Summary of Legal Regulations
1. National Parks Act
The National Parks Act establishes regulations and specific prohibited activities to preserve the natural environment and ensure its proper use.
Violations of the act are punishable by imprisonment of up to one year and/or a fine of up to 1 million yen.
Main activities requiring permission from the Minister of the Environment
1)

New construction, remodeling, or expansion of a structure

2)

Cutting down or damaging trees or bamboo

3)

Mining minerals or collecting earth and stones

4)

Accumulating or storing earth, stones, or other similar items outside5)

Gathering or damaging alpine plants or other designated plants

6)

Riding a vehicle (including bikes, snowmobiles, etc.), operating a power-driven vessel, or landing an aircraft in prohibited areas

7)

Capturing animals or gathering or damaging plants

8)

Making a fire

9)

Planting plants or seeds

10) Grazing livestock or releasing animals*Items 7) to 10) are regulated activities in special protection areas.
Prohibited activities
1)

Disposal or abandonment of trash or other waste using methods that cause significant displeasure to park users2)

Causing significant annoyance to park users by emitting odors; generating unwanted noise with loudspeakers, radios, etc.; selfishlyexcluding others from use of observation areas, rest areas, etc.; attracting customers using disgusting or repulsive means; etc.

2. Nature Conservation Act
Approximately 1,000 hectares of Daisetsuzan National Park located in the upper reaches of the Tokachi River are designated as the “TokachiRiver Watershed Wilderness Area” by the Nature Conservation Act.

Consequently, acts such as constructing a structure; changing landcharacteristics; collecting earth and stones; gathering or damaging plants; capturing, killing, or injuring animals; making a fire; riding avehicle or horse; and landing an aircraft in this area without the permission of the Minister of the Environment are punishable byimprisonment of up to one year and/or a fine of up to 500,000 yen.

3. Cultural Assets Preservation Act
Approximately 35,000 hectares in the central portion of Daisetsuzan National Park are designated as a “special natural monument” by the
Cultural Assets Preservation Act.

Additionally, this area is a habitat for alpine butterflies (among them Parnassius eversmanni

daisetsuzanus and Vacciniina optilete daisetsuzana) and birds (Dryocopus martius martius and Ketupa blakistoni blakistoni among others)
that are designated as protected species.

Accordingly, engaging in an act that changes existing conditions or impacts on the preservation of

those conditions without the permission of the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs is punishable by imprisonment of up to five years and/or
a fine of up to 300,000 yen.

4. Wildlife Protection and Proper Hunting Act
Daisetsuzan National Park is a valuable habitat for forest wildlife.
as wildlife protection areas.

As such, approximately 42,000 hectares in nine locations are designated

They include the nationally designated Daisetsuzan Wildlife Protection Area and the prefecturally designatedShirogane Wildlife Protection Area, Daisetsu Genseirin Wildlife Protection Area, and Tomuraushi Wildlife Protection Area.

Accordingly,

capturing wildlife or engaging in an act that affects the breeding of wildlife in these areas without the permission of the Minister of theEnvironment or the Governor of Hokkaido is punishable by imprisonment of up to three years and/or a fine of up to 500,000 yen.

5. Forest Act
Most of the forests in Daisetsuzan National Park are designated as forest reserves under the Forest Act for the recharging of headwaters,
defense against sediment runoff, defense against wind and snow damage, protection of public hygiene, and preservation of scenic andhistoric places.

Accordingly, acts such as cutting down or damaging trees and bamboo; grazing livestock; gathering undergrowth, fallen

leaves, or fallen branches; collecting earth and stones; and changing land characteristics in these forest preserves without the permission of
the Governor of Hokkaido are punishable by imprisonment of up to five years and/or a fine of up to 500,000 yen.