What is a Geopark?

Geoparks are an official program of UNESCO that recognizes areas with geological features of international significance, as well as the natural environment and the human lifestyles and cultures connected to them, with the goal of protecting and passing them on to future generations.
Local cultures, history, traditions, and industries that develop uniquely in a region are influenced by that region’s climate and natural environment. This climate and environment were created by the movements and changes of the Earth over a very long period of time, linking all these features together. The geopark program promotes action to protect the Earth and local communities, considering the Earth’s activities from the perspective of local cultures, customs, and the scenery we see before our eyes.

Geopark Designation

Mt. Chokai & Tobishima Island Geopark is a national geopark designated by the Japanese Geoparks Committee (JGC) in 2016, aspiring toward UNESCO Global Geopark designation in the future.
Geoparks are designated following the guidelines written in the Statutes of the International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme (IGGP), under the Operational Guidelines for UNESCO Global Geoparks. See the official documents on UNESCO’s website to learn more about the geoparks program and the process and criteria for designation.

Geoparks Around the World

As of April 2024, there are 229 UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGp) in 50 countries around the world. 10 of these UGGp are in Japan: Toya-Usu, Itoigawa, Unzen Volcanic Area, San’in Kaigan, Muroto, Oki Islands, Aso, Mt. Apoi, Izu Peninsula, and Hakusan Tedorigawa.
Including these 10 UGGp and 38 national geoparks, there are a total of 48 geoparks in Japan.
For the list of geoparks in Japan and information about their features and activities, please see the website of the Japanese Geoparks Network (JGN).