Natural Park Act (Act No. 161 of 1957).

This Act, consisting of 90 articles divided into four Chapters, aims at the protection of the places of natural scenic beauty and also, through the promoted utilization thereof, at the contribution to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity as well as to the health, recreation and culture of the people. In accordance with the basic intent of environmental conservation prescribed in Articles 3 to 5 of the Basic Environmental Act (Act No. 91 of 1993), the State, local public entities, business operators and visitors of the natural parks shall make effort respectively to protect the natural scenic beauty and promote appropriate utilization. The National Parks shall be designated, with specification of their boundaries, by the Minister of the Environment after hearing the views from the prefectures concerned and the Central Environmental Council (hereinafter referred to as "Council"). The Quasi-national Parks shall be designated, with specification of their boundaries, by the Minister of the Environment, upon request of the prefecture concerned, after hearing the views from the Council. In the case of the designation of the National Park or Quasi-national Park by the Minister of the Environment, the fact and the area thereof shall be announced in the official gazette. The designation of the National Park or Quasi-national Park shall take effect on the public announcement.
In light of the fact that the protection of fauna and flora in the natural parks is significant for conserving the scenic beauty of the natural parks, the State and local public entities shall take measures for conserving the scenic beauty of the natural parks with the aim to ensure the diversity in the ecosystem and creature in the natural parks. Upon the application of this Act, in addition to the provision of Article 3 of the Nature Conservation Act (Act No. 85 of 1972), the proprietary rights, mining rights and other property rights of the parties concerned shall be respected and also the adjustment between the land development and other public interests shall be taken into consideration. The Act is divided as follows: General Provisions (1); National Parks and Quasi-National Parks (2); Prefectural Natural Parks (3); and Penal Provisions (4).