Japan National Parks: Attractions & Activities

For the most beautiful sets of mountains and lakes, Oze National Park is the place to visit. Bask in the reflections of Mt. Shibutsu’s snowy slopes on Lake Ozenuma, and stand in awe of the lush Ozegahara plateau on the downside of Hiuchigatake mountain. Watch out for the Asian black bear and Japanese Serow that reside among the marsh, pines and beech trees!

Nikko National park hiking ensures an assortment of world heritage sites and oak and coniferous trees that come alive with shades of pink and orange across spring and autumn. The ecosystem entails native fauna such as the Japanese Sika deer, black bears, and Serows while the landscapes feature the fuming Mt. Chausudake, scenic Lake Yunoko, and beautiful Mt. Nantai!

Home to rare and endangered species and world heritage sites, Shiretoko National park provides refuge to unique biodiversity that encompasses sperm whales, brown bears, white-tailed sea eagles, and the spectacled guillemot. You’re sure to love the view of the Shiretoko mountain range and the colorful alpine

The wildlife roster on Akan Mashu Park features the odd-looking Yezo deer, black woodpeckers, large grey herons, raccoon dogs, Exo red foxes, and brown bears, to name a few. The flora is made up of beautiful “Picea glehnii” forests, and the terrain hosts three famous lakes, namely Lake Kussharo, Lake Akan, and Lake Mashu!

Acclaimed for its sprawling fields of grasslands, Rishiri Rebun Sarobetsu National park is one of the country’s best as far as sights and sounds are concerned. The plains of Sarobetsu, Mt. Rishiri and Rebun island make for excellent hiking, and you’re bound come across migratory birds like bean geese that love to detour in the wetlands.

Towada-Hachimantai National park is privy to the orange sunset silhouettes of Mt. Iwate and the Hakkoda ranges. Walk between fields of greenery in the Hachimantai plateau on your way to azure seclusions in Lake Towada and Oirase stream. The Japanese flying squirrel, ruddy kingfisher, the forest green tree frog, and the Asiatic black bear are a couple of fascinating creatures you could run into!

Offering stark contrasts between massive granite towers and fairytale waterfalls in the greenness of Nishizawa gorge, Chichibu Tama Kai National Park impresses for its range of landscapes. Rafting Tama river is a popular activity, others including fishing, camping, climbing, and hiking. Maple trees and Japanese Judas make up the plant life while the wildlife is characterized by Serows, dragonflies, monkeys, Sika deer, and rabbits.

Home to the largest beech forest in Japan, Yoshino Kumano National park is a paradise of silver fir, spruce trees, orchids, and ferns. The tropical fish and corals in the water bodies are beautiful beyond words, as is the variety of sea birds hovering over them. The best Kumano guided tours involve the Kumano river and Yoshino river rafting!

Get beautiful views of the Seto inland sea and its brimming archipelago at the Setonaikai National Park. A tour around the Horai valley badlands promises geological delight, and more lovely scenery is on show at Mt. Yashima. Adding to its collection of excellence is the rare finless porpoise, Japanese horseshoe crabs, and the mysterious whirling currents of the Naruto Strait!

Stroll beside Sika deer and meet Japanese macaque monkeys seemingly more interested in barks and fruits than human visitors. The Ashizuri-Uwakai national park also offers strange rock formations on Tatsukushi Beach and unrivaled vantage points overlooking islands in the Uwakai sea. Experience a vibrant underwater seascape made possible by the Japan current by diving and snorkeling.

Iriomote island is the only place in the world where you get to see the critically endangered- and head-over-heels adorable- Iriomote wildcat! The Japanese Giant Salamander and Tiger Keelback are notable residents of the Iriomote-Ishigaki national park that also hosts the Ishigaki island beaches and Iriomote waterfalls.

The Yambaru National park harbors a subtropical laurel forest that has provided perfect accommodation for the Okinawa woodpecker, Scarab beetle, Okinawa Spiny Rat, and the Okinawa Rail, among others. Rafting and SUP adventures exist in just as much abundance, encompassing popular spots like Shioya bay.

A haven for 30-ton humpback whales and the Kerama Sika, Keramashoto National park offers unique attractions on and off the land. Experience blissful life on the Kerama islands and enjoy evenings of birdwatching in sunsets. Be sure to take up snorkeling and diving tours so you can get up-close and personal with green turtles living within extensive corals!

Covering the Sumiyo Mangrove forest, the second largest in the country and home to soldier crabs, Amamigunto National Park ensures lots of biodiversities. Admire bushy blankets on Mt. Yuman on Amami Oshima island and impressive limestone caves in Okinoerabujima. While on tour, keep an eye out for the Amami rabbit, the Amami thrush, and the Ryukyu long-tailed giant rat.

Yakushima island has blossomed into a wonderland of granite peaks, green and yellow plains over hundreds of years of nourishment by the Japan current. Massive Ryujin-sugi cedars and Yakusugui command the forest chain, laying the groundwork for an ecosystem of Yakushimazaru monkeys and Yakushika deer that particularly adore the Shiratani Unsuikyo ravine.

Famous for the Kirishima Jingu shrine and the spring colors around Onami-ike Crater Lake, Kirishima-Kinkowan national park provides mountainside gardens like Sengan-en. Savor the cloudy ranges and impressive forests of banyan and oak while listening to the tunes of the ruddy kingfisher and exclusive pitta.

The five peaks of Mount Aso, and its enormous caldera, are at your fingertips at the Aso-Kuju National Park. Mt. Tsurumi ensures a lush panorama of Beppu Bay as Mt. Yufudake affords gently rolling slopes perfect for a climb. Enjoy the grasslands, burnt occasionally to ensure they remain just that, and the rare butterflies and birds, namely the Japanese Sparrow hawk and Meadow bunting, that live there.