Sushi, ramen, sake, cherry blossoms, bullet trains—these are just some of the things Japan is known for. There’s more! Capsule hotels, onsen, geisha, sumo wrestling, samurai, and manga—these and more are some of the other things that make Japan unique.
The Land of the Rising Sun is also a land of many cultural gifts. People want to visit Japan because of the impact its culture and cuisine have made around the world.
Japan is the world’s fourth-largest island country, with around 6,852 islands, covering a total land area of 377,973 square kilometers (93.4 million acres). With a population of 126 million, it is the 11th most populous country in the world. It has a problem with an aging population, though, as the younger Japanese population is not keen on marriage and a lot of them have remained childless.
There are so many reasons to visit Japan aside from culture and cuisine. There is also Mount Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan standing at 3,776 meters above sea level, as well as the Tokyo Imperial Palace, the home of the Emperor, as well as a museum that showcases Japanese art and history. Other popular destinations are the Great Buddha of
Kamakura and Himeji Castle, among many others.
Japan is also home to at least 34 national parks, showcasing the different natural beauties of this popular tourist destination. Here are the top 10 Japanese parks that are largely unexplored by international tourists:
1. Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park
The park is located at the southwestern tip of Shikoku. A bird’s eye view of the park will show the great juxtaposition of green hills, plains, and turquoise waters. Up close, tourists will experience adventurous activities in this park.
The granite cliffs in Cape Ashizuri are really what make this park very special. Standing on the cliffs give the tourists a stunning view of the stunning Pacific Ocean. There is also an important historical story in the park, which was where Nakahama “John” Manjiro was born, shipwrecked and eventually rescued. Manjiro was an important Japanese figure, as he was one of the first Japanese people to reach the United States. He also became an interpreter for Japan during conferences, which included other countries in the mid-19th century.
Ashizuri is also a perfect venue for diving, particularly around Kashiwajima Island, because of its rich subtropical marine resources and beautiful coral reefs. Paddlers may also kayak off Sunokawa Beach. The shore, on the other hand, is rich in vegetation lined with Japanese cedar, Japanese cypress, and Japanese umbrella pine.
2. Daisen-Oki National Park
This is a dream place for tourists who love the great outdoors. The park is so far from urban life that it provides the perfect opportunity for anyone to blend in with nature. Located in Honshu, the park traverses three prefectures: Okayama, Shimane, and Tottori.
The centerpiece of the park is, of course, Mount Daisen, an imposing 1,792-meter volcanic peak. The volcano is rich in historical and spiritual significance. Sometime in the 17th to the 19th century, people didn’t want to climb the volcano because they were too sacred.
Eventually, it became a spiritual destination among adventurers who also drop by the Ogamiyama shrine, as well as the Daisen-Ji temple. The view of the park from the top is simply amazing. The peak also has a lone hut where people can relax for a bit after a strenuous climb.
But there is more to the park than just Mount Daisen. Other landforms in the park are Hiruzen, Mount Hobutsu, Mount Kenashi, and Mount Sanbe. There is also the Izumo Plain, which is home to the Izumo-Taisha, a Shinto shrine. Part of the Oki Islands, which have been designated as a UNESCO Global Geopark, is also part of the Daisen-Oki National Park, hence, the name.
3. Ishe-Shima National Park
This park provides a unique vista because of its various inlets, as the park is a peninsula that stretches out into the sea, along the Mie Prefecture. There are also dozens of small and large islands that are part of the park. There are so many tourist activities that can be enjoyed in the park, but one of the more popular ones is the simple act of watching the sunrise and sunset. The amazing waters and the peppering of the islands offer a unique experience to such a simple natural phenomenon.
Divers should not miss the opportunity to check out the park’s rich marine biodiversity. The area is also popular among sea turtles, which also lay their eggs on the park’s shore. Not only that, there are guided adventures with the famous Amas or the female pearl-collecting divers. The park’s Ago Bay is famed for its pearl cultivation. The Ago Bay, along with Gokasho Bay and Matoya Bay make up the park’s Ria Coast, which is ever-changing. Other natural areas of the park are the Kami-Shima, Kashiko-Jima, Mount Asamagatake, and Toshi-Jima.
4. Kirishima-Kinkowan National Park
It is known as the first honeymoon spot in Japan, as noted samurai, Sakamoto Ryoma took his wife Narasaki Ryo to Kirishima, shortly after their marriage. The park traverses Kagoshima and Miyazaki Prefectures and is famed for its active volcanoes, volcanic lakes, and Japan’s famous onsen.
The park’s centerpiece is Mount Kirishima, an active volcano that stands 1,700 meters high. The highest peak of the volcano group is the Karakunidake, which translates to Korea Peak because Korea is visible from the top of this mountain. Other active volcanoes in the park are Shinmoedake and Takachihonomine.
The other major section of the park is the Kinkowan Bay, which centers around Mt. Sakurajima, another active volcano. Other notable tourist spots in this part of the park are the Cape Sata, Chirin Island, Lake Ikeda, Mount Kaimon, Ogawa Waterfalls, and Shigetomi Beach.
5. Minami Alps National Park
Japan has its snow-capped mountains: the Akaishi Mountains in Honshu. This is considered the top mountain park in Japan. Among the mountains with the highest peaks are Akaishi-dake, Kitadake, Komagatake, and Senjogatake. Mt Kitadake is the second highest peak in Japan at 3,198 meters high. The park is the perfect place for adventurous mountain climbers and hikers, to test their stamina.
The park takes on parts of the Fuji River, Oi River, and Tenryu River as well. It is a massive park that glows pink with wildflowers. It is also abundant in beech, hemlock, and fir. As for animals, the park is a favorite place among ptarmigans, a species of birds that change the color of their feathers depending on the season—from white during the winter months to brown during the hotter months. Other wildlife in the park is an Asiatic black bear, Sika deer, and wild boar.
6. Myoko-Togakushi Renzan National Park
Among the newer parks in Japan, this was established in 2015. It covers parts of Nagano and Niigata Prefectures. It used to be part of the Joshinetsu-Kogen National Park but was separated, because it has an independently expansive natural resource. It is named after the active volcano Mt. Myoko.
The park has a varied ecosystem comprising mountains, calderas, reservoirs, and lakes. It is also spiritually significant because the park is a place of mountain worship. Hiking is a popular activity in the park because it also gives a chance for sightseeing. For experienced hikers, they can to up Mt. Lizuna for a leisurely hike, and the steep Togakushi Mountain Range for a more strenuous trek.
For those who prefer water bodies, the park is home to Naina Falls, which has been dubbed one of Japan’s best waterfalls. The serene Kagami-ike Pond is also a beautiful spot to see. During the winter season, there are seven natural hot springs in the park to keep tourists warm. Otari onsen has been a famous hot spring for over 450 years.
7. Oze National Park
The park is a sea of green grass and mountains with a dose of the blue from the Ozenuma Pond. Open Greenland traverses Fukushima, Gunma, Niigata and Fukushima Prefectures.
The park’s most prominent features are the marshes known as Oze Marshland, and the mountains in the Oze section that formed part of the Nikko National Park. The marshland is unique as it sits about 1,400 meters above sea level. It is popular for its hundreds of small pools.
The park is a great hiking destination because of the surrounding mountains. Various trails within the park range from easy to strenuous. The natural resources in the park provide the perfect backdrop for the hike. The colors of the park changes with the season, too, which means it turns into a winter wonderland during winter months. But the park is largely favored for its spring colors with the yellow alpine lilies in full bloom. During the summer, the white skunk cabbages are also in full bloom. These cabbages are also a favorite attraction among tourists. For those who just want a leisurely walk rather than a strenuous hike, there are boardwalks in the park that also provide viewpoints of great park vistas.
8. Saikai National Park
This is a marine park in Nagasaki Prefecture. The park was established in 1955 after a campaign that lasted almost a decade. The park comprises 400 islands. Among the most popular of the islands is the Hirado. Each micro island provides its majestic vista. Every little thing in the park provides its contribution to the park’s whole beauty. The shallow waters, for example, are home to some lush aquatic plants. The tidal flats around the park are also noted breeding ground for some important species of macrophytes. Underwater is also a treasure trove of marine resources and amazing coral reefs.
For a complete view of the marine park, one may head up to the Obae Lighthouse. The park is also a significant religious venue among Christians, as there are churches set up around the park. The Gorin Church of the Catholic faith, dubbed as the largest wooden church on Goto Islands, has been listed as a World Heritage candidate.
9. Unzen-Amakusa National Park
Named after the active volcano Mount Unzen, this park traverses the prefectures of Kagoshima, Kumamoto, and Nagasaki. The volcano is one of the deadliest in the world. In 1792, one of its lava domes collapsed and prompted a mega tsunami, which killed more than 14,500 people. In 1991, the volcano erupted causing a pyroclastic flow that killed some 43 people.
Aside from Mount Unzen, the park is also composed of the Amakusa islands, which were integrated into the park in 1952. There are eight mountains in the park, all of which are great hiking areas with various hiking trails while providing stunning vistas of the park on its respective peaks.
The park is also popular for its Unzen onsen, Japan’s famous hot springs. The area is also known as the birthplace of Christianity in Japan through the Shimabara-Amakusa Rebellion.
10. Yoshino-Kumano National Park
The colors in this park are so exciting: from the beautiful and popular cherry blossoms to the mountain range, forests, and stunning bodies of water. The park, which was established in 1936 yet, covers the non-contiguous areas of Mie, Nara, and Wakayama prefectures.
The main feature of the park is Mount Yoshino, noted for its abundance in cherry blossoms. The landform is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, as part of the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range. But more than the beauty of Japan’s most famous flowers, Yoshino is also an important route among several religious pilgrimage destinations: Kimpusen-Ji, Kimpu Shrine, and Yoshino Mikumari Shrine.
Among the most beautiful spots in the park is the Dorokyo Gorge, which features oddly shaped rocks, vertically sheared cliffs and deep pools of water. There is also the Nachi Falls, which is the tallest free-flowing waterfall in the nation at 133 meters high. Other notable tourist spots are Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kushimoto Marine Park, Mount Odaigahara, Mount Omine, and Mount Yoshino.