What is a Geopark?

Geoparks are exactly what the name means, parks of the earth. They are places where you can find out about how the mountains and rivers surrounding us came to be, learning their natural origins alongside the history and culture of the people who made their homes among them. There are 46 regions registered as geoparks in Japan today, nine of which are recognized as UNESCO Global Geoparks (As of February 2022).

The geological formations, rocks, flora and fauna in the geopark area are valuable natural heritages.  Do not destroy them or collect them without permission.

Find more information on Japan's geoparks here.

UNESCO Global Geoparks
  1. Toya-Usu UNESCO Global Geopark
  2. Mt. Apoi UNESCO Global Geopark
  3. Itoigawa UNESCO Global Geopark
  4. Izu Peninsula UNESCO Global Geopark
  5. Oki Islands UNESCO Global Geopark
  6. San'in Kaigan UNESCO Global Geopark
  7. Muroto UNESCO Global Geopark
  8. Aso UNESCO Global Geopark
  9. Unzen Volcanic Area UNESCO Global Geopark
Japanese National Geoparks
  1. Shirataki Geopark
  2. Tokachidake Geopark
  3. Tokachi Shikaoi Geopark
  4. Mikasa Geopark
  5. Shimokita Geopark
  6. Happo-Shirakami Geopark
  7. Oga Peninsula-Ogata Geopark
  8. Sanriku Geopark
  9. Mt. Chokai & Tobishima Island Geopark
  10. Yuzawa Geopark
  11. Mt. Kurikoma Area Geopark
  12. Sado Island Geopark
  13. Bandaisan Geopark
  14. Naeba-Sanroku Geopark
  15. Mt. Tsukuba Area Geopark
  16. Choshi Geopark
  17. Mt. Asama North Geopark
  18. Shimonita Geopark
  19. Chichibu Geopark
  20. Hakone Geopark
  21. Tateyama Kurobe Geopark
  22. Minami-Alps (MTL Area) Geopark
  23. Izu Oshima Geopark
  24. Hakusan Tedorigawa Geopark
  25. Dinosaur Valley Fukui Katsuyama Geopark
  26. Nanki Kumano Geopark
  27. Shimane Peninsula and Shinjiko Nakaumi Estuary Geopark
  28. Hagi Geopark
  29. Mine-Akiyoshidai Karst Plateau Geopark
  30. Oita Himeshima Geopark
  31. Shikoku Seiyo Geopark
  32. Tosashimizu Geopark
  33. Oita Bungoono Geopark
  34. Kirishima Geopark
  35. Sakurajima-Kinkowan Geopark
  36. Mishima Village Kikai Caldera Geopark
  37. Goto Islands (Shimogoto area) Geopark
Japanese Geopark Map

An area must first undergo a review by the Japanese Geopark Committee to be registered as a geopark. They are also subject to a re-examination by the committee every 4 years. The Oita Bungoono Geopark was first registered in September 2013. It was then re-approved after reviews in December 2017 and January 2022.

(Pictures taken on-site at the first review and re-examination in 2017)

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