Initiatives_National Parks of Japan [MOE]

Main body

Japan's national parks have adopted a region-centric natural park system, and park initiatives therefore rely on the cooperation of local residents and private organizations to preserve the natural environment and maintain visitor facilities and the usage environment.

Natural Parks Clean-up Day

Nationwide Same-day Clean-up Effort

The first Sunday of each August has been proclaimed Natural Park Cleaning Day. On this day, initiatives are held at natural parks across the nation (especially at sites that attract large numbers of visitors) with the aim of reminding visitors to take trash home, while related parties cooperate in a large-scale cleaning effort.

Junior Park Rangers

Junior Park Rangers at Work in Shijima

National parks across the nation offer programs in which elementary and junior high students can study the natural environment alongside rangers and park volunteers while developing well-rounded humane characters by understanding the importance of protecting nature, engaging with nature, and developing compassion for all living beings.

Green Worker Program

Efforts to Eradicate the Signal Crayfish

In cooperation with local residents and other organizations that have extensive knowledge of the natural and social conditions of their particular region, green worker programs are organized with the aim of promoting swift and fine-tuned nature preservation activities that address existing conditions while also upgrading national park management and services.

Green Worker Program

Grants for Upgrading Mountain Lavatories

Shiretoko Mountain Toilets

In the late 1990s, Mt. Fuji was plagued by a large amount of trash and human waste, and related environmental problems came under close scrutiny. From 1999, a subsidy project was started to build mountain lodge toilets. The subsidy program builds mountain lodge toilets that can serve as public restrooms, and it also provide subsidies covering 50% of the construction costs for sewage and human waste treatment facilities for private mountain lodge operators with the aim of promoting the preservation and proper usage of the exceptional natural environment in the mountain ranges of national parks, etc.

Grants for Upgrading Mountain Lavatories