Natural Parks Day

What Is Natural Parks Day?

Every July 21st is "Natural Parks Day" (自然公園の日, Shizen Kōen no Hi) in Japan. The day is associated with Japan's Natural Parks Law (自然公園法, Shizen Kōen Hō) of 1957, which established the comprehensive legal framework for Japan's system of national parks (国立公園), quasi-national parks (国定公園), and prefectural natural parks (都道府県立自然公園). From this day until August 20, the Ministry of the Environment runs its "Get Close to Nature" campaign, with nature walks and hikes held in parks across Japan.

Japan's Natural Parks System

Japan's Natural Parks Law provides the foundation for a three-tier system of protected natural areas: national parks (designated by the Minister of the Environment and managed by the national government), quasi-national parks (designated by the Minister and managed by prefectures), and prefectural natural parks (designated by prefectural governors). Together, these areas cover roughly 15% of Japan's land area — encompassing the country's most spectacular natural landscapes, from Hokkaido's alpine wilderness and Okinawa's coral reefs to the iconic volcanic scenery of Mt. Fuji and the ancient forests of Yakushima.

The Challenge of Protection vs. Access

Japan's natural parks face the challenge common to protected areas worldwide: balancing conservation with public access and local economic development. Japan's parks are heavily visited — Nikko National Park, Bandai-Asahi National Park, and Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park each attract millions of visitors annually. Managing this visitation while protecting the ecological values that make the parks worth visiting requires sophisticated planning, infrastructure investment, and visitor management.

Biodiversity in Japan's Parks

Japan's geographic position and varied climate support extraordinary biodiversity. Japan's national parks protect habitats for brown bears (Hokkaido), Japanese macaques (throughout Japan), Amami rabbit (Amami islands), Okinawan rail, Blakiston's fish owl (Shiretoko), and many endemic species found nowhere else on Earth. Several of Japan's national parks also contain UNESCO World Heritage Sites — Shiretoko (2005), Ogasawara Islands (2011) — recognizing their outstanding universal natural value.

Fun Facts

• Ogasawara Islands: The Ogasawara Islands national park (小笠原国立公園) — approximately 1,000 kilometers south of Tokyo — is often called "Japan's Galápagos" for its extraordinary endemic biodiversity, developed in isolation over millions of years. The islands are reached from Tokyo by a ferry journey of about 24 hours.
• Mt. Fuji overtourism: Mt. Fuji's extraordinary popularity as both a national park and UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site (designated 2013 for its cultural significance) has created significant overtourism challenges, prompting new crowd management measures such as entry fees and gates on climbing trails.