Editing Geography of Japan (section)

==National Parks and Scenic Beauty==
===National Parks===
[[File:Jrb 2007 LakeToya Showashinzan.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.3|[[Lake Tōya]] and [[Shōwa-shinzan]] in [[Shikotsu-Tōya National Park]]]]
Japan has 34 {{nihongo|[[List of national parks of Japan|National Parks]]|国立公園|Kokuritsu Kōen}} and 56 {{nihongo|Quasi-National Parks|国定公園|Kokutei Kōen}} in 2019. These are designated and managed for protection and sustainable usage by the [[Ministry of the Environment (Japan)|Ministry of the Environment]] under the {{nihongo|Natural Parks Law|[[:ja:自然公園法|自然公園法]]}} of 1957.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.env.go.jp/en/laws/nature/law_np.pdf |title=Natural Parks Act (1957) |publisher=[[Ministry of the Environment (Japan)|Ministry of the Environment]] |access-date=1 February 2012 |archive-date=21 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221172418/http://www.env.go.jp/en/laws/nature/law_np.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>  The Quasi-National Parks have slightly less beauty, size, diversity, or preservation. They are recommended for ministerial designation and managed by the prefectures under the supervision of the Ministry of the Environment.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/nps/park/doc/files/parksystem.pdf |title=Natural Park Systems in Japan |publisher=[[Ministry of the Environment (Japan)|Ministry of the Environment]] |pages=4, 12 |access-date=1 February 2012 |archive-date=29 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130129013911/http://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/nps/park/doc/files/parksystem.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Japanese archipelago has diverse landscapes.<ref name="water-supply"/> For example, the northern part of Hokkaido has a taiga biome.<ref>C.Michael Hogan. 2011. [http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/171390/ ''Taiga''. eds. M.McGinley & C.Cleveland. Encyclopedia of Earth. National Council for Science and the Environment. Washington DC] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104122600/http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/171390/ |date=2013-11-04 }}</ref> Hokkaido has 22% of Japan's forestland with coniferous trees ([[Abies sachalinensis|Sakhalin fir]] and [[Picea glehnii|Sakhalin spruce]]) and broad-leaved trees ([[Japanese oak]], [[Japanese white birch|birch]], and [[Acer pictum subsp. mono|painted maple]]). The seasonal views change throughout the year.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rinya.maff.go.jp/hokkaido/koho/koho_net/library/pdf/national_forest_in_hokkaido.pdf |title=National Forests in Hokkaido |date=2014-03-01 |website=Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries |publisher=Hokkaido Regional Forest Office |language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627115721/http://www.rinya.maff.go.jp/hokkaido/koho/koho_net/library/pdf/national_forest_in_hokkaido.pdf|archive-date=2018-06-27|access-date=2019-07-21}}</ref> In the south, the [[Yaeyama Islands]] are in the [[subtropics]], with numerous species of subtropical and tropical plants and [[mangrove]] forests.<ref name="c">{{cite encyclopedia |encyclopedia=Nihon Rekishi Chimei Taikei |title=八重山諸島 |url=http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ | access-date = 2012-12-04 |year=2012 |publisher=Shogakukan |location=Tokyo |language=ja | trans-title = Yaeyama Islands |oclc=173191044 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ | archive-date = 2007-08-25 | url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pref.okinawa.jp/okinawa_kankyo/shizen_hogo/hozen_chiiki/shishin/yaeyama_hozen_shishin/yaeyama_riku_shizen2.html |title=自然環境の保全に関する指針 八重山編（陸域） |website=Okinawa Prefectural Government |language=ja |trans-title=Guidelines for conservation of the natural environment |access-date=2019-01-15 |archive-date=2016-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405084024/http://www.pref.okinawa.jp/okinawa_kankyo/shizen_hogo/hozen_chiiki/shishin/yaeyama_hozen_shishin/yaeyama_riku_shizen2.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Most natural islands have mountain ranges in the center and coastal plains.
* [[List of national parks of Japan|List of National Parks of Japan]]
* [[List of National Geoparks#Japan|List of National Geoparks in Japan]]
* [[Wildlife Protection Areas in Japan]]
* [[List of Ramsar sites in Japan]]
* [[Cultural Landscape (Japan)|Cultural Landscapes]]

===Places of Scenic Beauty===
[[File:Ritsurin_park16s3200.jpg|thumb|[[Ritsurin Garden]], [[Takamatsu, Kagawa|Takamatsu]], Japan]]
The [[List of Special Places of Scenic Beauty, Special Historic Sites and Special Natural Monuments|Places of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monuments]] are selected by the government via the [[Agency for Cultural Affairs]] in order to protect Japan's cultural heritage.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bunka.go.jp/koho_hodo_oshirase/hodohappyo/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2017/11/15/a1397922_01.pdf |script-title=ja:史跡等の指定等について |trans-title=Designation of Special Historic Sites |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2017-09-14 |website=[[Agency for Cultural Affairs]] |access-date=2017-11-18 |archive-date=2017-12-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201033530/http://www.bunka.go.jp/koho_hodo_oshirase/hodohappyo/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2017/11/15/a1397922_01.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref> As of 2017, there are 1,027 {{nihongo|Natural Monuments|天然記念物|tennen kinenbutsu}} and 410 {{nihongo|Places of Scenic Beauty|名勝|meishō}}. The highest classifications are 75 {{nihongo|Special Natural Monuments|特別天然記念物|tokubetsu tennen kinenbutsu}} and 36 {{nihongo|Special Places of Scenic Beauty|特別名勝|tokubetsu meishō}}.

===Three Views of Japan===
The {{nihongo|[[Three Views of Japan]]|日本三景|Nihon Sankei}} is the canonical list of Japan's three most celebrated scenic sights, attributed to 1643 scholar [[Hayashi Gahō]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amanohashidate.jp/rekishi.html |title=Amanohashidate – History |publisher=Amanohashidate kankokyokai |access-date=14 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717114213/http://www.amanohashidate.jp/rekishi.html |archive-date=17 July 2011}}</ref> These are traditionally the pine-clad islands of [[Matsushima]] in [[Miyagi Prefecture]], the pine-clad sandbar of [[Amanohashidate]] in [[Kyoto Prefecture]], and [[Itsukushima Shrine]] in [[Hiroshima Prefecture]]. In 1915, the New Three Views of Japan were selected in a national election by the [[Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha]] (株式会社実業之日本社). In 2003, the Three Major Night Views of Japan were selected by the ''New Three Major Night Views of Japan and the 100 Night Views of Japan Club'' (新日本三大夜景・夜景100選事務局).

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Matsushima miyagi z.JPG|Pine-clad islands of [[Matsushima]]
Amanohashidate view from Mt Moju02s3s4592.jpg|Sandbar of [[Amanohashidate]]
20131012_07_Miyajima_-_Torii_(10491662566).jpg|[[Torii]] at [[Itsukushima Shrine]]
</gallery>