Nature
National parks of Japan
Japan's national parks (kokuritsu kōen) are designated by the Ministry of the Environment. Unlike parks in many countries they include private land, villages and farmland, managed through zoning rather than ownership.
HokkaidoAkan-Mashu National ParkAkan-Mashū Kokuritsu KōenVolcanoes, forest and caldera lakes in the Ainu heartlandDesignated 1934KagoshimaAmami Guntō National ParkAmami Guntō Kokuritsu KōenForests of living fossils and a culture shaped by the seaDesignated 2017World HeritageKochi, EhimeAshizuri-Uwakai National ParkAshizuri-Uwakai Kokuritsu KōenGranite cape, coral shallows and the ria coast of the Uwa SeaDesignated 1972Kumamoto, OitaAso-Kujū National ParkAso-Kujū Kokuritsu KōenA caldera you can live in, and grasslands renewed by fireDesignated 1934Active volcanoYamagata, Fukushima, NiigataBandai-Asahi National ParkBandai-Asahi Kokuritsu KōenPilgrim peaks, snow ranges and the lakes of a shattered volcanoDesignated 1950Saitama, Tokyo, Yamanashi, NaganoChichibu-Tama-Kai National ParkChichibu-Tama-Kai Kokuritsu KōenForest headwaters and wolf shrines on Tokyo's doorstepDesignated 1950Nagano, Toyama, Gifu, NiigataChubu Sangaku National ParkChūbu Sangaku Kokuritsu KōenGranite spires, glaciers and snow walls in the heart of HonshuDesignated 1934Tottori, Shimane, OkayamaDaisen-Oki National ParkDaisen-Oki Kokuritsu KōenThe sacred mountain of Hōki and the islands of exileDesignated 1936HokkaidoDaisetsuzan National ParkDaisetsuzan Kokuritsu KōenThe playground of the gods at the roof of HokkaidoDesignated 1934Shizuoka, Yamanashi, Kanagawa, TokyoFuji-Hakone-Izu National ParkFuji-Hakone-Izu Kokuritsu KōenA volcanic chain from Japan's highest summit to the open PacificDesignated 1936World HeritageIshikawa, Gifu, Fukui, ToyamaHakusan National ParkHakusan Kokuritsu KōenThe white sacred mountain of the HokurikuDesignated 1962HokkaidoHidaka-sanmyaku Erimo Tokachi National ParkHidaka-sanmyaku-Erimo-Tokachi Kokuritsu KōenThe spine of Hokkaido, from glacial cirques to the Pacific capeDesignated 2024OkinawaIriomote-Ishigaki National ParkIriomote-Ishigaki Kokuritsu KōenMangrove rivers, a wild cat and Japan's greatest reefDesignated 1972World HeritageMieIse-Shima National ParkIse-Shima Kokuritsu KōenSacred forest, pearl bays and a coast of diversDesignated 1946Nagano, Gunma, NiigataJoshinetsu Kogen National ParkJōshin'etsu Kōgen Kokuritsu KōenVolcanic plateaus, snow country and hot springs on the Japan Alps' eastern flankDesignated 1949OkinawaKerama Shotō National ParkKerama Shotō Kokuritsu KōenKerama blue: coral, whales and turtles off NahaDesignated 2014Kagoshima, MiyazakiKirishima-Kinkōwan National ParkKirishima-Kinkōwan Kokuritsu KōenA chain of fire from Kirishima to the tip of SatsumaDesignated 1934Active volcanoHokkaidoKushiro-shitsugen National ParkKushiro-shitsugen Kokuritsu KōenJapan's great marsh and home of the red-crowned craneDesignated 1987Yamanashi, Nagano, ShizuokaMinami Alps National ParkMinami Arupusu Kokuritsu KōenJapan's highest non-volcanic range, deep and remoteDesignated 1964Niigata, NaganoMyoko-Togakushi Renzan National ParkMyōkō-Togakushi Renzan Kokuritsu KōenA tight ring of volcanoes and sacred crags between Echigo and ShinanoDesignated 2015Tochigi, Gunma, FukushimaNikko National ParkNikkō Kokuritsu KōenWhere Japan's grandest shrines meet volcanoes and waterfallsDesignated 1934World HeritageTokyoOgasawara National ParkOgasawara Kokuritsu KōenEvolution in isolation, a day's voyage from TokyoDesignated 1972World HeritageGunma, Fukushima, Niigata, TochigiOze National ParkOze Kokuritsu KōenBoardwalks across the moor where Japanese conservation beganDesignated 2007HokkaidoRishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National ParkRishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu Kokuritsu KōenAlpine flowers at sea level, at Japan's northern edgeDesignated 1974NagasakiSaikai National ParkSaikai Kokuritsu KōenIslands at the western edge, and the churches of hidden faithDesignated 1955World HeritageHyogo, Tottori, KyotoSan'in Kaigan National ParkSan'in Kaigan Kokuritsu KōenSand dunes, sea caves and the birth of the Sea of JapanDesignated 1963Iwate, Miyagi, AomoriSanriku Fukko National ParkSanriku Fukkō Kokuritsu KōenCliffs, rias and a coast rebuilding after the tsunamiDesignated 1955Kagawa, Okayama, Hiroshima, Hyogo, Ehime, Yamaguchi, Tokushima, Wakayama, Fukuoka Prefecture, OitaSetonaikai National ParkSetonaikai Kokuritsu KōenAn inland sea of islands, straits and harbour townsDesignated 1934World HeritageHokkaidoShikotsu-Toya National ParkShikotsu-Tōya Kokuritsu KōenVolcanoes in every form, an hour from SapporoDesignated 1949HokkaidoShiretoko National ParkShiretoko Kokuritsu KōenWhere the land ends and the drift ice beginsDesignated 1964World HeritageAomori, Akita, IwateTowada-Hachimantai National ParkTowada-Hachimantai Kokuritsu KōenCaldera lake, mountain stream and hot springs of the northern mountainsDesignated 1936Nagasaki, Kumamoto, KagoshimaUnzen-Amakusa National ParkUnzen-Amakusa Kokuritsu KōenA living volcano, hot-spring hells and the islands of AmakusaDesignated 1934Active volcanoKagoshimaYakushima National ParkYakushima Kokuritsu KōenThousand-year cedars, mountains in the ocean and rain without endDesignated 2012World HeritageOkinawaYambaru National ParkYanbaru Kokuritsu KōenThe green north of Okinawa and its birds found nowhere elseDesignated 2016World HeritageNara, Wakayama, MieYoshino-Kumano National ParkYoshino-Kumano Kokuritsu KōenMountains of the ascetics, shrines of Kumano, the warm Pacific shoreDesignated 1936World Heritage