National Park System, Japan

Japan has a unique national park system, which includes national parks (Kokuritsu Kōen) and quasi-national parks (Kokutei Kōen). Kokuritsu Kōen translates into “national park”, and these parks are managed directly by the central government. There are currently 29 national parks, which form a common national park system. Kokutei Kōen is generally translated into ‘quasi-national park’, and these parks are recognised by the central government and managed by the prefectural and local governments. There are currently 56 quasi-national parks, which are important complements to the national park system. The National Parks Law was passed in 1931. In 1934, the first group of national parks was established, which included Setonaikai, Unzen and Kirishima. The total area of the national park system has reached 20,482 km² (5.4% of the total land area of Japan), and the total area of the quasi-national parks has reached 13,328 km²(3.6% of the total land area of Japan). In Japan’s national parks,...