Areas protected under the Nature Conservation Law of Japan

The Nature Conservation Law (自然環境保全法) of Japan provides for the designation of three types of protected area: Wilderness Areas (原生自然環境保全地域) and Nature Conservation Areas (自然環境保全地域), by the Minister of the Environment, and Prefectural Nature Conservation Areas (都道府県自然環境保全地域), by Prefectural Governors.

Wilderness Areas
As of 31 March 2015, five Wilderness Areas have been designated, with a total area of 56.31 km2.

Nature Conservation Areas
As of 31 March 2015, ten Nature Conservation Areas have been designated, with a total area of 225.42 km2.

Prefectural Nature Conservation Areas
As of 31 March 2015, five hundred and forty-four Prefectural Nature Conservation Areas have been designated, with a total area of 774.08 km2.


 * Miyazaki: Kashiba (樫葉)・Northern Kamon-dake (掃部岳北部)
 * Kagoshima: Koba-dake (木場岳)・Mangurō (万九郎)
 * Okinawa: Kubura-dake (久部良岳)・Urabuta-dake (宇良部岳)・Higawa-chisaki (比川地先)・Agari-zaki (東崎)・Tanokuba-yama (田名の久葉山)・Kushi-dake (後岳)・Koshi-dake (腰岳)・Gayō-zan (賀陽山)・Aha-take (阿波岳)・Izena-yama (伊是名山)・Katsuu-dake - Awa-dake - Yae-dake (嘉津宇岳・安和岳・八重岳)