List of Ramsar sites in Japan

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.^[1] Adopted in 1971, it entered into force in 1975 and as of December 2015 had 169 contracting parties.^[1] Japan was the twenty-fourth party to accede, on 17 October 1980.^[2] Kushiro-shitsugen was the first of Japan's fifty-two Ramsar sites as of the thirteenth conference of the contracting parties (2018), with a total surface area of 1,547 square kilometres (597 sq mi).^[3]

Designated sites[]

Name	Prefecture	Municipality	Altitude	Area	Designated	Image	National park status	Coords.	Ref.
Kutcharo-ko (クッチャロ湖)	Hokkaido	Hamatonbetsu	1–2 m	1,607 ha	1989		N/A	45°09′N 142°20′E / 45.150°N 142.333°E / 45.150; 142.333 (Kutcharo-ko)	[1]
Sarobetsu-genya (サロベツ原野)	Hokkaido	Horonobe, Toyotomi	3–7 m	2,560 ha	2005		Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park	45°03′N 141°42′E / 45.050°N 141.700°E / 45.050; 141.700 (Sarobetsu-genya)	[2]
Tofutsu-ko (濤沸湖)	Hokkaido	Abashiri, Koshimizu	1 m	900 ha	2005		Abashiri Quasi-National Park	43°56′N 144°24′E / 43.933°N 144.400°E / 43.933; 144.400 (Tofutsu-ko)	[3]
Uryunuma-shitsugen (雨竜沼湿原)	Hokkaido	Uryū	850–900 m	624 ha	2005		Shokanbetsu-Teuri-Yagishiri Quasi-National Park	43°41′N 141°36′E / 43.683°N 141.600°E / 43.683; 141.600 (Uryunuma-shitsugen)	[4]
Notsuke-hanto and Notsuke-wan (野付半島・野付湾)	Hokkaido	Betsukai, Shibetsu	0–10 m	6,053 ha	2005		N/A	43°34′N 145°16′E / 43.567°N 145.267°E / 43.567; 145.267 (Notsuke-hanto and Notsuke-wan)	[5]
Akan-ko (阿寒湖)	Hokkaido	Kushiro	420 m	1,318 ha	2005		Akan National Park	43°27′N 144°06′E / 43.450°N 144.100°E / 43.450; 144.100 (Akan-ko)	[6]
Miyajima-numa (宮島沼)	Hokkaido	Bibai	13 m	41 ha	2002		N/A	43°20′N 141°43′E / 43.333°N 141.717°E / 43.333; 141.717 (Miyajima-numa)	[7]
Furen-ko & Shunkuni-tai (風蓮湖 春国岱)	Hokkaido	Betsukai, Nemuro	1 m	6,139 ha	2005		N/A	43°17′N 145°21′E / 43.283°N 145.350°E / 43.283; 145.350 (Furen-ko and Shunkuni-tai)	[8]
Kushiro-shitsugen (釧路湿原)	Hokkaido	Kushiro City, Kushiro Town, Shibecha, Tsurui	3–10 m	7,863 ha	2005		Kushiro Shitsugen National Park	43°09′N 144°26′E / 43.150°N 144.433°E / 43.150; 144.433 (Kushiro-shitsugen)	[9]
Kiritappu-shitsugen (霧多布湿原)	Hokkaido	Hamanaka	0–3 m	2,504 ha	1993		N/A	43°05′N 145°05′E / 43.083°N 145.083°E / 43.083; 145.083 (Kiritappu-shitsugen)	[10]
Akkeshi-ko & Bekambeushi-shitsugen (厚岸湖 別寒辺牛湿原)	Hokkaido	Akkeshi	0–20 m	5,277 ha	1993		N/A	43°03′N 144°54′E / 43.050°N 144.900°E / 43.050; 144.900 (Akkeshi-ko and Bekambeushi-shitsugen)	[11]
Utonai-ko (ウトナイ湖)	Hokkaido	Tomakomai	1–5 m	510 ha	1991		N/A	42°42′N 141°43′E / 42.700°N 141.717°E / 42.700; 141.717 (Utonai-ko)	[12]
Onuma (大沼)	Hokkaido	Nanae	1–5 m	510 ha	2012		Ōnuma Quasi-National Park	41°59′N 140°40′E / 41.983°N 140.667°E / 41.983; 140.667 (Onuma)	[13]
Hotokenuma (仏沼)	Aomori	Misawa	0–10 m	222 ha	2005		N/A	40°49′N 141°22′E / 40.817°N 141.367°E / 40.817; 141.367 (Hotokenuma)	[14]
Izu-numa and Uchi-numa (伊豆沼・内沼)	Miyagi	Kurihara, Tome	7 m	559 ha	1985		N/A	38°43′N 141°06′E / 38.717°N 141.100°E / 38.717; 141.100 (Izu-numa and Uchi-numa)	[15]
Kabukuri-numa and the surrounding rice paddies (蕪栗沼・周辺水田)	Miyagi	Kurihara, Tome, Ōsaki	5.7 m	423 ha	2005		N/A	38°38′N 141°06′E / 38.633°N 141.100°E / 38.633; 141.100 (Kabukuri-numa and the surrounding rice paddies)	[16]
Kejo-numa (化女沼)	Miyagi	Ōsaki	25.9 m	34 ha	2008		N/A	38°37′N 141°57′E / 38.617°N 141.950°E / 38.617; 141.950 (Kejo-numa)	[17]
Shizugawa-wan (志津川湾)	Miyagi	Minamisanriku	0 m	5,793 ha	2018		Sanriku Fukkō National Park	38°40′N 141°30′E / 38.667°N 141.500°E / 38.667; 141.500 (Shizugawa-wan)	[18]
Oyama Kami-ike and Shimo-ike (大山上池・下池)	Yamagata	Tsuruoka	12 m	39 ha	2008		N/A	38°44′N 139°45′E / 38.733°N 139.750°E / 38.733; 139.750 (Oyama Kami-ike and Shimo-ike)	[19]
Hinuma (涸沼)	Ibaraki	Hokota, Ōarai	0 m	935 ha	2015		N/A	36°16′N 140°30′E / 36.267°N 140.500°E / 36.267; 140.500 (Hinuma)	[20]
Oze (尾瀬)	Fukushima, Gunma, Niigata	Hinoemata, Katashina, Uonuma	1400–2356 m	8,711 ha	2005		Oze National Park	36°53′N 139°11′E / 36.883°N 139.183°E / 36.883; 139.183 (Oze)	[21]
Oku-Nikko-shitsugen (奥日光の湿原)	Tochigi	Nikkō	1400–1475 m	260 ha	2005		Nikkō National Park	36°47′N 139°26′E / 36.783°N 139.433°E / 36.783; 139.433 (Oku-Nikko-shitsugen)	[22]
Watarase-yusuichi (渡良瀬遊水地)	Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama	Koga, Tochigi, Oyama, Nogi, Itakura, Kazo	2–23 m	2,861 ha	2012		N/A	36°14′N 139°41′E / 36.233°N 139.683°E / 36.233; 139.683 (Watarase-yusuichi)	[23]
Yoshigadaira Wetlands (芳ヶ平湿地群)	Gunma	Kusatsu, Nakanojō	1200–2160 m	887 ha	2015		Jōshin'etsu-kōgen National Park	36°39′N 138°33′E / 36.650°N 138.550°E / 36.650; 138.550 (Yoshigadaira Wetlands)	[24]
Yatsu-higata (谷津干潟)	Chiba	Narashino	0 m	40 ha	1993		N/A	35°40′N 140°00′E / 35.667°N 140.000°E / 35.667; 140.000 (Yatsu-higata)	[25]
Kasai Marine Park (葛西臨海公園)	Tokyo	Edogawa	-4–4 m	366 ha	2018		N/A	35°38′N 139°51′E / 35.633°N 139.850°E / 35.633; 139.850 (Kasai Marine Park)	[26]
Hyo-ko (瓢湖)	Niigata	Agano	8.6 m	24 ha	2008		N/A	37°50′N 139°14′E / 37.833°N 139.233°E / 37.833; 139.233 (Hyo-ko)	[27]
Sakata (佐潟)	Niigata	Niigata	5 m	76 ha	1996		Sado-Yahiko-Yoneyama Quasi-National Park	37°49′N 138°53′E / 37.817°N 138.883°E / 37.817; 138.883 (Sakata)	[28]
Tateyama Midagahara and Dainichidaira (立山弥陀ヶ原・大日平)	Toyama	Tateyama	1040–2120 m	574 ha	2012		Chūbu-Sangaku National Park	36°34′N 137°32′E / 36.567°N 137.533°E / 36.567; 137.533 (Tateyama Midagahara and Dainichidaira)	[29]
Katano-kamoike (片野鴨池)	Ishikawa	Kaga	2.5–8 m	10 ha	1993		Echizen-Kaga Kaigan Quasi-National Park	36°19′N 136°17′E / 36.317°N 136.283°E / 36.317; 136.283 (Katano-kamoike)	[30]
Nakaikemi-shicchi (中池見湿地)	Fukui	Tsuruga	45 m	87 ha	2012		Echizen-Kaga Kaigan Quasi-National Park	35°39′N 136°05′E / 35.650°N 136.083°E / 35.650; 136.083 (Nakaikemi-shicchi)	[31]
Mikata-goko (三方五湖)	Fukui	Wakasa, Mihama	0 m	1,110 ha	2005		Wakasawan Quasi-National Park	35°33′N 135°52′E / 35.550°N 135.867°E / 35.550; 135.867 (Sarobetsu-genya)	[32]
Tokai Hilly Land Spring-fed Mires (東海丘陵湧水湿地群)	Aichi	Toyota	190–244 m	22.5 ha	2012		Aichi Kōgen Quasi-National Park	35°08′N 137°21′E / 35.133°N 137.350°E / 35.133; 137.350 (Tokai Hilly Land Spring-fed Mires)	[33]
Fujimae-higata (藤前干潟)	Aichi	Nagoya, Tobishima	-4-1 m	323 ha	2002		N/A	35°04′N 136°50′E / 35.067°N 136.833°E / 35.067; 136.833 (Fujimae-higata)	[34]
Biwa-ko (琵琶湖)	Shiga	10 cities	86 m	65,984 ha	1993		Biwako Quasi-National Park	35°15′N 136°05′E / 35.250°N 136.083°E / 35.250; 136.083 (Biwa-ko)	[35]
Lower Maruyama River and the surrounding rice paddies (円山川下流域・周辺水田)	Hyōgo	Toyooka	0–20 m	1094 ha	2012		Sanin Kaigan National Park	35°59′N 134°59′E / 35.983°N 134.983°E / 35.983; 134.983 (Lower Maruyama River and the surrounding rice paddies)	[36]
Kushimoto Coral Communities (串本沿岸海域)	Wakayama	Kushimoto	-20-0 m	574 ha	2005		Yoshino-Kumano National Park	33°28′N 135°44′E / 33.467°N 135.733°E / 33.467; 135.733 (Kushimoto Coral Communities)	[37]
Nakaumi (中海)	Tottori, Shimane	Yonago, Sakaiminato, Matsue, Yasugi	0 m	8,043 ha	2005		N/A	35°32′N 133°09′E / 35.533°N 133.150°E / 35.533; 133.150 (Nakaumi)	[38]
Shinji-ko (宍道湖)	Shimane	Matsue, Izumo	0.3 m	7,652 ha	2005		N/A	35°26′N 132°57′E / 35.433°N 132.950°E / 35.433; 132.950 (Shinji-ko)	[39]
Miyajima (宮島)	Hiroshima	Hatsukaichi	0–80 m	142 ha	2012		Setonaikai National Park	34°14′N 132°17′E / 34.233°N 132.283°E / 34.233; 132.283 (Miyajima)	[40]
Akiyoshidai Groundwater System (秋吉台地下水系)	Yamaguchi	Mine	80–426 m	563 ha	2005		Akiyoshidai Quasi-National Park	34°15′N 131°18′E / 34.250°N 131.300°E / 34.250; 131.300 (Akiyoshidai Groundwater System)	[41]
Higashiyoka-higata (東よか干潟)	Saga	Saga	-3-1 m	218 ha	2015		N/A	33°10′N 103°15′E / 33.167°N 103.250°E / 33.167; 103.250 (Higashiyoka-higata)	[42]
Hizen Kashima-higata (肥前鹿島干潟)	Saga	Kashima	-3-1 m	57 ha	2015		N/A	33°6′N 130°7′E / 33.100°N 130.117°E / 33.100; 130.117 (Hizen Kashima-higata)	[43]
Arao-higata (荒尾干潟)	Kumamoto	Kumamoto	0 m	754 ha	2012		N/A	32°58′N 130°25′E / 32.967°N 130.417°E / 32.967; 130.417 (Arao-higata)	[44]
Kuju Bogatsuru and Tadewara-shitsugen (くじゅう坊ガツル・タデ原湿原)	Ōita	Kokonoe, Taketa	1000–1270 m	91 ha	2005		Aso Kujū National Park	33°06′N 131°15′E / 33.100°N 131.250°E / 33.100; 131.250 (Kuju Bogatsuru and Tadewara-shitsugen)	[45]
Imuta-ike (藺牟田池)	Kagoshima	Satsumasendai	296 m	60 ha	2005		N/A	31°49′N 130°28′E / 31.817°N 130.467°E / 31.817; 130.467 (Imuta-ike)	[46]
Yakushima Nagata-hama (屋久島永田浜)	Kagoshima	Yakushima	<10 m	10 ha	2005		Kirishima-Yaku National Park	30°24′N 130°25′E / 30.400°N 130.417°E / 30.400; 130.417 (Yakushima Nagata-hama)	[47]
Streams in Kumejima (久米島の渓流・湿地)	Okinawa	Kumejima	120–280 m	255 ha	2009		N/A	26°22′N 126°46′E / 26.367°N 126.767°E / 26.367; 126.767 (Streams in Kumejima)	[48]
Kerama-shoto Coral Reef (慶良間諸島海域)	Okinawa	Zamami, Tokashiki	0 m	353 ha	2005		Kerama Shotō National Park	26°12′N 127°21′E / 26.200°N 127.350°E / 26.200; 127.350 (Keramashoto Coral Reef)	[49]
Manko (漫湖)	Okinawa	Tomigusuku, Naha	-0.5 m	58 ha	1999		N/A	26°11′N 127°41′E / 26.183°N 127.683°E / 26.183; 127.683 (Manko)	[50]
Yonaha-wan (与那覇湾)	Okinawa	Miyakojima	0 m	704 ha	2012		N/A	24°45′N 125°16′E / 24.750°N 125.267°E / 24.750; 125.267 (Yonaha-wan)	[51]
Nagura-Ampuru (名蔵アンパル)	Okinawa	Ishigaki	0 m	157 ha	2005		N/A	24°23′N 124°08′E / 24.383°N 124.133°E / 24.383; 124.133 (Nagura amparu)	[52]

See also[]

• Ramsar Convention
• List of Ramsar sites worldwide
• List of national parks of Japan
• Wildlife Protection Areas in Japan

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ramsar sites in Japan.

• Ramsar - Japan
• Ramsar sites in Japan