Nikko (Nikko City, Tochigi Pref.)

Centered around Oku-Nikko, the mountainous interior, Nikko National Park was inscribed as one of the first national parks in Japan in 1934. The park is especially popular for mountain climbing, hiking, fishing, and camping, due to its superb natural environment.

In 2005, as a "Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat, the wetlands of Oku-Nikko, Lake Yunoko, the Yukawa River, the Senjogahara Plateau and the Odashirogahara Plateau were inscribed in the Ramsar Convention," in order to preserve the water systems, lakes, rivers and waterfowl, as well as the related complex ecosystem. There are many animals and plants that inhabit Oku-Nikko, and depending on the time and season, you can enjoy seeing a variety of species.

In 1999, 103 structures located on the grounds of the Nikko Toshogu Shrine, the Mt. Nikko Rinnoji Buddhist Temple, and Nikko Futarasan-jinja (Futarasan Shinto Shrine) were inscribed on the list of World Heritage properties. From days of old, it has been said that "Nothing can be fine if you haven't seen Nikko," and as implied in that saying, there is too much real splendor here to see it all in one day.