Colorful natural beauty and sublime cultural heritages interweaved by mountains, lakes, reservoirs, falls and wetlands.
Date of Designation: December 4,1934
Area: 114,908 ha
Related Prefecture: Fukushima, Tochigi, Gunma
Nikko National Park is the one of first national parks that opened in 1934. The park area straddles Fukushima, Tochigi, and Gunma Prefectures and the total area is 114,908 ha. Most of the area is a mountainous region of the Nasu Volcanic Belt with such mountains as Mt. Shirane (2,578 m above sea level), the highest peak in the northern Kanto region; Mt. Nantai (2,486 m above sea level), which has been renowned as an object of worship from ancient times; and Mt. Nasudake (1,917 m above sea level), which is still an active volcano. These mountains have wideplateaus at their bases, and the additional beauty of lakes, reservoirs, magnificent falls, and valleys with splendid autumn leaves, all of which were created by volcanic activity.
In addition, there is the beautiful fusion of a number of historic world-heritage temples and shrines and the natural scenery surrounding them.
Nikko National Park boasts easy access by train or car from areas around Tokyo and is, therefore, popular as a spot where visitors can experience nature, history, and culture.