The day for National Parks

Today, and March 16th annually, is National Park Designation Memorial Day（国立公園指定記念日). On this day, March 16th, 1934, Japan designated its first three national parks; Sentonaikai, Unzen and Kirishima. National Parks are different to National Government Parks  (国営公園), the first of those was Musashi Kyuryo National Government Park, aka Shinrin Park, in Saitama Prefecture, which was opened in 1974.

Japan’s National Parks are designated and managed by the Ministry of the Environment under the Natural Parks Law. They are large‑scale protected natural areas—mountains, coasts, wetlands, forests—chosen for their ecological and scenic value. The list is official and fixed unless a new park is designated or boundaries are revised. Currently there are 35 designated National Parks in Japan. Among them is Towada Lake, or officially Towada-Hachimantai National Park（十和田八幡平国立公園), which is pictured in this post.

The establishment of National Parks was a milestone that signaled the beginning of Japan’s modern nature‑protection policy, balancing conservation with public enjoyment. The day encourages people to appreciate the country’s diverse landscapes, from volcanic mountains to island coastlines, and to reflect on the importance of preserving these natural treasures for future generations.