Nature in Japan: national parks, mountains, lakes and coasts
Around three quarters of Japan is mountainous, and the archipelago stretches from subarctic Hokkaido to subtropical Okinawa. Its 35 national parks protect volcanoes, alpine ranges, primeval forests, wetlands and coral seas; this section profiles them alongside the great peaks, lakes, islands, gorges, waterfalls and coasts.
National parks of Japan
Akan-Mashu National ParkAkan-Mashū Kokuritsu KōenVolcanoes, forest and caldera lakes in the Ainu heartlandDesignated 1934Amami Guntō National ParkAmami Guntō Kokuritsu KōenForests of living fossils and a culture shaped by the seaDesignated 2017Ashizuri-Uwakai National ParkAshizuri-Uwakai Kokuritsu KōenGranite cape, coral shallows and the ria coast of the Uwa SeaDesignated 1972Aso-Kujū National ParkAso-Kujū Kokuritsu KōenA caldera you can live in, and grasslands renewed by fireDesignated 1934Bandai-Asahi National ParkBandai-Asahi Kokuritsu KōenPilgrim peaks, snow ranges and the lakes of a shattered volcanoDesignated 1950Chichibu-Tama-Kai National ParkChichibu-Tama-Kai Kokuritsu KōenForest headwaters and wolf shrines on Tokyo's doorstepDesignated 1950Chubu Sangaku National ParkChūbu Sangaku Kokuritsu KōenGranite spires, glaciers and snow walls in the heart of HonshuDesignated 1934Daisen-Oki National ParkDaisen-Oki Kokuritsu KōenThe sacred mountain of Hōki and the islands of exileDesignated 1936Daisetsuzan National ParkDaisetsuzan Kokuritsu KōenThe playground of the gods at the roof of HokkaidoDesignated 1934Fuji-Hakone-Izu National ParkFuji-Hakone-Izu Kokuritsu KōenA volcanic chain from Japan's highest summit to the open PacificDesignated 1936Hakusan National ParkHakusan Kokuritsu KōenThe white sacred mountain of the HokurikuDesignated 1962Hidaka-sanmyaku Erimo Tokachi National ParkHidaka-sanmyaku-Erimo-Tokachi Kokuritsu KōenThe spine of Hokkaido, from glacial cirques to the Pacific capeDesignated 2024Iriomote-Ishigaki National ParkIriomote-Ishigaki Kokuritsu KōenMangrove rivers, a wild cat and Japan's greatest reefDesignated 1972Ise-Shima National ParkIse-Shima Kokuritsu KōenSacred forest, pearl bays and a coast of diversDesignated 1946Joshinetsu Kogen National ParkJōshin'etsu Kōgen Kokuritsu KōenVolcanic plateaus, snow country and hot springs on the Japan Alps' eastern flankDesignated 1949Kerama Shotō National ParkKerama Shotō Kokuritsu KōenKerama blue: coral, whales and turtles off NahaDesignated 2014Kirishima-Kinkōwan National ParkKirishima-Kinkōwan Kokuritsu KōenA chain of fire from Kirishima to the tip of SatsumaDesignated 1934Kushiro-shitsugen National ParkKushiro-shitsugen Kokuritsu KōenJapan's great marsh and home of the red-crowned craneDesignated 1987Minami Alps National ParkMinami Arupusu Kokuritsu KōenJapan's highest non-volcanic range, deep and remoteDesignated 1964Myoko-Togakushi Renzan National ParkMyōkō-Togakushi Renzan Kokuritsu KōenA tight ring of volcanoes and sacred crags between Echigo and ShinanoDesignated 2015Nikko National ParkNikkō Kokuritsu KōenWhere Japan's grandest shrines meet volcanoes and waterfallsDesignated 1934Ogasawara National ParkOgasawara Kokuritsu KōenEvolution in isolation, a day's voyage from TokyoDesignated 1972Oze National ParkOze Kokuritsu KōenBoardwalks across the moor where Japanese conservation beganDesignated 2007Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National ParkRishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu Kokuritsu KōenAlpine flowers at sea level, at Japan's northern edgeDesignated 1974Saikai National ParkSaikai Kokuritsu KōenIslands at the western edge, and the churches of hidden faithDesignated 1955San'in Kaigan National ParkSan'in Kaigan Kokuritsu KōenSand dunes, sea caves and the birth of the Sea of JapanDesignated 1963Sanriku Fukko National ParkSanriku Fukkō Kokuritsu KōenCliffs, rias and a coast rebuilding after the tsunamiDesignated 1955Setonaikai National ParkSetonaikai Kokuritsu KōenAn inland sea of islands, straits and harbour townsDesignated 1934Shikotsu-Toya National ParkShikotsu-Tōya Kokuritsu KōenVolcanoes in every form, an hour from SapporoDesignated 1949Shiretoko National ParkShiretoko Kokuritsu KōenWhere the land ends and the drift ice beginsDesignated 1964Towada-Hachimantai National ParkTowada-Hachimantai Kokuritsu KōenCaldera lake, mountain stream and hot springs of the northern mountainsDesignated 1936Unzen-Amakusa National ParkUnzen-Amakusa Kokuritsu KōenA living volcano, hot-spring hells and the islands of AmakusaDesignated 1934Yakushima National ParkYakushima Kokuritsu KōenThousand-year cedars, mountains in the ocean and rain without endDesignated 2012Yambaru National ParkYanbaru Kokuritsu KōenThe green north of Okinawa and its birds found nowhere elseDesignated 2016Yoshino-Kumano National ParkYoshino-Kumano Kokuritsu KōenMountains of the ascetics, shrines of Kumano, the warm Pacific shoreDesignated 1936
Mountains of Japan
Mount FujiFuji-sanJapan's highest mountain: an active volcano, a pilgrimage peak and the country's most painted landscape.3776 mKita-dakeKita-dakeThe second-highest summit in Japan, crown of the Southern Alps and home of the Kitadakesō.3193 mOkuhotaka-dakeOkuhotaka-dakeHighest peak of the Northern Alps, above the Karasawa cirque and Kamikōchi.3190 mYari-ga-takeYari-ga-takeThe unmistakable rock spear at the centre of the Northern Alps.3180 mMount OntakeOntake-sanA sacred giant among Japan's volcanoes, marked by the 2014 eruption.3067 mNorikura-dakeNorikura-dakeA volcanic saddle above the clouds, reached by bus to 2,700 m.3026 m