How National Parks Work in Japan

Japan's National Parks operate unlike any system I've ever seen. For those more familiar with American-style National Park management, it might come as a bit of a shock (as it did to me) to see such widespread human development in a place called a "National Park." But, the deeper you dive into the inner workings of Japan's National Park system, the more you begin to understand that this system of National Parks WORKS. It works in the way Japan needs it to work, in the way that Japan approaches conservation. I find this fascinating. As a student of National Park Administration, I love seeing how other countries approach parks and conservation, because they are a reflection of that country's values, and how its people think about themselves in relation to the natural world. That's the entire point of this video - to help you learn a little bit about How National Parks Work in Japan, in the hopes of helping you understand a little more about Japan, it's people, and their relationship with nature.
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• National Parks of Japan
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[@tommyswoodpileadventuresan9552]

I toured Japan and I found the cemeteries and shrines amazing.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Really cool cultural attractions there. I too was fascinated by the shrines

[@tommyswoodpileadventuresan9552]

@@NationalParkDiaries Ya, those graves weren't at all Christian. Fascinating.

[@BenKelly44]

I don't watch these because I like National Parks (but I do), these videos are well made so I keep watching.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

That means a lot, thanks so much ❤

[@Dbenenenenett]

Definitely enjoying the international content! Looking forward to whatever you work on next

[@NationalParkDiaries]

I'm glad! Thanks for watching!

[@kerrygrim7934]

Excellent video and an excellent job described how their park system works. That could not have been easy!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

It was a challenge for sure! I was grateful to find management/administration documents in English 🙏

[@meganstahlberger608]

I have visited two Japanese national parks. I really loved them especially since I could take the train to them from Tokyo!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Definitely one of my favorite aspects of Japanese National Parks 🚡🚋

[@zackwatson6912]

Phenomenal video - I've loved both of your Japan videos so far and hope you have more video ideas! Makes me wonder if the US could incorporate some of the beautiful National Forest areas (especially in my native midwest) as part of the National Park system in a similar way. My wife and I have loved exploring Garden of the Gods in Shawnee National Forest and Red River Gorge in Boone National Forest. Was also blown away by the way Cuyahoga National Park is very similar to what you described in this video too.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it! It was fun to dive into another country's National Park System and really explore that different approach to conservation. Lessons to be learned all around! Funnily enough, Cuyahoga Valley was THE park I was thinking of when researching this entire episode - so many similarities!

[@mvanderbilt]

Thanks for this. I learned a lot. I'm American but grew up in Japan through high school. I hiked in several of the National Parks in Japan but always wondered about the differences from one to the next.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Glad I could help, thanks for watching!

[@lisacable1392]

This wasn't nerdy at all! You shared your love for a beautiful country that not a lot of people have the opportunity to visit. We were fortunate enough to spend some time there and share your same enthusiasm. Great video!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

It was super fun digging into the administrative aspect of National Parks in Japan! Not something that gets covered all that much!

[@gtbkts]

Thanks for the awesome video and all the hard work you do to give us this amazing content!!!!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks so much for watching, as always!

[@MelissaFleury-dy5kc]

listening to this channel is calming and informative on National Parks. Mom's should listen to this while working on their computers or folding laundry. It's very encouraging and calming. Thank You!!!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Haha, glad I could help!

[@NihonGoose]

Great video! I’m going to Japan in a few weeks and I don’t know if I’ll be near any parks, but this was so informative!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

I'm sure there will be a park near you! You can look at their website for a map and with the excellent transportation network, chances are you'll be able to access it relatively easily. I hope you can make it to one!

[@freyafoxmusic]

Japan truly the best country in the world I’ve visited over 30 countries and never found one as great as Japan

[@NationalParkDiaries]

This country has lived rent-free in my mind since I left. Truly a special place. Can't wait to go back!

[@o.d.d.792]

Thanks for this informative video. Currently in a TTRPG Dungeons and Dragons where the setting is a Japanese inspired world during the Meiji Restoration and the fantasy creatures the kitsune are being effected by the industrial machines and environmental consequences. So this video is a great way for me to input how the kitsune will do their national parks in this fantasy game.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

That sounds AWESOME. Enjoy!

[@ulba98]

Well done sir, appreciate the global perspective. Heading to the Smokey`s and Mammoth Cave next weekend, very exited!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Enjoy! Both great parks!

[@rushingwindmountain]

This is so absolutely adorable. Love the cherry blossoms.👍👍👍

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@geogypsytraveler]

Nice job presenting this different perspective. I encourage visiting South African National Parks. Blew me away being in a vehicle, like a cage, watching the natural world outside.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Very high on the list! Africa is maybe the next "frontier" for me, having now been to Asia for the first time. Thanks for watching, as always!

[@AbouttheJourney]

Lol. There's some guy in there wearing my backpack. 😉 Great video, Cameron!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Looks like you have a doppelganger 😂 Thanks for watching, Mike!

[@rosalieholdaway6017]

Yay your back!!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Had a blast making this one! Glad people are enjoying it!

[@DARKCLOUDXERO]

This was great.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you!

[@aff77141]

Great video, I think people often forget how amazing the nature of Japan is for the sake of giving attention to the technology, history, culture, and arts, also amazing of course, but it's all inextricably tied together and effects each other, in good ways and bad. I think it also helps that much of Japanese culture values not just freezing things in time, but renewing them, and respecting/living alongside nature - they value preseelrvation of the idea over keeping things exactly how they are, it's a ship of theseus type of thing, if they replace all the wood of a temple, to them, it's still the same temple. Japan definitely has its flaws in this and many other areas that aren't talked about enough, but I doubt it would be possible to uphold something like their parks here. It's very difficult to get Americans to think the way they do, and our government is certainly not the type for compromise or working with land owners.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Well said and thanks for watching!

[@JackLeMetis]

Interesting thanks 🤟

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@melissalewis7768]

Thanks!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks so much!

[@jar1345]

The towns in the park doesn’t sound too different from Canada. I’ve only been to the Rocky Mountain parks there but Banff and Jasper having towns in the middle of them was interesting.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Banff is an interesting case, for sure. I think, overall, Banff still operates much like a "set aside" park rather than a "working landscape" park, even with the town in it. When you look at the Banff landscape vs that of many Japanese National Parks, there's still significantly less human development. But, there's no one size fits all here! Parks management is a spectrum and different places do it differently based on their needs. Good comparison!

[@ericpierce3660]

That was really interesting.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@buglepong]

i think that a lot of conservation sites in the old world have a dual purpose conservation. these places have been civilised for millenia and there are basically no true areas of wilderness left. however in a way new world conservation isnt really true wilderness either, human development has affected them forever. in the end, national parks everywhere are human curated areas, and would not exist if we did not collectively value them for their natural characteristics.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Well said!

[@Token_Nerd]

Now this is a cool video.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks so much!

[@hyoung1221]

In a similar vein to what you did for US parks last year, what tips do you have for visiting the Japanese national park system? Beyond what you mentioned at the end about shifting your perspective and expectations.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

In general, I would say don't miss out on the cultural/historical elements of Japanese National Parks. It's a very unique aspect of their system. We do have historical/cultural parks here in the US, but we really have no equivalent to shrines/temples here and the culture is very different obviously, so you can really immerse yourself in something completely different. Another recommendation is to take advantage of the incredible accessibility of the parks via Japanese transit, another thing that's just not really viable in the US. We stayed in Tokyo, but were able to access both of the parks we visited via train and/or public transport seamlessly. At Chichibu-Tama-Kai NP, the train from Tokyo stops at several locations on the edge of the park, giving you great access to several different areas. You can combine this with short overnights at local hotels to explore even more. At Fuji-Hakone-Izu NP, we only visited the Hakone area, which is also incredibly accessible via transit, both from outside the park and once you're inside it (trains, buses, ropeway/gondola, boat, cablecar). It really allowed us to see more of the park than we otherwise would have relying only on our feet or having to rent a car (expensive).

[@sunnygirlishappy]

I will fly you back out to Japan. How much does it cost? I loved your presentation. Everything was so clean, so smart of them to teach the young ones. It's too bad people don't realize this in raising their children. Early birthday wishes to you, lookout for my package. ❤

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks so much Granmommie, I'll keep an eye out ❤❤❤

[@MayaPosch]

A big difference between Western and Japanese park is also the connection between society and nature. Japan's Shinto religion is a reflection of this: this belief teaches that spirits/gods (神) inhabit natural places all around us, meaning that respecting nature and taking care of e.g. a shrine and the environment around it is the same as honouring and appeasing those spirits. This creates a social attitude in which cohabitation of humans and nature is much more... natural, you could say. The Western attitude is very different, with their 'gods' somewhere safely tucked away in an abstract place, and nature being given to humans to do with as they please. It shouldn't come as a surprise that this creates a more... destructive approach towards nature, I think.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Great point! Cultural/religious attitudes ultimately lead to very different conservation approaches across the world

[@kevanhubbard9673]

The Japanese archipelago is probably one of Earth's longest although easily beaten by the Indonesian archipelago.

[@sigspearthumb9574]

Could you do a video on UK national parks ?

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Definitely! It's only a matter of time before I get back over there and can do some park visits and make a video!

[@wake_jenner]

nothing insightful to say. Great video as always!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks so much!

[@kaboom4679]

At least the Japanese have also managed to master the fine art of chronic and deliberate underfunding , as the US has done .

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Some things never change...

[@25aspooner]

Noice 😎

[@NationalParkDiaries]

🙌🗾🇯🇵