THINGS TO DO
BY 2030

IN JAPAN’S NATURAL WORLD HERITAGE SITESSHIRETOKO／SHIRAKAMI-SANCHI／OGASAWARA ISLANDS／YAKUSHIMAAMAMI-OSHIMA ISLAND, TOKUNOSHIMA ISLAND,
THE NORTHERN PART OF OKINAWA ISLAND AND IRIOMOTE ISLANDIn 1993, two Japanese sites were inscribed on the

UNESCO Natural World Heritage list: Shirakami-Sanchi,
a mountainous area in Aomori to Akita and YakushimaIsland in Kagoshima. Shiretoko in Hokkaido was added
to the list in 2005, followed in 2011 by the Ogasawara
Islands in Tokyo, and then in 2021 by an expansive

region in southern Japan that includes Amami-Oshima

Shirakami-Sanchi

Island, Tokunoshima Island, the northern part of Okinawa
Island, and Iriomote Island.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Tokyo

Convention & Visitors Bureau collaborate with Hokkaido,

Aomori, Akita, Kagoshima, and Okinawa—prefecturescontaining Natural World Heritage areas—on tourism
promotions that make use of the name recognition andthe appeal of Natural World Heritage areas more broadly
and convey each area’s nature conservation efforts andOgasawara Islands

the rules and manners visitors are expected to follow

while sightseeing there, we have created this digital
brochure.

In this brochure, we introduce 30 “missions” for visitors
to Japan’s Natural World Heritage sites. Each mission

offers unique lessons about the wonders of nature andthe vitality of Japan’s flora and fauna, and represents achance to experience first-hand what the SDGs are truly

about. We hope they will be of interest to travelers whoseek to go beyond sightseeing and enjoy experiencesand discoveries to protect the future of our planet.

Yakushima

Choose your Travel, Choose your Future.

brand image of the Natural World Heritage list. To shareWORLD NATURAL HERITAGE IN JAPAN

Shiretoko

30 THINGS TO DO BY 2030
IN JAPAN’S NATURALWORLD HERITAGE SITES*The Sustainable Development Goals are a set of 17 international development goals for 2030.
They are part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted at the 2015 UN
Sustainable Development Summit.
Building on the success of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the 17 SDGs include 169
individual targets for eradicating poverty and realizing a sustainable world. The SDGs are universal,
applying to developed and developing countries alike, and include the important pledge to “Leave
no one behind.”
Japan is striving as part of the international community to ensure that the SDGs are achieved.

Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island,
Northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island

002

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan https://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/oda/sdgs/index.html

30 things to do by 2030 in Japan’s Natural World Heritage Sites003

World Heritage properties are those judged by the World Heritage Committee* to have “Outstanding Universal
Value”—meaning especially important value for all humankind—and inscribed on the World Heritage List and beconserved for future generations. This includes natural properties, cultural properties, and mixed properties with bothnatural and cultural value.

［ Hokkaido ］

Natural Heritage Criteria

Shiretoko

To be recognized as Natural World Heritage, a site must meet the relevant criteria in at least one of four areas: natural
beauty; geology and geomorphology; ecosystems; and biodiversity.

Area: 71,100 ha
Recognized by UNESCO: 2005(vii) Natural beauty

The site must contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance.

ix Ecosystems(viii) Geology and geomorphology

The site must be an outstanding example representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life,
significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic
features.

From Tokyo: Haneda Airport▶ (1 h 45 min)▶Memanbetsu Airport▶ Shari Bus Shiretoko Airport Liner(2 h 15 min) or
Car (2 h 15 min)▶Shiretoko (Utoro)
From Tokyo: Haneda Airport▶ (1 h 40 min)▶Nakashibetsu Airport▶ Car (1 h 10 min)▶Shiretoko(Rausu)(ix) Ecosystems

The site must be an outstanding example representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in theevolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants andanimals.

From Osaka: Kansai International Airport or Osaka International Airport (Itami)▶ (1 h 15 min)▶Haneda
Airport▶ (1 h 45 min)▶Memanbetsu Airport▶ Shari Bus Shiretoko Airport Liner (2 h 15 min) or
Car (2 h 15 min) ▶Shiretoko (Utoro)
From Osaka: Kansai International Airport or Osaka International Airport (Itami)▶ (1 h 45-50 min)▶ShinChitose Airport▶ (50 min)▶Nakashibetsu Airport▶ Car (1 h 10 min) ▶Shiretoko (Rausu)

Sapporo(x) Biodiversity

The site must contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biologicaldiversity, including those containing threatened species of Outstanding Universal Value from the point of view ofscience or conservation.
About World Natural Heritagehttps://world-natural-heritage.jp/en/shiretoko/

https://world-natural-heritage.jp/en/about/

AomoriWorld Natural Heritage in Japan［ Aomori / Akita ］

Shirakami-Sanchi

Akita

Area: 17,000 ha
Recognized by UNESCO: 1993
ix Ecosystems［ Kagoshima ］

Yakushima
Area: 10,700 ha
Recognized by UNESCO: 1993
vii Natural beauty

x Biodiversity

Tokyo

ix Ecosystems

From Tokyo: Haneda Airport▶

Osaka(1 h 45 min)▶Kagoshima Airport▶

From Osaka: Osaka International Airport (Itami)▶

(40 min)▶Yakushima Airport

WORLD
NATURALHERITAGE
IN JAPAN

From Tokyo: Haneda Airport▶ (1 h 15 min)▶Aomori Airport▶ Car (1 h 5 min)▶Shirakami-Sanchi
area (Ajigasawa)▶ Car (50 min)▶Shirakami-Sanchi area (Fukaura)
From Tokyo: Haneda Airport▶ (1 h 10 min)▶Odate-Noshiro Airport▶
Car (30 min)▶ShirakamiSanchi area (Fujisato)
From Osaka: Osaka International Airport (Itami)▶ (1 h 15 min)▶Aomori Airport▶ Car (1 h 5 min)▶
Shirakami-Sanchi area (Ajigasawa)▶ Car (50 min)▶Shirakami-Sanchi area (Fukaura)
From Osaka: Osaka International Airport (Itami)▶ (1 h 5 min)▶Akita Airport▶ Car (2 h 10 min)▶
Shirakami-Sanchi area (Fujisato)

https://world-natural-heritage.jp/en/shirakami/(1 h 45 min)▶Yakushima Airport

https://world-natural-heritage.jp/en/yakushima/［ Kagoshima / Okinawa ］

Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island,
Northern part of Okinawa Island,
and Iriomote Island［ Tokyo ］

Ogasawara Islands

Kagoshima

Area: 7,900 ha
Recognized by UNESCO: 2011
ix Ecosystems

Area: 42,700 ha
Recognized by UNESCO: 2021

From Tokyo: Tokyo Station▶ Keihin-Tohoku Line or Yamanote Line (10 min) ▶Hamamatsucho Station▶
Walk (7 min)▶Takeshiba Pier▶ Ferry (24 h)▶Ogasawara Islands (Chichijima)
From Osaka: Shin-Osaka Station▶
Shinkansen (2 h 20 min)▶Shinagawa Station▶ Keihin-Tohoku
Line or Yamanote Line (5 min) ▶Hamamatsucho Station▶Walk (7 min)▶Takeshiba Pier▶ Ferry (24 h)▶
Ogasawara Islands (Chichijima)x Biodiversity
Amami-Oshima Island

https://world-natural-heritage.jp/en/ogasawara/

From Tokyo: Haneda Airport▶ (2 h 30 min)▶Amami Airport
From Osaka: Osaka International Airport (Itami)▶ (1 h 50 min)▶Amami Airport
Ogasawara
Islands

Tokunoshima Island

From Tokyo: Haneda Airport▶ (1 h 45 min)▶Kagoshima Airport▶ (1 h)▶Tokunoshima Airport
From Osaka: Kansai International Airport or Osaka International Airport (Itami)▶ (1 h 15 min)▶Kagoshima Airport▶ (1 h)▶Tokunoshima Airport

Naha

Northern part of Okinawa Island

From Tokyo: Haneda Airport▶ (2 h 30 min)▶Naha Airport▶ Car (2 h 30 min)▶Ogimison
From Osaka: Kansai International Airport or Osaka International Airport (Itami)▶ (2 h)▶Naha Airport▶
Car (2 h 30 min)▶Ogimison

Iriomote Island

From Tokyo: Haneda Airport▶ (3 h)▶New Ishigaki Airport▶
Bus or taxi (30 min)▶Ishigaki Port Ferry Terminal▶ Ferry (40 min)▶Iriomote Island (Uehara)
From Osaka: Kansai International Airport or Osaka International Airport (Itami)▶ (3 h 20 min)▶New Ishigaki Airport▶
Bus or Taxi (30 min)▶Ishigaki Port Ferry
Terminal▶ Ferry (40 min)▶Iriomote Island (Uehara)

Icons Used in This Brochure
Each of the 30 missions is marked with the iconof the most relevant SDG. (For more on theSDGs, see page 27.)https://world-natural-heritage.jp/en/amami-okinawa/004

30 things to do by 2030 in Japan’s Natural World Heritage Sites

005

Shiretoko

Recognized by UNESCO: July 2005
Area: 71,100 ha
Characteristics: Home to both northern and southern species ofmarine and land flora and fauna. Has the densest population of brown
bears in the world. An important waystation for migratory birds.

01 30

Watch the fishing boats
unload the daily catchof salmon.
Salmon is a keystone species in the Shiretoko
ecosystem, right alongside the brown bear, and oneof the components of the area’s World Heritage
listing.
The Shiretoko town of Shari catches more salmon
than anywhere else in Japan. Utoro Fishing Port
has a rooftop viewing area called the Utoro Salmon
Terrace where visitors can watch salmon, walleye
pollack, and pink salmon unloaded from the fishingboats directly below.
Autumn mornings (from around 7 to 10) areparticularly spectacular, with massive hauls of huge
fish unloaded by crane. The powerful, leaping fishunderscore the richness of Shiretoko’s seas.

NatureFlora and Fauna

The Shiretoko Peninsula extends 70 km
into the Sea of Okhotsk from the eastern
coast of Hokkaido. The Natural World
Heritage area begins halfway down thepeninsula and includes the surrounding
waters. The Shiretoko Mountains,
including Mount Rausu and Mount Io,
run down the middle of the peninsula,separating the towns of Shari on the
Okhotsk coast side and Rausu on the
Nemuro Strait side.

When drift ice melts in the Shiretoko
seas, it releases plankton that is eaten
by fish, seabirds, cetaceans, andother oceangoing species. The area’s
land and marine ecosystems arehighly interconnected—for example,
when salmon swim upriver to spawn,
they become food for brown bears
and birds of prey inland, and theirbones return to the soil and nourish
the forests.

CultureLiving

The name Shiretoko is said to derivefrom sir etok , meaning “promontory”
in the language of the Ainu, Hokkaido’s
indigenous people. Despite the harshconditions, Ainu and settlers alikehave long coexisted with nature on thepeninsula. Today, government bodies
and local organizations cooperate on
ecotourism and other initiatives to makeappropriate use of the area’s natural
resources and avoid overdevelopment.

Shari’s main industries are fishing,
agriculture, and marine product processing.
Most accommodation is in the Utoro
region, which has become a center forsightseeing. Rausu also has thriving
fisheries, particularly for walleye pollack andsalmon. Rausu kombu (kelp) is renowned
across Japan, and the sea urchins that feedon it are particularly flavorsome. Venisonand other game meats from Shiretoko arealso increasingly popular.

Shiretoko Shari-cho Tourist Association
https://www.shiretoko.asia/

02 30

Walk the forest surrounding
the mystical Shiretoko
Goko lakes.
The Shiretoko Goko are five lakes with a mysticalatmosphere surrounded by primeval forest. As
of 2011, visitors can visit the lakes via either anelevated wooden pathway or a ground trail.
The elevated wooden pathway is a 40-minute roundtrip to one of the lakes and back. There is no charge
to use it, and its barrier-free design is accessible towheelchair users and people with strollers.
The ground trail visits all five lakes. A small fee ischarged for its use and visitors must first listen toa presentation on how to get the fullest experiencefrom the primeval forest. In summer, when thebrown bears are most active, the ground trail canonly be used as part of a guided tour, for safety
reasons.

Shiretoko Goko Lakes Field Househttps://www.goko.go.jp/006

30 things to do by 2030 in Japan’s Natural World Heritage Sites

007

03 30

See the Rausu drift ice
and the vitality of
its wild fauna.
Drift ice season in Rausu comes in early February, as
temperatures drop below -10°C. The Minehama Parking
Area offers a fine vantage point for viewing the drift ice.
The sight of hundreds of Steller’s sea eagles and whitetailed sea eagles that have come south to winter inShiretoko is the envy of birdwatchers worldwide.
To enjoy the sight even more, join a drift ice observation
cruise from Rausu Fishing Port. Along with the birdsof prey, you’ll find yourself startlingly close to seals
and other animals found on the ice. A snowy Shiretoko
Peninsula surrounded by icy seas is a sight unique tothe coldest part of the year in Rausu, when the seas
are harsh but filled with life. At sunrise and sunset, thesun’s rays turn the sky and icy ocean a brilliant crimson,
creating even more magical vistas.

Rausu Town Hall
https://kanko.rausu-town.jp/

04 30

Shiretoko Rausu Visitor Center

06 30

http://shiretokorausu-vc.env.go.jp/

Shiretoko Shari Association
https://www.shiretoko-sustainable.com/

Shiretoko Rausu Visitor Center

Shiretoko Pass is roughly halfway down the Trans-Shiretoko
Highway (National Route 334) that connects Utoro and Rausu.
The pass’s highest point has a parking lot with an observation
deck. The main attraction is 1661-meter Mount Rausu, directly
ahead and completely visible, making this one of the mostpopular scenic drives in the Shiretoko area. Mount Rausu isalso known as “Shiretoko Fuji” and is home to a dazzling varietyof high-altitude flowers. On a clear day, Kunashir Island in the
Northern Territories can also be seen from the pass.
The Trans-Shiretoko Highway is also an important route for
local residents, and it is closed from early November to late
April when winter conditions are too dangerous for driving. It
has the shortest accessible period of any Japanese national
highway. If you encounter a brown bear or red fox while driving
the route, do not stop the car, but quickly and carefully pass by.

Visit Kumagoe Falls,
one of the “Eight
Views of Rausu.”

Discover unforgettableviews on a coastal
cleanup trek.
Want to do your part for nature conservation whileadmiring stunning Shiretoko sea views? Then this coastal
cleanup trek is for you. You’ll hike the coast with a guide
who knows everything there is to know about nature in
Shiretoko, and pick up garbage that has drifted ashore
along the way. The garbage is separated for disposal, andways to upcycle reusable materials into other items are
currently being explored.
Your reward for this contribution is the unforgettable
vistas of the Shiretoko coast—the waters offshore, andthe Shiretoko Mountains inland, occasionally with seabirds
soaring overhead.
Cleanup treks are currently only available for groups
and educational touring parties, but organizers are
exploring ways to welcome individual travelers as well.
The treks offer an adventurous atmosphere and plenty ofopportunities to think about the global environment.

008

05 30

Get a closer look at Mount
Rausu from Shiretoko
Pass.

http://shiretokorausu-vc.env.go.jp/

Kumagoe Falls can be found in the foothills of Mount Rausu,
about 400 meters on foot from National Route 334. The nameliterally means “bear-crossing falls,” and legend has it bears did
use the falls to travel back and forth. The falls are one of thewell-known “Eight Views of Rausu.”
Kumagoe Falls has a 15-meter drop and is at its mostimpressive when the water level rises in spring. A new walking
route to the best spot for viewing the falls opened in 2018. The
route is lined with ferns and painted maple trees established to
be 200 years old.
The walk from the highway to the viewpoint is around 20
minutes, with little difference in elevation. Before visiting,check the latest information from the Shiretoko Rausu Visitor
Center. Make sure to dress appropriately for the walk and carrya bear bell and bear spray in case of an encounter.

To Don’t List
Do not feed the animals. This can threaten the balanceof nature.

Never approach or provoke a brown bear. If you see one from yourcar, do not exit the vehicle. Keep driving and get away promptly.

To conserve the natural flora, do not tread where it
grows. Stay on paths and in designated areas.

Do not drive at high speeds. Wild animals like Yezo
deer and foxes can run into the road without warning.

Never litter. It harms both the landscape and theanimals who live there.

Do not enter fishing areas or facilities, and do notinterfere with fishers at work.

30 things to do by 2030 in Japan’s Natural World Heritage Sites009

Shirakami-Sanchi

Recognized by UNESCO: December 1993
Area: 17,000 ha
Characteristics: Shirakami-Sanchi is the name of a 130,000-hectare mountainous region(sanchi) that extends from southwestern Aomori to northwestern Akita. Within this region, the part
covered by old-growth beech forest was inscribed on the World Heritage list in December 1993.

07 30

Survey the World Heritage forestfrom the peak of
Mount Futatsumori.
The mountain range in the Shirakami-Sanchi area
is more than 1,000 meters high and known for
its rising and falling ridgelines. Here, visitors canenjoy everything from light trekking to serious
mountaineering expeditions. The forest is at its mostbeautiful and walkable in June, when the new shoots
emerge amid the last lingering snows, and October,when the autumn foliage is at its brightest.
Mount Futatsumori (1,086 m) is one of ShirakamiSanchi’s best-known peaks. Its trailhead begins
at the Akita end of the Seishu Rindo road, and its
summit offers 360-degree views of the primeval
beech forest of the Natural World Heritage area,
without a manmade structure in sight.
First-time visitors seeking to understand Shirakami
more deeply are encouraged to engage a licensed
guide. Hiking plan options include lunch in themountains and snowshoeing in winter.

NatureFlora and Fauna

The old-growth Siebold’s beech forest
in Shirakami-Sanchi is among thelargest in east Asia. Eight thousand
years old, it is an invaluable example ofa forest preserved in its primeval state,
unimpacted by human activity. Siebold’s
beech is a broadleaf deciduous tree
endemic to Japan that can live 300 years
and reach heights of over 30 meters.

Shirakami-Sanchi preserves forest
ecosystems of great scientific value. It
is home to 14 species of large mammal,
including the Japanese serow and themoon bear; 94 species of bird, including
the black woodpecker; and around2000 species of insect. Its flora include
some 500 species, including the Aomori
catchfly, which is endemic to the region.

CultureLiving

The mountainous Shirakami region’s
unique ways of life and folkways
were nourished by the bounty of themountains and rivers amid heavy snow
and other harsh conditions. Thereis much to learn from the traditions,wisdom, and culture cultivated by those
who have lived in harmony with theforest they love and respect.

The people of this region rely on thepure water that flows from the beech
forests and the bounty of the mountains.
The area has a rich culinary culture, withtables brightened by a variety of wild
plants in spring, including bracken anddwarf bamboo. The rivers are home tosweetfish, char, and masu salmon, andtheir pure waters run into vibrant fishinggrounds on the Sea of Japan coast.

Shirakami Communications
https://www.shirakamicc.com/

08 30

Roam serene forestsand visit fantastic,
mystical ponds.
Shirakami’s “Twelve Lakes” (Juniko) near the Japan
Sea side are the most stunning vistas in the region.
Despite the name, the area is actually home to 33
lakes, said to have been created by an earthquake in
1704.
Aoike Pond is a particularly mystical sight, withwater such a fantastic cobalt blue that it looks like apool of blue ink. Wakitsubo Pond is one of Japan’s“Hundred Famous Waters,” and Nagaike Pond andKetoba Pond have a similar mystical air.
The trail is well-tended, making it an easy stroll
through the beech forest even for beginners. Lightfilters down through the leaves, and sometimes a
ruddy kingfisher darts by. This walk refreshes both
body and soul.

Shirakami Sanchi Visitor Center
http://www.shirakami-visitor.jp/010

30 things to do by 2030 in Japan’s Natural World Heritage Sites

011

09 30

Steam in a new-style sauna
on a riverbank in
the Shirakami foothills.
In Fujisato, a town in the foothills on the Akita sideof Shirakami-Sanchi, a project is underway to open ariverside tent sauna. Visitors will be able to steam in thesauna and then cool off in the waters that flow from theupper reaches of Shirakami, in the currently popular styleof alternating between hot and cold said to “balance”(totonou) the body.
The sauna’s steam will come from fragrant water madeusing locally grown mugwort, provided by a cosmetics
company with a research laboratory in Fujisato, andaromatic spicewood harvested in the mountains around
Shirakami-Sanchi.
Note also the sauna hats, which protect the head fromoverheating and keep hair from drying out. These are
handmade with great care by the mothers of Fujisato
using wool from locally raised free-range sheep, and will
be available in various designs.
Fujisato Town Hall https://www.town.fujisato.akita.jp/
Youmou House Chikuchiku https://wool-store-37.business.site/
THE World Heritage Sauna https://activityjapan.com/publish/plan/44152?plan-recent

10 30

About 300 meters from Tsugaru Pass stands the Mother
Tree, an enormous beech and beloved symbol of Shirakami
estimated to be 400 years old. In 2018, the Mother Tree’s
trunk broke in a typhoon, but it remains an awe-inspiring
presence.
The broken-off trunk has been left to lie where it fell rather
than carried away by human hands. The pool of light aroundthe tree that streams in through the new gap in the canopy has
allowed new trees to take root around it, demonstrating thenatural cycle of renewal.
Beeches and many other kinds of tree line the trail to theMother Tree, and just beyond it is an observation point withviews of Mount Iwaki and Mount Oppudake.
Aqua Green Village Anmon

https://www.anmon-shirakami.com/

12 30

Taste the natural richesof Shirakami insoba form.

Transplant beech trees tohelp the forestsof the sea.
The town of Happo, Akita, is famous for hatahata (sailfin
sandfish). Even folk songs mention these fish and thecoastal fisheries where they are caught. Pure waterfrom the beech forests of Shirakami-Sanchi is vital forregenerating the seaweed beds or “forests of the sea” inwhich the hatahata spawn and hatch.
Masezawa, next to the World Heritage area, was originallypart of the beech forest as well. Today, seedlings grownfrom locally harvested beech nuts are transplanted to a
growing plantation in Masezawa to create more beech
forests in the area.
The work of transplanting is done every October,and anyone can join in. Restoring the forests helps
restore the seas and should help broaden the coastal
ecosystem’s diversity.

Association of Shirakami Nature
http://www.shirakami.or.jp/~asna/012

1 1 30

Meet the giant Mother Treeof Shirakami.

Rest stop “Tsugaru Shirakami”

https://www.tsugaru-shirakami.com/

The village of Nishimeya is the gateway to Shirakami-Sanchi
on the Aomori side and an important source of water for theregion. With high variations in temperature, it is also wellknown as a producer of buckwheat and soba noodles.
Soba from Nishimeya is sold under the brand “Shirakami Soba.”
It is made entirely in the village, from cultivating, harvesting,and grinding the buckwheat to making the noodles themselves.
Because no agrochemicals are used, it is made only in small
batches, and known to aficionados as the “illusive soba,” hardto obtain outside the region.
At a facility in the village, visitors can try making soba forthemselves. Freshly made soba boiled in water from ShirakamiSanchi is delightfully firm, with a rich fragrance and just ahint of innate sweetness. Even eating soba can be a moving
experience when you make the noodles yourself.

To Don’t List
Do not underestimate the mountains or enter themcasually. Even set routes have many dangerous parts.

Do not go to the toilet anywhere except an actual toilet.
Go in advance, or carry a portable toilet with you.

Do not collect or bring with you any plants or animals.

Do not bring pets into the region.

Never litter. Littering can have an adverse effect ondeer and other wildlife.

Never enter the mountains without lodging a hiking
plan where required.

30 things to do by 2030 in Japan’s Natural World Heritage Sites

013

Ogasawara Islands

Recognized by UNESCO: June 2011
Area: 7,900 ha Characteristics: Ogasawara includes more than thirty
oceanic islands of various sizes. The two largest islands are Chichijima, a thousand kilometers
south of Tokyo, and Hahajima, fifty kilometers further south still. Because they have neverbeen connected to any continent via land bridge, the islands make up a unique ecosystem.

13 30

Return green sea turtles
to the sea.
There are seven species of sea turtle on our planet,and most are endangered. For the green sea turtle,
the Ogasawara Islands are the largest hatchingarea in Japan. The species’ numbers plummeted
at one point when it was overcaught for meat, butconservation efforts over the past three decades
have increased the number of eggs laid annually
tenfold.
Every year, 15,000 to 20,000 baby sea turtles hatch
at the Ogasawara Marine Center. Except for 300 or
so that are raised at the center, all of these are let
into the sea by night. Beneath a glittering starry sky,
the newly hatched turtles scramble single-mindedly
down the pitch-black beach from dusk till justbefore dawn. The faint sound of their flippers in thesand reinforces the reality of contributing to thesenature conservation efforts.

NatureFlora and Fauna

The Ogasawara Islands have never beenconnected to any continent, and are home toso many endemic species found nowhere elsein the world that they are sometimes called
a “laboratory of evolution.” Chichijima has asubtropical marine climate, with an averagetemperature of 23.0°C and an averagehumidity of 77%. The color of the oceans
here is known as “Bonin Blue,” a reference
to an older name for the islands (the “Bonin
Islands,” from Japanese bunin , “uninhabited”).

Around half the species of flora naturally
occurring on the islands are endemic,
and Ogasawara is also home to many
endemic species of fauna that have been
designated natural monuments. Whales
and dolphins swim in the seas nearby,and some 200 species of reef-building
coral can be found in the warm waters,with an average temperature of 23.0°
C. The islands are also a well-known
nesting ground for green sea turtles.

CultureLiving

In former centuries, the islands’
population was a mixture of Europeans,
Americans, and people from many Pacificisles, resulting in a unique “Ogasawara
Creole” that blended elements frommany other tongues. The “South Sea
dance” that arrived in the islands when
the South Sea trade was at its height
has been designated an Intangible Folk
Cultural Property of Tokyo.

The only way to reach Ogasawara is on
the Ogasawara Maru , a ship that makes
the 24-hour trip from Tokyo about oncea week. Tourism is one of the island’s
basic industries. The islanders arehighly welcoming to visitors, and when
the Ogasawara Maru leaves Chichijima
Island, such a large crowd gathers at thedocks to wave farewell that it seems as if
the whole island is there.

Ogasawara Marine Center
https://bonin-ocean.net/

14 30

Frolic with cetaceans.
In 1988, Ogasawara became the first place in Japan
to offer whale watching tours. Sperm whale watchingtakes place mostly from early summer to autumn,
while the best time for humpback watching is said
to be February to April. Watching these magnificent
creatures blow and breach from as close as 100
meters away—or 50 meters, in the case of sperm
whales—is a moving, overwhelming experience.
As well as from boats on the open sea, whales canalso sometimes be seen from the weather station
observation deck on Chichijima or places like
Miyukinohama and Samegasaki on Hahajima.
Dolphin watching and dolphin swims are available
throughout the year. If you swim calmly to avoid
startling the animals, a curious bottlenose dolphin
may approach of its own accord to investigate.

Ogasawara Whale Watching Association
https://www.owa1989.com/

014

30 things to do by 2030 in Japan’s Natural World Heritage Sites015

15 30

Learn about the work
being done to conserve
precious ecosystems.
The southern tip of Hahajima is the southernmost
inhabited part of Japan. In the past, it was a breeding
ground for brown boobies, but the birds’ population
was then decimated by predation from feral cats locallyknown as noneko . Following an initiative in which
licensed participants captured noneko , in 2014 thebrown booby was seen nesting in the area once more.
The captured noneko are shipped from Ogasawara to
Honshu where they are fostered out to new owners.
Efforts are also necessary to eradicate the bishop woodtree, an alien species already having a grave effect on
Ogasawara’s ecosystems and native species. Currently,
due to the pandemic, this initiative is on hold, but infuture visitors may be able to participate in a volunteer
tour to remove bishop wood trees and help protect the
local ecosystems with their own hands.

Hahajima Tourist Association
https://hahajima.com/

16 30

Ogasawaramura Tourist Association

https://www.ogasawaramura.com/

18 30

Nose’s Farm Garden
https://www.nosefarm.com/

One of the most popular sights on Ogasawara’s many night
tours is the bioluminescent mushrooms called has manynight tours, but one of the most popular things to visit is thebioluminescent mushrooms that grow in clusters in forests not
far from human habitation. On the island, these mushrooms
are known as “Green Pepe,” a name said to derive from an
old charm. During the day, they are very light gray, almost
white, but at night a substance in them called hispidin reacts
with other enzymes to create a glow. Of around 70 species of
bioluminescent mushroom known around the world, Green
Pepe is one of the brightest, being even brighter than a glowin-the-dark watch face. Its pale emerald light has a mysticalbeauty. Green Pepe prefers a certain degree of humidity, whichmakes it particularly easy to find between April and November
on nights after rainy days.

Trek somewhere with
spectacular views.

Chill out with a cup of
Ogasawara coffee.
Ogasawara was home to Japan’s first attempts at coffee
cultivation in 1878. In 1972, after the Second World War
and the period of American rule, the fourth-generation
descendent of that original coffee plantation reclaimed
its fields from the jungle they had become and restarted
cultivation efforts. Virtually every step in the process is doneby hand, and except for some beans sold by mail the only
place where Ogasawara coffee can be drunk is at a cafe on
Chichijima and on a coffee tour of Nose’s Farm Garden.
The tour is a 2.5-hour experience and usually includes
picking beans, collecting shoots, threshing, removing
imperfect beans, roasting, milling, drip-brewing, andfinally drinking the finished result (precise details of thetour depend on the season). The coffee has a light, crisp
mouthfeel, so Nose’s Farm Garden recommends using
plenty of beans to extract the most flavor and fragrance.
You’ll enjoy and appreciate a cup all the more when you
know how much care has gone into it.

016

17 30

Meet some glowing
mushrooms.

During the Second World War, Chichijima and Hahajima were
fully fortified, and the mark left by war can still be found here
and there on both islands. Walking in these mountains andfields can teach a valuable lesson not only about nature but
also about war and peace—a lesson that can only be learned in
Ogasawara.
The hike to Heart Rock is a particularly popular trekking tour.
Participants walk for around 2.5 hours, observing both endemic
flora and fauna like subtropical gajumaru (banyan) trees and thehusks of military vehicles, before finally arriving at Heart Rock,a cliff 300 meters above sea level that looks like a heart whenviewed from offshore. The 360-degree panorama of ceruleanskies and Bonin Blue sea is stunning. If visiting in winter or
spring, you may also see humpback whales offshore.
Ogasawara Village Tourism Bureau

https://www.visitogasawara.com/

To Don’t List
Do not bring in plant or animal species from outside the islands.
Be sure to remove any seeds or dirt on your shoes and clothing.

Do not collect or take home munin-aoganpi or otherplants.

Never litter. It harms both the landscape and theanimals who live there.

Do not startle or chase the animals. Do not shout where
animals live. Do not forget to be considerate of the animals.

Do not leave the marked trails.

Do not camp. Camping is forbidden in every part of theisland.

30 things to do by 2030 in Japan’s Natural World Heritage Sites

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Yakushima

Recognized by UNESCO: December 1993
Area: 10,700 ha Characteristics: The island of Yakushima has mountains
that rise more than a thousand meters above sea level, with differences in temperature that
support a vertical distribution of vegetation found at various latitudes elsewhere in Japan.
This includes many enormous Japanese cedar trees that are more than a thousand years old.

19 30

Walk the Moss Forest.
Shiratani Unsui Gorge was the inspiration for the mossy
forest seen in the movie Princess Mononoke . This natural
recreational forest which rises from 600 to 1,050 meters
above sea level contains a hiking trail centered around theclear waters of the Shiratani River. The Moss Forest is about
an hour’s walk down the trail, a kilometer before Taikoiwa
Rock. Yakushima is said to be home to around 650 species
of moss. Stand in these green surroundings and enjoy thesensation of having stumbled into another world.
The hike is a roughly two-hour return journey, and hiking
boots and other preparations for outdoor activity are
required. However, the trail to visit the Yayoi Sugi tree only
takes around an hour and can be completed in sneakers.
Even at half the length, it offers plenty of opportunities tosee different kinds of moss and breathe in the beauty of theforest. A donation to the Yakushima Recreation and Forest
Conservation Management Committee is required for entry(¥500 for high school age visitors and older).

NatureFlora and Fauna

Yakushima was formed by a vertical protrusionof subterranean granite that began 14 million
years ago. High mountains like 1,936-meter
Mount Miyanouradake have earned the island thenickname “the Alps of the Sea.” Huge Japanesecedars called Yakusugi grow at altitudes above
500 meters, primeval forests broadleaf evergreen
trees cover the middle slopes and below, andcountless species of moss carpet the forest
floors. Precipitation is so heavy that the island isjokingly said to receive “35 days of rain a month.”

Yakushima deer and monkeys live allover the island, so there is a high chance
you will encounter them during your visit.
Between May and August, loggerhead
and green sea turtles come ashore to
lay their eggs. Along with endemic local
species of gecko, stag beetle, and rivercrab, the island is also home to several
birds named Natural Monuments.

CultureLiving

The mountains are sacred to the peopleof Yakushima. A tradition called Takemairi (mountain pilgrimage), which dates
back centuries, sees a representativefrom each village climb to a designatedsummit and pray for the population’s
health and longevity. Some villages havedisappeared as the population shrinks,
but this reverence for nature remains
unchanged, and was recorded in the“Yakushima Charter” adopted in 2007.

Because most of the island is mountainous,
people live on the coast. Residents harvest
Japanese cedar from the mountains, fishin the sea, and farm their fields, following
a lifestyle described as “Ten days in themountains, ten at sea, ten in the fields.”
Electricity is generated hydroelectricallywith facilities installed sixty years ago totake advantage of the rainfall, which is
the highest in Japan. Life on the island isgenuine coexistence with nature.

Yakushima Recreation and Forest Conservation Management Committee
https://y-rekumori.com/

20 30

Make your own
chopsticks at Suginoya.
Japanese cedars on Yakushima that have lived morethan a thousand years are called “Yakusugi.” Theirlong period of development results in dense ringsand high levels of sap with a distinctive fragrance.
The wood is also highly resistant to insects and rot.
Because felling Yakusugi is now prohibited, artisans
use domaiboku instead—wood from the stumpsof trees felled hundreds of years ago. The stumps
of many trees are simply discarded, but Yakusugi
stumps are priceless.
Suginoya offers workshops where visitors can maketheir own chopsticks from domaiboku . Participants
are provided with wood, cut to the right size with ahatchet before drying, which they then whittle into
shape and polish to a lustrous gleam. Eating withyour own hand-made set of chopsticks might takesome getting used to, but it’s guaranteed to makemeals even more delicious.

Suginoyahttps://suginoyas.com/

018

30 things to do by 2030 in Japan’s Natural World Heritage Sites019

21 30

Meet a village
storyteller.
Yakushima’s 12,000 residents are divided between 26 villages,
including one on Kuchinoerabu Island. In the past, each village
had its own unique character and dialect, with the island’srivers forming a natural barrier to limit interaction. When a highschool was built on the island and children began attending it
together, however, these differences became apparent.
Currently, ten villages offer a joint tour led by a local
storyteller called a kataribe . The first stop is Yaku Jinja shrinein the village of Miyanoura. This ancient shrine is listed in theEngishiki , compiled in 927, and visiting it is an opportunity tolearn about the faith of those who live on the island. At thevillage of Harumaki, tour participants can admire spectacular
sights like the Ichimai-iwa monolith of Takinogawa River andthe red Matsumine Bridge across the river gorge. Isso is avillage that thrives on mackerel fishing, and here participants
can enjoy local cuisine made using dried mackerel flakes.
The storytellers are highly charismatic, and many participants
return to take the tour every year.
Yakushima Satomeguri Suishin Kyougikai
https://www.yakushima.jp/

22 30“The riverbeds are white, and in sunlight the water sparkles
emerald green. Yakushima has the finest rivers in the world.”
So say the people who live on the island. As Yakushima is a
granite island with little soil in the forests, the rivers stay clear
and unclouded even after heavy rain. This, in turn, means
they have few nutrients and minimal fauna, keeping themclearer yet.
River kayaking is a fine way to enjoy the rivers of Yakushima ina leisurely fashion. The Anbo River, located in a stunning gorge,is broad with a gentle current, making it ideal for beginningkayakers. On a sunny day, the foliage looks even greener; on a
misty or rainy day, the scenery becomes a mystical other world.

Yakushima Tourism Association http://yakukan.jp/
Yakushima Guide Shima-Asobi https://yakushima-asobi.com/

24 30

Tour the island in anenvironmentallyfriendly EV.

Chill out withsome island gelato.
Sora:Umi makes authentic gelato using fruit grown on
Yakushima. Many of Sora:Umi’s ingredients are grownwithout any agrochemicals, and it uses only the finest
island-harvested salt and tea. Naturally, the finishedproduct has no added preservatives. Fruits used
include guava, plum, tankan citrus, dragon fruit, loquat,pineapple, papaya, wild strawberry, mango, and more.
Sora:Umi’s coffee is also widely acclaimed, brewed withspecialty coffee beans in the delicious super-soft waterof Yakushima.
The Sora:Umi location in Mugio on the south side of
the island has seating where visitors can relax and enjoy
their break, but gelato cups are also on sale at various
stores around the island, including in the villages ofMiyanoura and Anbo. During your time on the island,
you’ll want to visit again and again.

Yakushima Gelato Sora:Umi
https://yakushima-gelato.jimdofree.com/

020

23 30

Discover Yakushima’s
water via river
kayaking.

Clean hydroelectric power has met almost all of Yakushima’s
electricity needs for almost sixty years. Even the administrativebuilding at the entrance to the Shiratani Unsui Gorge has its
own miniature hydroelectric plant. Kagoshima Prefecture has
recognized Yakushima as an advanced region that lowered its
carbon emissions at an early stage, and aims to make it a modelfor other communities under the banner of “Development ofa CO2-free Island.” The introduction of electric vehicles (EVs)is well underway, with quick-charging stations now available inAnbo, Miyanoura, Kurio, and Nagata. Car rental companies alsooffer EV options, so be sure to request one if you choose totour the island by car.

Kagoshima Prefecture

http://www.pref.kagoshima.jp/

To Don’t List
Do not feed the monkeys, deer, or any other animals,
to avoid upsetting the balance of nature.

Never litter. It harms both the landscape and theanimals who live there.

Do not leave the marked trail when trekking or
climbing the mountains.

Do not tread on moss growing on rocks or fallen trees.
Do not take actions that place a burden on nature.

Do not enter valuable water sources important tothose who live on the island.

Do not collect or bring with you any plants or animals.

30 things to do by 2030 in Japan’s Natural World Heritage Sites

021

Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island,
Northern part of Okinawa Island,
and Iriomote Island

Recognized by UNESCO: July 2021
Area: 42,700 ha Characteristics: These four regions
make up less than 0.5% of Japan’s land but account for anenormous share of the nation’s biodiversity, with countless plant
and animal species living or reproducing within their boundaries.

25 30

See an Amami rabbit
by night.
The Amami rabbit is a Special Natural Monument
found only on Amami-Oshima and Tokunoshima. 40 to
50 centimeters long from head to tail, it has black hair,short ears, and sturdy claws that make it an excellent
digger. Visitors who take a night tour with a guide havea very high chance of seeing one. On these tours, thevehicle moves slowly through the forest, with the guidescanning for the animals along the way. If an Amami
rabbit is sighted, the rule is to remain absolutely still
and watch it in silence.
As well as rabbits, the island also has birds, insects,
endemic flora, and starry skies beyond compare. At
night, the forest comes alive with mating pairs of the
Ryukyu scops owl whispering, Ryukyu long-tailed ratsfighting, and frogs striving to outcroak each other.
Night tours have a high satisfaction rating, with visitors
often describing it as the most fun they had in Amami.

NatureFlora and Fauna

The combination of horse latitudeconditions and the Kuroshio Current
results in a warm, humid subtropicalclimate, with coral reefs in the seas andprimeval evergreen broadleaf forests
on land. Distinctive vegetation includes
mangroves, gajumaru banyans, andcycads. Some 90% of Iriomote Island iscovered in primeval forest.

As a nation, Japan is high in biodiversity
due to its rich natural environments
and wide range of climates. Even in thiscontext, the high number of endemic
species in these regions is noteworthy.
Natural monuments like the Amami
rabbit, Iriomote wildcat, and Yanbaru
kuina (Okinawa rail) are listed as
endangered species on the IUCN Red
List.

CultureLivingOkinawa Island was once home to the Ryukyu
Kingdom, which at its height influenced aregion extending from the Amami Islands
to the north to the Sakishima Islands far
to the southwest. Even today, the region
shares commonalities in language, folk music
accompanied by the sanshin, and weaving as a
traditional craft. Religious rituals and traditional
observances and customs have been handed
down for centuries and are still an importantpart of the region’s culture today.

Because the residents of these islands
have always lived side-by-side withnature, the region is home to manyenvironmental conservation movements
and ecotourism offerings. Bonds within
villages and families are strong, andgatherings feature yuntaku (chatting)and exchanges of drinks like shochu andawamori. If the mood becomes lively
enough, dancing may even break out.

Amami Archipelago Tourism and Products Association
https://www.amami-shimahaku.com/
Active-Amami
https://active-amami.com/

26 30

Snorkel withthe sea turtles.
The seas of Amami are mild and clear, with tropicalfish like the yellow-tailed anemone fish and colorfulcoral reefs just a short swim away. Sea turtles
and whales are frequent visitors to the waters,
whether just passing through or coming to winteror reproduce. In winter, visitors can enjoy whalewatching.
For beginners, the Amami seas are a great place
to give snorkeling a try. Oceanz’s snorkeling tours
allowing participants to swim with wild turtles
are popular. From 2021 to 2022, almost 100% ofparticipants on Oceanz tours encountered and swamwith wild sea turtles. Instructors lead the tours toensure safety even for inexperienced snorkelers.

Amami Archipelago Tourism and Products Association
https://www.amami-shimahaku.com/
Oceanzhttps://www.oceanz-jp.com/

022

30 things to do by 2030 in Japan’s Natural World Heritage Sites023

27 30

Roast your own coffee beansin an Okinawan forest.
At Matayoshi Coffee Farm in the northern part of
Okinawa Island, coffee bean harvesting experiences
are available from November to April, and coffee bean
roasting workshops are available all year round. The
roasting workshops feature beans from specially selected
producers, including some purchased directly from
Guatemalan producers that cannot be enjoyed anywhere
else.
Before roasting the beans, take a moment to enjoy theirunroasted scent. Reportedly, women tend to think it
smells like chocolate, while men say it smells like wovenrush tatami mats. During roasting, shake the beans firmly
from left and right so that the mesh does not leave thefire. A workshop leader explains everything in detail,so even beginners can safely give it a try. Enjoying apersonally roasted cup of coffee while learning about thepeople who grew the beans is one taste of Okinawa.

Matayoshi Coffee Farm
https://www.matayoshicoffee.jp/

28 30

Iriomote Island Ecotourism Association

30 30

https://www.iriomote-ea.com/

Yanbaru Distillery Inc.
https://takazato-maruta.jp/

Iriomote Island is best known for the Iriomote wildcat andmangrove forests, but unfortunately in recent years beachgarbage has begun to stand out as well. Volunteers have helped
pick up this garbage, some 90% of which is said to be ocean
plastic, at special events for the past two decades. However,as the island has no facilities for processing beach garbage, it
must be shipped to Ishigaki Island for this, which strains theisland’s budget.
To help alleviate the situation, the island came up withthe “one-bag beach clean,” carried out during ecotours.
Participants spend 500 yen to buy one garbage bag. Thatmoney is combined with corporate donations and applied tothe transport and disposal of beach garbage. As more and more
visitors take part, the problem of beach garbage on Iriomote
Island will gradually shrink.

Meet the gajumaru treesthat spirits call home.

Taste awamori distilledwith the natural watersof Yanbaru.
Written with the characters for “Mountains” and “Plains,”
the Yanbaru region in the north of Okinawa Island has awealth of unspoiled natural beauty. Forest makes up 80%of the area inscribed on the World Heritage list, which
includes the villages of Kunigami, Ogimi, and Higashi.
The area has a rich water system, with pure, swiftly
flowing rivers.
Ogimi, a village known for the longevity of its inhabitants,
is home to a distillery that has drawn on the natural
waters of Yanbaru for seven decades. This is the Yanbaru
Distillery, which was created as a joint investment among
the villagers. The distillery has always used the watersof the village, and goes to great lengths to protect andmaintain the channels this water flows through, so that
it will always be there. “The fact that we have beautiful
nature and can drink delicious water is proof that eventoday we live in harmony with nature,” says Mr. Ikeharaof the Yanbaru Distillery.

024

29 30

Help clean the beachon Iriomote Island.

The Amami Islands are home to a kind of spirit called a kenmun(known as a kijimuna in Okinawa). Kenmun look like children,or perhaps like a kappa , and despite their mischievous nature
the people of the islands have been fond of them since timesof old. They are said to live in gajumaru (banyan) trees, which
are common in Japan’s southwestern islands.
Agon on Tokunoshima Island is home to a gajumaru tree thatis more than 300 years old. The mystical atmosphere it exudes
certainly does suggest that a kenmun could live here. Gajumaru
are also known as “trees of fortune” due to their vital vigor, andin the language of flowers they symbolize health. We should all
enjoy the same health and good fortune as this tree that thathas grown for more than 300 years without being trimmed byhuman hands.
Tokunoshima Tourism Organization

http://www.tokunoshima-kanko.com/

To Don’t List
Do not feed the animals. This can threaten the balanceof nature.

Never litter. It harms both the landscape and theanimals who live there.

Do not collect or bring with you any plants or animals.

Do not go to the toilet anywhere except an actual toilet.
Go in advance, or carry a portable toilet with you.

Powered craft and any capture or collection of floraand fauna are forbidden in the mangrove forests.

Do not go into the mountains alone. They are home todangerous creatures like habu vipers.

30 things to do by 2030 in Japan’s Natural World Heritage Sites

025

30 THINGS TO DO BY 2030
IN JAPAN’S NATURAL WORLD HERITAGE SITES
MissionShiretoko

01
02
03
04
05
06

Watch the fishing boats unload the daily catch of salmon.
Walk the forest surrounding the mystical Shiretoko Goko lakes.

What Are the SDGs?

See the Rausu drift ice and the vitality of its wild fauna.

The Sustainable Development Goals are a set of 17 international development goals for 2030. They are part ofthe 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted at the 2015 UN Sustainable Development Summit.
Building on the success of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the 17 SDGs include
169 individual targets for eradicating poverty and realizing a sustainable world. The SDGs are universal, applying
to developed and developing countries alike, and include the important pledge to “Leave no one behind.”
Japan is striving as part of the international community to ensure that the SDGs are achieved.

Discover unforgettable views on a coastal cleanup trek.
Get a closer look at Mount Rausu from Shiretoko Pass.
Visit Kumagoe Falls, one of the “Eight Views of Rausu.”

MissionShirakami-Sanchi

07
08
09
10
11
12

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

https://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/oda/sdgs/index.html

Survey the World Heritage forest from the peak of Mount Futatsumori.
Roam serene forests and visit fantastic, mystical ponds.
Steam in a new-style sauna on a riverbank in the Shirakami foothills.
Transplant beech trees to help the forests of the sea.
Meet the giant Mother Tree of Shirakami.
Taste the natural riches of Shirakami in soba form.

MissionOgasawara
Islands

13
14
15
16
17
18

Return green sea turtles to the sea.
Frolic with cetaceans.
Learn about the work being done to conserve precious ecosystems.
Chill out with a cup of Ogasawara coffee.
Meet some glowing mushrooms.
Trek somewhere with spectacular views.

MissionYakushima

19
20
21
22
23
24

Walk the Moss Forest.
Make your own chopsticks at Suginoya.

Icons Used in This Brochure

Meet a village storyteller.

Each of the 30 missions is marked with the icon of the most relevant SDG. The things you discover, learn, andsense on each mission will deepen your understanding of the SDGs and the sustainable, better world they aremeant to create.

Chill out with some island gelato.
Discover Yakushima’s water via river kayaking.
Tour the island in an environmentally friendly EV.

MissionAmami-Oshima Island,
Tokunoshima Island,
Northern part of
Okinawa Island,
and Iriomote Island

026

25
26
27
28
29
30

See an Amami rabbit by night.
Snorkel with the sea turtles.
Roast your own coffee beans in an Okinawan forest.
Taste awamori distilled with the natural waters of Yanbaru.
Help clean the beach on Iriomote Island.
Meet the gajumaru trees that spirits call home.

30 things to do by 2030 in Japan’s Natural World Heritage Sites

027

Assistance
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan / Ministry of the Environment
Government of Japan / Hokkaido Government / Shari Town Hall
/ Shiretoko Shari-cho Tourist Association / Rausu Town Hall /Shiretoko Goko Lakes Field House / Shiretoko Shari Association/ Ministry of the Environment Utoro Nature Conservation Office/ Shiretoko Rausu Visitor Center / Shiretoko Nature Foundation /Ministry of the Environment Kushiro Nature Conservation Office/ Aomori Prefectural Government / Akita Prefectural Government/ Shirakami Communications / Shirakami Sanchi Visitor Center/ Fujisato Town Hall / Fujisato Town Tourism Organization /Youmou House Chikuchiku / Association of Shirakami Nature/ Aqua Green Village Anmon / Rest stop “Tsugaru Shirakami” /Ogasawara Village Office / Ogasawaramura Tourist Association /Ogasawara Village Tourism Bureau / Ogasawara Marine Center/ Ogasawara Whale Watching Association / Hahajima Tourist
Association / Nose's Farm Garden / Kagoshima Prefectural
Government / Yakushima Tourism Association / Yakushima
Recreation and Forest Conservation Management Committee /Suginoya / Yakushima Satomeguri Suishin Kyougikai / Yakushima
Gelato Sora:Umi / Yakushima Guide Shima-Asobi / Okinawa
Prefectural Government / Amami Archipelago Tourism and
Products Association / Active-Amami / Oceanz / Matayoshi
Coffee Farm / Yanbaru Distillery Inc. / Ogimi Tourism Association/ Iriomote Island Ecotourism Association / Tokunoshima Tourism
Organization

Photograph copyright
Shiretoko Shari-cho Tourist Association / Shiretoko Goko Lakes
Field House / Rausu Town Hall / Shirakami Communications/ Shirakami Sanchi Visitor Center / Fujisato Town Tourism
Organization / Association of Shirakami Nature / Aqua Green
Village Anmon / Rest stop “Tsugaru Shirakami” / Isao Yonezawa /Ogasawara Marine Center / Kosuke Enomoto / Ogasawara Whale
Watching Association / Hahajima Tourist Association / Nose's
Farm Garden / Ogasawara Village Tourism Bureau / Yakushima
Recreation and Forest Conservation Management Committee /Suginoya / Yakushima Satomeguri Suishin Kyougikai / Yakushima
Gelato Sora:Umi / Yakushima Guide Shima-Asobi / Yakushima
Tourism Association / Yakushima Town Hall / PIXTA / Okinawa
Convention & Visitors Bureau / Active-Amami / Oceanz /Yanbaru Distillery Inc. / Iriomote Island Ecotourism Association /Tokunoshima Tourism Organization / Amami Archipelago Tourism
and Products Association

Tokyo Metropolitan Government / Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau
E-mail: tcvbinfo@tcvb.or.jp
Nissin Building, 346-6 Yamabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0801© 2022 Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau. All rights reserved.

2022.11