2022 TOP 100 GOOD
PRACTICE STORY
Title of the Story:Toward the Promotion of Sustainable Tourism –Enactment ofthe Kinomata Park Ordinance
Destination Name: (include any state, province or region) Nasushiobara CityCountry: Japan
Submitter name: Yoshinori Yamaguchi
Email address: y.yamaguchi02@city.nasushiobara.lg.jp
Position: Chief, Commerce, Industry and Tourism Division, Industry and Tourism Department,
Nasushiobara City
Submission category: (Please check one of the boxes that indicates the focus of your story)
Please find detailed information for the categories below in the Top 100 training module ‘Good Practice Story’.

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Governance, Reset & Recovery☒

Nature & Scenery☐

Environment & Climate☐

Culture & Tradition☐

Thriving Communities☐

Business & Marketing

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DESCRIBE YOUR GOOD PRACTICE STORY
Address each aspect of your good practice story in the different sections being
specific including relevant quantitative and qualitative information.

Issues faced
Nasushiobara City is located in northern Tochigi Prefecture and has two different types of hotsprings: Shiobara Onsen and Itamuro Onsen. Shiobara Onsen-kyo has a history of more than 1,200years since its establishment, and the abundant quality of its hot springs is an attraction. It has
been visited by many literary giants and aristocrats, and has high historical value as the official
residence of the Emperor Taisho was built here. Itamuro Onsen is known as "Shimono no Yakuyu,"
or "the medicinal hot spring of Shimono," and in 1971 was designated as a national recreational
hot spring resort, making it a suitable hot spring for therapeutic bathing. Nasu Shiobara City is
located only two hours from the Tokyo metropolitan area, but most of the city is located in Nikko
National Park, and is a popular natural tourist destination, especially in the Tokyo metropolitanarea. The "Kinomata Park," with its clear, crystal-clear water that extends all the way to the bottomof the river, has become a popular spot that attracts many tourists during the summer months,
especially in conjunction with the recent outdoor recreation boom. However, with the increase in
the number of tourists, problems have arisen, such as traffic congestion due to lack of parking
spaces and environmental degradation due to poor user etiquette, including dumping of garbage.
Police have had to be dispatched in many cases, and a solution has been sought.
What was the problem/issue solved with the good practice?

Methods, steps and tools appliedTraffic congestion is a constant hazard due to unauthorized parking on the shoulder of the roadand the shape of the road near the Kinomata Park. In addition, littering, leftover food frombarbecues, dumping of charcoal into the river, and open fires have caused environmental
degradation, which has been addressed through regular volunteer trash pickups and patrols, butthese efforts have been limited. This situation has been a constant for several years, and local
residents have requested improvements. To counter the traffic congestion, a detour route was set
up and security guards were posted to improve the situation. To address environmental
degradation, including littering, the local organization, Itamuro Hot Springs Revitalization
Committee, the Ministry of the Environment, and Tochigi Prefecture have cooperated to patrol thearea and pick up litter. However, these measures have not resulted in a drastic solution, and it has
been difficult to implement further solutions and regulations under the current system and system.
Therefore, the committee decided to enact an ordinance to clarify the rules for the use of theKinomata park land.

How was the good practice implemented?

Key success factors
The framework of the ordinance clarifies prohibited and restricted activities, as well as the chargingof parking fees only during the summer season, with the proceeds to be used for the management
and preservation of the Kinomata parklands. Prohibited activities include the use of fire and thegeneration of noise that may affect the ecosystem. Since the Kinomata Park is part of a nationalpark, a national forest, and a river area, and since the laws and ordinances governing each of theseareas do not contain provisions restricting such activities, it was decided to establish this ordinanceas a supplementary ordinance. In addition, cooperation with the police was essential to eliminate
on-street parking, which is one of the causes of traffic congestion, and after several rounds ofdiscussions, it was decided to establish a no-parking zone in the vicinity of the Kinomata Park.
What helped you tackle the issues?

Lessons learned

It is important to note that the city is not only enacting ordinances, but is also working in concert
with related administrative agencies. The city recognizes that enacting an ordinance alone will notlead to a drastic solution, but that a solution can be achieved through concerted efforts such as theestablishment of no-parking areas and enhanced patrols by the police, and support from theMinistry of the Environment. And the core of this effort was the enthusiasm of local businesses.
The desire to pass on the beauty of the Kinomata Park to their children, grandchildren, and future
generations led to voluntary conservation activities, which in turn led to the enactment of theordinance. We recognize that this is truly tourism management with the participation of localresidents.
While implementing the Good Practice what challenges were faced, and how were they overcome?

Results, achievements and recognitions
The ordinance will go into effect on July 1, 2022, and no qualitative or quantitative data areavailable at this time. However, the enactment of this ordinance and the steps taken by the publicand private sectors to work together toward the preservation of the Kinomata Park are a major
step forward. In addition, we believe that the fact that the city was able to take measures toimprove the situation after establishing a system to preserve the tourist site by asking tourists tobear a certain burden can serve as a model for future management of tourist attractions in Nasu
Shiobara City. Furthermore, similar cases of natural tourist attractions due to poor visitor manners
and other factors exist throughout Japan, and this is a problem that needs to be addressed. The
enactment of this ordinance is a leading initiative in Japan and can serve as a model case. We willcontinue to make further efforts to become a sustainable tourist destination.
What were the qualitative and quantitative results of the good practice?

Additional references

Provide links to further information. Pictures and videos should be available for download either from YouTube,①Ministry of the Environment Consultation Progress②Progress of Forestry Agency Consultation③Progress of the Otawara Public Works Office Consultation④Result of Public Comment⑤Shimono Shimbun article⑥Signboard for use of fees
⑦Warning signs⑧Photo of Kinomata Park

Vimeo or other Cloud-based (Google/ One Drive) download URL (not WeTransfer).