National Parks of Japan

There are 34 national parks in Japan from Hokkaido to Okinawa. Each park has its own unique characteristic feature from mountains and wetlands to forests and subtropical seas. National parks are designated and maintained by the national government in order to preserve Japan’s iconic natural scenery and to pass it on to future generations.

One of the characteristics of national parks in Japan is that, due to the already-small size of the country, they are made up of a large percentage of privately-owned land. For example, 90% of the land in Ise-Shima National Park is, in fact, privately owned. Within a park areas are zoned with set rules for use. These allow zones to be used for residential, farmland or commercial use, while accomplishing nature conservation and landscape protection. Therefore, another charm of national parks in Japan is to let visitors experience the life, culture, and history of the local people while enjoying the natural scenery preserved as they are.

Yakushima National Park
Although most of Japan’s national parks do not set entrance fees like those of the US or Australia, Mt. Fuji (Fuji-san), Yakushima Island and other parks set their own entrance fee or subsidies for nature conservation in certain areas.

There are many national parks where you can enjoy hiking. For example, the steep mountains of the Northern Japanese Alps are a part of Chubusangaku National Park. The mountains and temperate rain forest of Yakushima Island both belong to Yakushima National Park, most of which is also designated as a World Natural Heritage Site.

If you wish to enjoy the nature and culture of Japan to the fullest, consider a trip to a national park!

Links

National Parks of Japan
Japan National Park Expedition

• Round Trip Hike of Mt. Rishiri via the Oshidomari Course Trek a beautiful peak which towers over the sea.
• Mt. Asahi Beginning at Sugatami-daira (Round Trip) Use the ropeway to help you hike Hokkaido's highest peak.
• Traverse Hike of Daisetsuzan Mountain Range from Mt. Asahi to Mt. Kuro-dake Traverse “the roof of Hokkaido” in a single day trip.
• Round Trip Hike of Mt. Yotei via the Makkari Trail Hike up a beautiful free-standing mountain in the southern region of Hokkaido.
• Mt. Rausu Round Trip from Iwaobetsu Onsen (hot spring) Hike the Highest Mountain in Shiretoko, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site.
• Traverse of Mt. Iwate from Yakehashiri to Nana-taki Falls Enjoy the signs and scars of volcanic activity on this still-active volcano.
• Mt. Aizu-Komagatake: Round Trip from the Takizawa Trailhead A Superb Summit View of Wetlands and Ponds.
• Mt. Gassan: Round Trip from Ubasawa One-day hike to the peak of a sacred mountain amidst flowers of the Tohoku Region.
• Japan’s Own Long Trail: A 50 km Route Traversing Mt. Iwate, the Mt. Hachimantai, and Appi Highlands A trail offering a variety of enjoyable sights such as highlands, wetlands, and volcanic peaks.
• Traverse of Mt. Hakkoda from Ropeway to Sukayu Onsen (hot spring) Descend from the gently sloping summit towards the wetland.
• Ozegahara From Numayama Pass to Hatomachi Pass A full traverse of a stunning high moor.
• Ozegahara, Round Trip from Hatomachi-toge Pass with a Loop from Ushikubi Tour one of Japan's top highland moors.
• Mt. Shibutsu, Starting at Hatomachi Pass (Loop) Alpine view of the high moor of Ozegahara in bloom.
• Mt. Hiuchigatake Round trip from Miike Trailhead A day hike to the peak overlooking Lake Ozenuma.
• Round Trip Hike of Mt. Naeba from Wada-goya Set out for a walk towards the wetland stretching at the summit.
• Traverse of Mt. Hiuchi and Mt. Myoko from Mt. Sasagamine Traversing route with a variety of natural features including wetlands, ponds and rock ridges.
• Hike of a Sacred Mountain, Mt. Togakushi; Round Trip from the Togakushi-jinja Shrine Okusha Hike along a ridge above sheer cliffs toward an age old place of ascetic devotion.
• Japan’s Own Long Trail: Shin-etsu Trail Hike on the ridgeline and Satoyama surrounded by the virgin beech forest.
• Mt. Amakazari Round trip from Otari Onsen (hot spring) Round trip through the beautiful mountain famous for beech forest and alpine plants.
• Mt. Mitake: Cable Car and Rock Garden Circuit / Tokyo hiking A sacred tour of Mt. Mitake through its rock garden.
• Round Trip Hike of Mt. Kumotori from Kamosawa Hike to the top of Tokyo’s highest mountain via the shortest route.
• Mt. Tanigawa, Tenjin-one Ridge (Round Trip) Take the ropeway for the shortest route to Mt. Tanigawa.
• Mt. Tanigawa Circuit Up Nishiguro-one Ridge and Down Tenjin-one Ridge A ridgeline hike worth the walk.
• Mt. Tanigawa Horseshoe Trail Traverse Long-distance traverse of the Tanigawa Mountain Range.
• Nasu Circuit of Mt. Chausu and Mt. Asahi A loop taking in two of Mt. Nasu's best-known peaks.
• The Mt. Nasu trek: Mt. Chausu, Mt. Asahi and Mt. Sanbonyari Access Nasu Sanzan (three peaks) via ropeway and gondola, then hike to the summit and back in one day.
• Mt. Daibosatsurei, Mt. Koganezawa, Mt. Ushiokuno-gangaharasuri Traverse Route from Kaminikkawa-toge Pass Hike on the traverse directly facing the view of Mt. Fuji.
• Round Trip Hike of Mt. Kinpu from Mawarime-daira Take a day hike to the top of a majestic mountain with a great mound of boulders towering at its peak.
• Round Trips to Mt. Kinpu and Mt. Mizugaki from Fujimi-daira Summit two famous peaks of the Okuchichibu Mountains in the style of base camp!
• Round Trip Hike of Mt. Kobushigatake via the Tokuchan-Shindo Trail A good route for accessing the main peak of the Okuchichibu Mountain Range.
• Hike of a Sacred Mountain, Mt. Nantai in Nikko Area Round trip from the sacred shrine, Chuguji of Futarasan-jinja.
• Round Trip Hike of Mt. Nikko Shirane via Ropeway Hike up the highest peak in the Kanto region along a route with only a minor change in elevation.
• Mt. Fuji, Yoshida Trailhead Route The most popular route to Japan’s highest mountain peak.
• Mt. Fuji, Fujinomiya Trail Route The shortest route to the top of Japan’s highest mountain.
• The Karasawa Cirque, round trip from Kamikochi One of Japan’s great glacial cirque, in the heart of the Hotaka peaks.
• Round trip hike to Mt. Okuhotaka from Kamikochi Hike the highest peak in Northern Japanese Alps from the Karasawa Cirque.
• Mt. Yarigatake: Round Trip from Kamikochi A Route Up This Sharp Northern Japanese Alps Peak.
• Mt. Tsubakuro Begins at Nakabusa Onsen hot spring. Round trip via Kassen-one Ridge A popular Northern Japanese Alps peak in 2 days.
• Panorama Ginza Traverse From Mt. Tsubakuro to Mt. Chogatake via Mt. Otensho and Mt. Jonen A traverse with outstanding views of Mt. Yarigatake and the Hotaka peaks.
• Mt. Eboshi, Mt. NoguchiGoro, Mt. Suisho, and Kumono-daira Traverse Enjoy the famous mountains and secluded spots of the deep Northern Japanese Alps.
• Mt. Sugoroku, Mt. Mitsumata-renge, Mt. Kasagadake (Round Trip) A scenic tour of the solitary southwestern peaks of the Northern Japanese Alps.
• The Tateyama Three Peak Circuit Hike from Tateyama Murodo Trek across a sacred mountain range with a landscape of towering volcanic peaks.
• Round Trip Hike & Climb for Mt. Tsurugi via Bessan Ridge Set out to conquer one of Japan’s greatest peaks.
• The Hakuba Sanzan (Hakuba three peaks) hike from Sarukura Climb the Hakuba Daisekkei snow patch and descend into a mountainside hot spring.
• Mt. Karamatsu and Mt. Goryu Traverse of Happo-one Ridge to Tomi-one Ridge This course traverses a ridgeline route across two mountains of the Ushiro Tateyama Peaks.
• Mt. Nishihotaka: Round Trip from Shinhotaka Onsen Trailhead Use a Ropeway to Scale the Hotaka Peaks.
• Mt. Norikura: Round Trip from Tatami-daira Quick Summit of a 3,000 Meter Peak in the Japanese Alps.
• Mt. Jiigatake and Mt. Kashima-yarigatake, Round Trip from Kashiwabara Shindo Touring through the two beautiful mountains of the Ushiro-tateyama Peaks.
• Mt. Kitadake Loop from Hirogawara This loop course of Japan’s 2nd highest mountain offers plenty of variety.
• The Southern Japanese Alps: a Traverse of Mt. Kitadake, Mt. Ainodake, and Mt. Notori The alpine traverse with Japan’s second and third highest peaks.
• A Circuit Hike of Houou Sanzan from Aoki Kosen Traverse across three vantage points atop unique rock formations.
• Round Trip Hike of Mt. Kai-komagatake and Mt. Senjogatake from the Kitazawa-toge Pass. Hike Two of Japan’s 100 Famous Mountains from the Kitazawa-toge Pass.
• Round Trip Hike of Mt. Kaikomagatake from the Kuroto-one Ridge Hike up beyond a rocky ridgeline to a granite mountain peak.
• Hike of a Sacred Mountain, Mt. Hakusan; Round Trip from the Kanko Shindo Route One of Japan’s three sacred mountains, also famed for its alpine flora.
• Traverse Hike of Mt. Odaigahara from Osugidani Valley Headed for a mysterious primeval forest through the deep valley.
• From Ashiya Rock Garden to Arima Onsen via the Totoya Trail / Kobe hiking The most popular route on Rokko Mountains.
• From Mt. Higashi Otafuku to Takarazuka via the Higashi Rokko Traverse and Mt. Rokko's highest peak / Kobe hiking Walking the climax of the Traverse of the Whole Rokko Mountain Range.
• Hike the Tengu Trail up Mt. Maya, Descending via the Aotani Trail / Kobe hiking Hike the Toughest Trail on the Rokko Traverse, Tengu Trail, to Mt. Maya
• Hike of a Scared Mountain via the Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Route (Kohechi) Follow a route through a “village in the sky” and a series of historical sites, passing through the Hatenashi-toge Pass.
• Hike of a Sacred Mountain, Mt. Hoki-daisen; Round Trip from the Natsuyama Hiking Course An easily traversed route to the Chugoku region’s highest peak.
• A Scenic Hike Around Kusasenrigahama in the Mt. Aso Area Hike through a scenic area while viewing grand, large-scale mountain vistas forged by active volcanoes.
• Kuju Mountain Range: Mt. Kuju and Mt. Nakadake Circuit Traversing the Range with the Highest Peak of Kyushu Mainland.
• Kuju Mountain Range: Bohgatsuru, Mt. Daisen, and Mt. Hiji-dake Circuit The Best Wetland and Mountain Views in the Kuju Mountain Range.
• Hike Up to Mt. Tsurumi from Matogahama Set out from 0 meters above sea level and ascend the mountain that is as a symbol of Beppu Onsen.
• Round Trip of Mt. Yufu from the Front Trailhead Beautiful twin peaks surrounded by hot springs.
• Round Trip Hike of Mt. Kaimon from Kaimon Sanroku Fureai Park Enjoy the views of a laurel forest and the East China Sea.
• Trekking Yakushima's Shiratani Unsuikyo Lush Old Growth Forest and Towering Cedar Trees.
• Jomon Sugi Round Trip from the Arakawa Trailhead Trek to One of Japan’s Largest Cedar Trees.
• Mt. Kuromi : Round Trip from the Yodogawa Trailhead Highland Marshes and a Soaring Boulder Peak in Yakushima
• Mt. Miyanoura Round Trip from the Yodogawa Trailhead Summit Yakushima’s Highest Peak in One Day