Japan Quests
Nature
Geoparks in Japan — 38 geological heritage sites
日本の地質百選
This collection presents 38 geoparks Japan has designated as geological heritage sites. These sites are Japan's most celebrated geological landmarks, encompassing volcanic calderas, towering peaks, and ancient rock formations shaped by millions of years of tectonic force. The selection includes places like Mount Hakone in Kanagawa, the Ryūga Cave in Kochi, and the Sanbe Azukihara Buried Forest in Shimane.
The sites are spread across 29 of Japan's 47 prefectures, from Hokkaido in the north (Shōwa-shinzan, Mount Usu, Shiretoko Peninsula) to Okinawa in the south (Tatami-ishi). Other examples include the Sado mine in Niigata, Matsushima in Miyagi, and Mount Fuji in Shizuoka.
Travellers can use this list to locate and explore significant natural formations and historical mining sites across the Japanese archipelago. Each entry provides details about the specific geological feature and its location.
Hokkaido 北海道
Shōwa-shinzan
昭和新山Part of the Toya Caldera UNESCO Global Geopark. A striking lava dome formed by volcanic activity near Mount Usu.
Mount Usu
有珠山Mount Usu, Hokkaido: a majestic testament to Japan's geological heritage.
Shiretoko Peninsula
知床半島Hokkaido's Shiretoko Peninsula: a wild, remote, and beautiful "End of the World," rich in unique geological heritage.
Iwate 岩手
Ryusendo Cave
龍泉洞
Miyagi 宮城
Matsushima
松島
Fukushima 福島
Mount Bandai
磐梯山
Ibaraki 茨城
Mount Tsukuba
筑波山Mount Tsukuba, a sacred beacon, is a Geological Heritage site located in Ibaraki, Japan.
Tochigi 栃木
Kegon Falls
華厳滝Witness the majestic Kegon Falls in Tochigi, a stunning Geological Heritage of Japan.
Saitama 埼玉
Nagatoro Valley
長瀞渓谷Nagatoro Valley: A Geological Heritage of Japan in Saitama, offering unique rock formations and natural beauty.
Chiba 千葉
Cape Inubō
犬吠埼Cape Inubō in Chiba, Japan, is a designated Geological Heritage site.
Tokyo 東京
Izu Ōshima
伊豆大島Izu Oshima, Tokyo: a captivating island formed by volcanoes, offering unique geological heritage in Japan.
Miyakejima
三宅島Miyakejima: Tokyo’s volcanic island, recognized as a Geological Heritage of Japan.
Kanagawa 神奈川
Mount Hakone
箱根山Mount Hakone, a Geological Heritage of Japan in Kanagawa, offers stunning volcanic landscapes.
Niigata 新潟
Sado mine
佐渡鉱山Sado Mine in Niigata, Japan is a Geological Heritage site, offering a glimpse into Japan's geological past.
Toyama 富山
Uozu Buried Forest
魚津埋没林Uozu Buried Forest: See 500-year-old cedar trees submerged in the sea, a Geological Heritage of Japan in Toyama.
Fukui 福井
Tōjinbō
東尋坊Dramatic Tōjinbō, a Geological Heritage of Japan, offers stunning cliffside views in Fukui.
Nagano 長野
Mount Asama
浅間山Mount Asama in Nagano, Japan: a geological heritage site of stunning natural beauty.
Gifu 岐阜
Kamioka mine
神岡鉱山Kamioka Mine, a Geological Heritage of Japan, is located in Gifu.
Shizuoka 静岡
Mount Fuji
富士山
Tanna Fault
丹那断層Tanna Fault, a captivating geological heritage in Shizuoka, Japan, reveals Earth's powerful forces.
Aichi 愛知
Mount Horaiji
鳳来寺山Mount Horaiji: Aichi, Japan’s Geological Heritage, with stunning natural beauty. Explore an ancient volcanic landscape.
Shiga 滋賀
Ishiyama-dera wollastonite rock
石山寺硅灰石Ishiyama-dera wollastonite, Shiga, is a designated Geological Heritage of Japan.
Hyogo 兵庫
Genbudō
玄武洞
Ikuno Mine
生野銀山Ikuno Mine: a captivating Geological Heritage site in Hyogo, Japan, revealing layers of Earth's ancient story.
Nara 奈良
Mount Tamaki
玉置山Mount Tamaki in Nara, Japan is an esteemed Geological Heritage site.
Tottori 鳥取
Tottori Sand Dunes
鳥取砂丘
Shimane 島根
Sanbe Azukihara Buried Forest
三瓶小豆原埋没林Remarkable buried forest, a Geological Heritage of Japan, found in Shimane.
Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine
石見銀山
Yamaguchi 山口
Akiyoshidō
秋芳洞Experience Akiyoshidō, a vast limestone cave recognized as a Geological Heritage of Japan, located in Yamaguchi.
Akiyoshidai
秋吉台Akiyoshidai in Yamaguchi, Japan: a geological heritage of Japan.
Susa Hornfels
須佐ホルンフェルスSusa Hornfels, a Geological Heritage of Japan in Yamaguchi, reveals stunning striped cliffs formed by volcanic activity.
Kochi 高知
Ryūga Cave
龍河洞Ryūga Cave, a Geological Heritage of Japan in Kochi, offers wondrous subterranean views.
Nagasaki 長崎
Mount Unzen
雲仙岳Mount Unzen: A spectacular Geological Heritage site in Nagasaki, Japan.
Kumamoto 熊本
Mount Aso
阿蘇山Mount Aso, a Geological Heritage site in Kumamoto, Japan, captivates with its natural splendor.
Miyazaki 宮崎
Mount Kirishima
霧島山Mount Kirishima: a majestic Geological Heritage of Japan in Miyazaki.
Aoshima
青島Aoshima, Miyazaki: a unique geological heritage site shaped by nature.
Kagoshima 鹿児島
Sakurajima
桜島Sakurajima, a Geological Heritage of Japan, is an active volcano in Kagoshima, Japan.
Okinawa 沖縄
Tatami-ishi
畳石Tatami-ishi, Okinawa, is a striking Geological Heritage of Japan.
Photo credits
- Mount Hakone — Sonata — CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
- Izu Ōshima — Data: Global Land Cover Facility (GLCF) Snip: っ at Japanese Wikipedia — CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
- Miyakejima — さかおり — CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
- Ryūga Cave — 京浜にけ at Japanese Wikipedia — CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
- Ishiyama-dera wollastonite rock — 663highland — CC BY 2.5 · source
- Sado mine — Asturio Cantabrio — CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
- Sanbe Azukihara Buried Forest — 立志堂 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
- Shōwa-shinzan — 663highland — CC BY 2.5 · source
- Matsushima — Chensiyuan — CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
- Genbudō — Hashi photo — CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
- Mount Tamaki — Yama0904 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
- Kamioka mine — As6673 — Public domain · source
- Akiyoshidō — Unknown authorUnknown author — Public domain · source
- Nagatoro Valley — WFan — CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
- Uozu Buried Forest — carpkazu — CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
- Mount Horaiji — Bariston — CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
- Sakurajima — Takobou at Japanese Wikipedia — CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
- Mount Kirishima — Jun Seita — CC BY 2.0 · source
- Ikuno Mine — 663highland — CC BY 2.5 · source
- Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine — 663highland — CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
- Mount Tsukuba — RESPITE — Public domain · source
- Akiyoshidai — そらみみ (Soramimi) — CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
- Mount Asama — Yu.nakai — CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
- Tatami-ishi — Snap55 at Japanese Wikipedia — CC BY 3.0 · source
- Cape Inubō — Hiroaki Kaneko — CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
- Kegon Falls — Jordy Meow — CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
- Mount Fuji — 名古屋太郎, (edited by Hannes_24) — CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
- Aoshima — 国土地理院 — Attribution · source
- Tanna Fault — Σ64 — CC BY 3.0 · source
- Mount Usu — 663highland — CC BY 2.5 · source
- Mount Unzen — Public domain · source
- Shiretoko Peninsula — っ — Public domain · source
- Susa Hornfels — Otota DANA — CC BY 3.0 · source
- Tōjinbō — 663highland — CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
- Mount Bandai — Σ64 — CC BY 3.0 · source
- Mount Aso — Sonata / Sonata at ja.wikipedia — CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
- Ryusendo Cave — --[[利用者:あおもりくま|あおもりくま]]（会話） 2020年11月21日 (土) 01:16 (UTC) — Public domain · source
- Tottori Sand Dunes — Free Images — CC BY 2.0 · source
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