TOKYO — Japan’s local communities are promoting geoparks to revitalize their regions by highlighting their unique geology and combining this with sustainable tourism and education. Serving to protect and celebrate natural wonders like volcanoes, rocks, and geological strata, geoparks are popping up across the country.
Since the Japan Geopark Committee began certifying sites in 2008, the number of designated “Japanese National Geoparks” has grown to 47, with many making the designation a cornerstone of their branding efforts.