Национальные парки Японии: история и современное состояние

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National park (National parks) and quasi national parks (国定公園) of Japan are places of scenic beauty that are designated for protection and sustainable use by the Minister of the Environment under the Natural Parks Law ([[:ja:自然公園法) of 1957. National parks are designated and in principle managed by the Ministry of the Environment. Quasi national parks, of a slightly lesser beauty, size, diversity, or state of preservation, are recommended for ministerial designation and managed by the prefectures under the supervision of the ministry.

Japan established its first 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 National Parks Law ([[:ja: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). 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. 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). On 27 March 2015, the 32nd national park was established, Myōkō Togakushi Renzan National Park, 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. 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.

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.

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