NATIONAL PARKS OF JAPAN 100TH ANNIVERSARY (2024-2031) by Japan Mint

Iriomote-Ishigaki is predominantly based around the Ryukyu Islands, and is Japan’s southernmost national park. Because of its island nature, there are several species of fauna that are found nowhere else, most famously the Iriomote Cat, and the Sakishima Grass Lizard. The area is known for its extensive mangrove swamps, and highly diverse wildlife, especially around the coral reefs.

Keramashoto is a small group of over 30 mountainous, forested islets, located around 40 km west of Naha City. The sea around them is teeming with life, located as it is, in a region replete with coral reefs, and the national park area of it covers 90,475 hectares. Many endangered species inhabit the islands, like the Ryukyu Flying Fox, and the Japanese Black-breasted Leaf Turtle. The species on the coin is a Green Turtle, however.

Yambaru is located in the northern part of Okinawa, and is one of the most biodiverse area of Japan. Although the region comprises less than 0.1% of Japan’s total area, around 50% of all the bird species in the country can be found here, including some endemic, like the Okinawa woodpecker, and the subject of the coin, the Okinawa Rail. Amphibians and insects are equally over-represented. Yambara is one of the few heavily forested areas in its subtropical latitude around the world, where arid or desert environments usually occur.

Setonaikai is the largest national park of the 35 in Japan, and also in the first three to be given that designation, back in 1934. Based around the inland Setonaikai Sea, it exceeds 900,000 hectares overall, and has a huge range of sealife. Amongst them are the subject of the coin, the Horseshoe Crab, described by some as a living fossil, and the Finless Porpoise. The area has a rich cultural history.

Another of the initial three areas to be designated national parks, Unzen-Amakasu was centred around Mount Unzen, an active stratovolcano, that last erupted in 1991, setting off a pyroclastic flow (similar to the one that obliterated Pompeii), killing 43 people. These eruptions continued until 1995. In 1956, the Amakasu area was added to the park, which was an archipelago incorporating around 120 islands. The seas teem with corals, and despite the volcanic activity, the land is diverse. The coin depicts rime ice, and an Oyama Magnolia.

The third of the three initial parks, Kirishima-Kinkowan is comprised of Kirishima, a heavily volcanic area with crater lakes, fumarole phenomena, hot springs, and plateaus all created through volcanic activity. Despite that, it has extensive vegetation. The other part, Kinkowan, is also actively volcanic. Both have heavy rainfall, often as high as 4,000 mm annually. The marine ecosystem is also very diverse, fed by the Kuroshio Current, and featuring coral reefs. The coin depicts Cape Sata in the background, with a Field Crabapple in the foreground. The spear-like monument is called Amanosakahoko, which is mounted on the crest of Mt. Takachiho in Kirishima.

One of the earliest designated national parks, the joint oldest on Hokkaido, Akan Mashu is a stunning mix of volcanic crater lakes, surrounded by forested mountains. Akan is a huge caldera at over 20 km across, and is home to Mount Meakan, the park’s highest point. The main lake holds four islands, and is home to boiling mud, and nearby, in Lake Onneto, is a hot water waterfall.

The park is particularly famous for its Marimo, as Lake Mashu is spectacularly clear, up to 40 metres in depth. Marimo are balls of a filamentous green algae, that can grow up to 30 cm in diameter, and sit on the lake bed. The coin depicts a view of the lake, with a close-up of the Marimo in the foreground.

The other joint oldest park on Hokkaido, Daisetsuzan, was the biggest national park in Japan until last year, and incorporates a vast range of mountains. The park holds 16 peaks over 2,000 metres, including Asahidake (2,291 m), the highest peak in Hokkaido. There are three main groups of stratovolcanoes, sited around a central highland. The area is still somewhat active, particularly Mt. Tokachi. Tennin Gorge is home to columnar pillars, much like those of the famous Giant’s Causeway in Ireland.

The park is known for both its huge variety of alpine plants (40% of the alpine plants in the whole of Japan are found here), and for its diverse wildlife. Brown Bears are found here, as are Yezo Sika Deer, foxes, stoats, squirrels and found virtually nowhere else, the Japanese Pika. The Pika is depicted on the coin, alongside a Hosoba Uruppuso (a perennial alpine plant with light purple flowers).

Chubusangaku National Park is famous for its dominating mountain range, that form Japan’s Northern Alps. This quite breathtaking region is replete with some of the highest peaks in Japan, with lava plateaus, deep glacial valleys, and extensive alpine flora. Mount Tateyama has a long history of worship, being one of the ‘Three Sacred Mountains’, alongside Mt. Fuji, and Mt. Hakusan.

The area gets plenty of snowfall, and the flora reflects that, comprised of extensive pine forests and alpine spaces. Lower down, Birch and Beech tree forests dominate. The Asian Black Bear resides in the park, along with the Japanese Macaque monkey, and the Golden Eagle. Alpine butterflies are abundant, as is the Rock Ptarmigan, which is depicted on the coin in front of a snow dusted mountain ridge.

Another of the early wave of 1934 designated parks, Nikko is situated in the Kanto region of Japan’s main island, Honshu. Considered one of Japans most beautiful locations, Nikko is another mountainous, volcanic area, including Mt. Nasudake, an active volcano, and is also replete with lakes, plateaus, and forested valleys.

Along with the widely varied range of flora and fauna that inhabit the park, Nikko is also famous for its UNESCO World Heritage sites, like the impressive Toshogu Shrine, which dates back to the early 17th century. The area was also popular with foreign dignitaries in the Meiji Era. The coin depicts, in its foreground, the Shinkyo Bridge, built in 1636, and brightly coloured with vermilion lacquer.

Also designated a national park in late 1934, Aso-Kuju has the dubious honour of hosting Mount Aso, the biggest volcano in Japan, and one of the biggest caldera volcanoes on the planet. With a circumference of around 120 km, its central cone group consists of five peaks. Ash from Aso, and Mount Kuju, replenish the tidal flats of the Ariake Sea. The last eruption was on 20 October 2021.

The park is also known for its large grassland plateaus, with moors and springs, filled with a wide variety of flora, including the perennial globe thistle, Echinops setifer, which is showcased on the coin. Animal life includes the Japanese Macaque, the Japanese Deer, and Honshu’s biggest mammal, the Asiatic Black Bear.