ministry of the Environment |pages=1f |access-date=1 February 2012}}

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).{{cite web |url=http://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/nps/park/doc/files/np_3.pdf |title=Summary table of area figures for Natural Parks |publisher=Ministry of the Environment |date=1 April 2014 |access-date=29 November 2015}} On 27 March 2015, the 32nd national park was established, Myōkō-Togakushi Renzan National Park,{{cite web |url=http://www.env.go.jp/en/focus/jeq/issue/vol10/national.html |title=Birth of Myoko Togakushi Renzan National Park |publisher=Ministry of the Environment |date=10 June 2015 |access-date=29 November 2015}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.env.go.jp/nature/np/yambaru.html |script-title=ja:やんばる国立公園について |trans-title=About Yanbaru National Park - Summary |language=ja |publisher=Ministry of the Environment |access-date=8 October 2016}}{{cite web |url=http://www.env.go.jp/press/103074.html |script-title=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 |trans-title=Consultation about the Establishment of Amami Guntō National Park |language=ja |publisher=Ministry of the Environment |date=6 October 2016 |access-date=11 March 2011}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.env.go.jp/press/102249.html |title=京都丹波高原国定公園の指定日について |publisher=Ministry of the Environment |language=ja |date=24 March 2016 |access-date=12 June 2016}}{{cite web |url=https://www.env.go.jp/press/109371.html |script-title=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 |trans-title=58th Quasi-National Park "Akkeshi-Kiritappu-Konbumori Quasi-National Park" Created |language=Japanese |publisher=Ministry of the Environment |date=26 March 2021 |accessdate=5 August 2021}} On 25 June 2024, Hidaka-sanmyaku Erimo Quasi-National Park was redesignated Hidakasanmyaku-Erimo-Tokachi National Park, making it the 35th national park.{{cite web |url=https://www.env.go.jp/en/press/111250.html |title=The 35th National Park "Hidakasanmyaku-Erimo-Tokachi National Park" was born! |publisher=Ministry of the Environment |date=25 June 2024 |access-date=9 July 2024}}

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/nps/park/doc/files/parksystem.pdf |title=Natural Park Systems in Japan |publisher=Ministry of the Environment |pages=2f |access-date=1 February 2012}}

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

{{Location map+|Japan|relief=1|width=600|float=left|caption=Map with national parks of Japan. Note Ogasawara National Park is not on the map.|places=

{{Location map~|Japan|lat=43.579|long=144.527|position=right|label=Akan Mashu}}

{{Location map~|Japan|lat=43.664|long=142.854|position=left|label=Daisetsuzan}}

{{Location map~|Japan|lat=42.604|long=140.843|position=right|label=Shikotsu-Tōya}}

{{Location map~|Japan|lat=44.076|long=145.122|position=right|label=Shiretoko}}

{{Location map~|Japan|lat=45.179|long=141.242|position=right|label=

{{Location map~|Japan|lat=43.083|long=144.392|position=right|label=Kushiro-shitsugen}}

{{Location map~|Japan|lat=39.852|long=141.001|position=left|label=

{{Location map~|Japan|lat=37.855|long=139.707|position=right|label=Bandai-Asahi}}

{{Location map~|Japan|lat=39.650|long=141.981|position=right|label=Sanriku Fukkō}}

{{Location map~|Japan|lat=36.979|long=139.395|position=right|label=Nikkō}}

{{Location map~|Japan|lat=34.667|long=139.000|position=right|label=

{{Location map~|Japan|lat=35.869|long=138.946|position=right|label=

{{Location map~|Japan|lat=35.674|long=138.239|position=bottom|label=

{{Location map~|Japan|lat=36.927|long=139.316|position=left|label=Oze}}

{{Location map~|Japan|lat=36.289|long=137.648|position=right|label=Chūbu-Sangaku}}

{{Location map~|Japan|lat=34.455|long=136.726|position=right|label=Ise-Shima}}

{{Location map~|Japan|lat=36.625|long=138.625|position=right|label=

{{Location map~|Japan|lat=36.155|long=136.771|position=left|label=Hakusan}}

{{Location map~|Japan|lat=36.891|long=138.113|position=left|label=

{{Location map~|Japan|lat=33.799|long=135.940|position=right|label=Yoshino-Kumano}}

{{Location map~|Japan|lat=35.640|long=134.930|position=right|label=Sanin Kaigan}}

{{Location map~|Japan|lat=35.371|long=133.540|position=left|label=Daisen-Oki}}

{{Location map~|Japan|lat=32.723|long=133.020|position=right|label=

{{Location map~|Japan|lat=32.761|long=130.299|position=bottom|label=Unzen-Amakusa}}

{{Location map~|Japan|lat=31.550|long=130.650|position=right|label=

{{Location map~|Japan|lat=32.884|long=131.104|position=top|label=

{{Location map~|Japan|lat=32.670|long=128.627|position=top|label=Saikai}}

{{Location map~|Japan|lat=24.317|long=123.883|position=right|label=Iriomote-Ishigaki}}

{{Location map~|Japan|lat=30.337|long=130.504|position=left|label=Yakushima}}

{{Location map~|Japan|lat=26.716|long=128.218|position=right|label=

{{Location map~|Japan|lat=26.200|long=127.300|position=left|label=

{{Location map~|Japan|lat=34.210|long=133.310|position=right|label=

{{Location map~|Japan|lat=28.326|long=129.374|position=left|label=

}}

{{clear}}

• Abashiri Quasi-National Park
• Akkeshi-Kiritappu-Konbumori Quasi-National Park
• Niseko-Shakotan-Otaru Kaigan Quasi-National Park
• Ōnuma Quasi-National Park
• Shokanbetsu-Teuri-Yagishiri Quasi-National Park

• 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

• Suigō-Tsukuba Quasi-National Park
• Minami Bōsō Quasi-National Park
• Meiji no Mori Takao Quasi-National Park
• Tanzawa-Ōyama Quasi-National Park

• 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
• Chūō Alps Quasi-National Park
• Ibi-Sekigahara-Yōrō Quasi-National Park
• Hida-Kisogawa Quasi-National Park
• Aichi Kōgen Quasi-National Park
• Mikawa Wan Quasi-National Park

• 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
• Kyoto Tamba Kogen Quasi-National Park

• 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

• 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
• Okinawa Kaigan Quasi-National Park
• Okinawa Senseki Quasi-National Park

• Special places of scenic beauty
• List of Ramsar sites in Japan
• Geography of Japan

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/nps/park/ National Parks of Japan] (Ministry of the Environment)

{{Authority control}}

Japan

National parks