Japan is famous for its natural diversity. Starting from the volcano, the soft sand beaches, and the preservation of wild animals. This has an impact on the diversity of national parks in the country. This allows travelers to choose national park tourist destinations according to their preferences. There are national parks that are rich in flora and fauna that are still beautiful. There are national parks that provide outdoor sports facilities such as diving, snorkeling, rock climbing, and mountain climbing. There is even a national park in the form of a dune that provides camel rides.

The beautiful nature in Japan is the reason why many travelers planning long-awaited travel to this country. Especially after the Japan border opened after the corona pandemic. No need to linger any longer; here are the 10 lists of national parks that are worth visiting as vacation spots.

10 Fuji Hakone Izu National Park

As the name implies, Fuji Hakone National Park is a national park that covers the areas of Mount Fuji, Hakone, and the Izu Peninsula. This park is the busiest national park in Japan, and you can enjoy various activities here. Travelers can climb Mount Fuji and visit the popular hot springs in Hakone and Izu islands. This national park has a diversity of nature, from volcanoes to stunning beaches that can't be missed. Apart from climbing Mount Fuji, in this place, travelers can also do activities that might not be enjoyed in other national parks. Examples include exploring lava caves, taking hot baths, and swimming with dolphins.

9 Daisetsuzan National Park

Daisetsuzan National Park in Hokkaido is the largest park in Japan. It is about 2,267 square km in area, almost the size of Kanagawa Prefecture. The park is filled with mountains, including Mount Asahidake, which has the highest peak in Hokkaido. Daisetsuzan is also known by the Ainu as 'Kamuimintara' or the playground of the Gods.

This park has many trails for hiking. Experienced hikers can take the route known as the Daisetsuzan Grand Traverse from Asahidake in the north to Tokachidake in the south. Touring the Daisetsuzan Grand Traverse takes about 5-7 days. Along the way, there are also many huts and camping spots available. Apart from hiking, visitors can also experience canoeing, rafting, and fishing on the Ishikari River. This river has a length of 268 km and is the longest river in Hokkaido. In this area, 4 main onsen resorts can be an option for bathing. There are Asahidake Onsen, Fukiage Onsen, Sounkyo Onsen, and Tenninkyo Onsen. One of the winter attractions in this area is the Sounkyo Ice Waterfall Festival which is held from January to March.

8 Keramashoto National Park

Keramasoto National Park is located in Okinawa. Its area includes about 30 small islands in the vicinity. Even though it has beautiful scenery, the good news is that this national park is still empty of travelers. This park is different from other national parks, which are generally places for hiking. The main attraction of Keramashoto National Park is the view of its white beaches, which contrast with the emerald color of the seawater. Not only that, but the high cliffs on the coast also add to the beauty of this national park. There are several other small islands in this national park, namely Tokashiki Island and Zamami Island. On the island, travelers can snorkel or dive and rent a boat to see whales. From December to April each year, groups of baleen whales migrate to the waters of the Kerama Islands to breed.

7 Shikotsu-Toya National Park

Shikotsu-Tōya National Park is a national park on the western island of Hokkaidō, Japan. It has a total area of 993.02 square kilometers. The park is surrounded by craggy volcanoes and clear lakes. There are two volcanic caldera lakes, namely Lake Shikotsu and Lake Tōya. This park is also surrounded by Mount Yotei and Mount Usu, which still emit fiery smoke. Popular activities here are mountain climbing, hiking, and soaking in hot springs. Interestingly, the water in Lake Shikotsu Toya never freezes even though it is surrounded by snow. Because the contents of the lake are sourced from hot water. The name of this lake has a rather sinister meaning. Shikotsu means bone, while Toya means water. This name is used because the victims who drowned in this lake were never found. It is believed that their bones are still at the bottom of the lake.

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6 Akan Mashu National Park

Akan Mashu National Park sits atop Japan's largest caldera (a basin created by volcanic activity). The park provides spectacular panoramic views of its natural landscape strung together by the three caldera lakes: Lake Akan, Lake Kussharo, and Lake Mashu. In the vicinity are volcanoes, forests, and other small lakes.

The park is divided in two between the Akan area and the Mashu (Kawayu) area. In the Akan area, there are stunning natural mountain views, such as Mount Oakan, Mount Meakan, and Lake Akan. On the Mashu side, there is Lake Mashu which is one of the clearest lakes in the world, and Lake Kussharo, with its splendor. Both lakes can be seen thoroughly from the surrounding mountains and passes.

5 Nikko National Park

Nikko National Park is very easy to visit from Tokyo because of its location in the Kanto area of Japan. This park is a world heritage site recognized by UNESCO. Nikko National Park is famous for the Toshogu Shrine, which is the final resting place of Tokugawa Ieyasu. The interesting spots of this national park are the Kinu River, Mount Nantai, and its many hot springs. Nikko National Park is known for its forests of beech, maple, and oak trees. One can imagine the cool autumn leaves of the forests of Nikko National Park. In Nikko National Park, you can also find swamps, waterfalls, and lakes that are no less beautiful. Apart from that, various wild animals, such as monkeys and Japanese deer, live freely in this national park. In this place, of course, there are various exciting outdoor activities. Some of these activities are exploring the lake by boat, enjoying rafting, and climbing mountains.

4 Aso-Kuju National Park

Aso-Kuju National Park is located in Kyushu, Southern Japan. In this park, there is Mount Aso which is still busy with volcanic activity. Mount Aso is still within the scope of this park. So that makes this park a nature tour as well as a place to climb the mountain to the volcanic crater. Apart from that, there are other mountains, namely Mount Yufu, Mount Tsurumi, Mount Nakadake, and Mount Kuju. Therefore, the beautiful view of the mountains will spoil any visitor. Apart from hiking, there are many other activities to choose from in this national park. In Aso-Kuju National Park, travelers can see the sapphire blue crater lake from Mount Nakadake and ride horses in the meadows of Mount Aso.

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3 San'in Kaigan National Park

This national park is different from other parks. This park is formed from a high mound of sand. So, it looks like a desert on the Arabian Peninsula. Uniquely, one of the places Tottori Sand Dunes, is a dune that is by the sea. From its landscape, San'in Kaigan National Park has basaltic caves, dunes, tunnels, and dunes. In addition to its beautiful and unique landscape, this national park has a variety of animals that inhabit it. The park is home to the endangered white crane, tanuki (Japanese raccoon dog), and foxes. In this national park, travelers can watch the sunrise in the Asahi sea cave, go sandboarding in the dunes, and swim and snorkel at Takeno Beach.

2 Shiretoko National Park

Shiretoko National Park has an area of 38,954 hectares. There are 36 species of land mammals and 22 species of marine mammals in this park. One of them is inhabited by a brown bear which is the largest land animal in Japan. This park is also one of the world heritage sites recognized by UNESCO in 2005 because of its natural beauty. This park has the majestic Shiretoko Mountains as a backdrop. The mountains were formed from volcanic activity and water currents which are home to wild animals that live freely in the oceans, forests, and rivers. In addition, there are rare animals that live in this park. Examples such as the endangered Blakiston fish owl, white-tailed eagle, and various other birds of prey also enliven this beautiful region.

1 Setonaikai National Park

The largest and oldest National Park in Japan is the Setonaikai National Park which was built in 1934. This park covers 11 provinces, namely Aichi, Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Hyogo, Kagawa, Oita, Okayama, Osaka, Tokushima, Wakayama, and Yamaguchi. Various interesting spots can be found here, such as the sea, beaches, extensive gardens, and mountains. The most special feature of Setonaikai National Park is its inland sea views. The sea consists of about 1,000 islands of various sizes. In addition, the Seto Inland Sea region has long been a prosperous cultural center.