A Japanese natural park does not have exactly the same rules everywhere within its boundaries. What you are allowed to do can change depending on which part of the park you are in.
Japan’s natural parks include national parks, quasi-national parks, and prefectural natural parks. National and quasi-national parks are divided into different zones under the Natural Parks Act, while prefectural natural parks also establish special zones and other regulated areas under local ordinances.
In national and quasi-national parks, the areas with the strictest protection are called Special Protection Zones. There are also Class I, Class II, and Class III Special Zones, as well as Ordinary Zones.
These names are not just labels.
In Special Zones, permission is required for certain activities that may affect nature or the landscape, such as constructing buildings, cutting trees, or altering the shape of the land. In Special Protection Zones, protection is even stricter, and a wider range of activities requires permission.
An Ordinary Zone does not mean that people are free to do anything they want. Certain activities, such as constructing larger buildings or making major changes to the land, may still require prior notification.
In other words, Japanese natural parks are not simply divided into “protected areas” and “unrestricted areas.” The level of protection changes from one part of the same park to another.
Ordinary visitors do not need to obtain permission every time they walk along a trail or enjoy the scenery. However, access may be restricted in particularly sensitive areas, and individual parks may have their own rules concerning activities such as collecting plants or camping. It is therefore important to check local signs and park information.
Japanese natural parks can include not only relatively untouched natural areas but also roads, settlements, and places where people live. Rather than closing off an entire park under one strict set of rules, Japan combines zones with different levels of protection to balance human use with nature conservation.
References
- Ministry of the Environment, “Natural Parks Act”
- Ministry of the Environment, “Overview of the National Park and Quasi-National Park System”
- Ministry of the Environment, “Guidelines for Permits and Notifications in National Parks”
