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Japan is one of the most beautiful countries in East Asia with her many attractions and sights of nature such as park, lakes, majestic mountains and quiet countrysides. They provide a perfect balance of urban charm and seductive nature, and the locations that illustrate this the best way are her parks. There are many that are tucked within cities like Tokyo and Kyoto, while others can only be reached when one goes to the countryside or relatively rural areas.

Many first time visitors to Japan will make it a point to travel to at least one of the numerous national parks within the country. As we all face the pressures of the modern world, it is a simple but pleasurable experience to travel to faraway destinations that allow us to escape from that if only for a moment. There could be nothing better to satisfy that than making a point to visit the Japanese gardens and parks that infuse both Eastern and Western culture?

There are a total of 29 national parks in Japan which occupy more than five per cent of the total land area in the country. While locals are an ever present in terms of visitors, there is an increasing number of foreign tourists who are eager to have a taste of what the nature of Japan has to offer. Some of the most popular parks are the Nikko, Shiretoko and Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Parks.

Nikko city is the town that leads one to the National Park, and it has a surprisingly small population. However, visitors arrive non-stop to see for themselves the scenic beauty of the area. From the serene and tranquil Lake Chuzenji to the majestic Mount Nantai, the park reaches far and wide over a total of four prefectures. Even visitors on a budget Nikko National Park day tour would be able to enjoy other highlights that include the large Kegon waterfall as well as the Toshogu shrine that has become a recognizable landmark for the city itself.

Mount Fuji is often considered the finest icon of nature Japan. However, the area in which it is found has an understated elegance of its own - the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. It is even larger in size compared to the park in Nikko, especially when one considers that it borders Mount Fuji and the Fuji Five Lakes, amongst many others. Even tiny islets are included within the region, illustrating perfectly why it is often regarded as the biggest park in Japan.

Perhaps one of the most understated parks in Japan is Shiretoko National Park. It is a haven of nature which has yet to be muddied by man or commercial entities. In fact, there is no way one can get there on wheels. There is also diverse wildlife that cannot be found elsewhere in Japan, while the flora and fauna existing within Shiretoko had prompted UNESCO to mark the area as a World Heritage Site, a great achievement for a humble site in a modern country.

Whether it be an adventure to the wilderness in Shiretoko, an experience with national symbols in Fuji-Hakone-Izu or visiting Nikko National Park on a tour package, Japan’s national parks have so much to offer for the eager and willing traveler. One will never cease to be amazed by a country that has an advanced and modern metropolis in its city centre of Tokyo, while surrounded by such extensive and beautiful nature.

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