The Japanese Environment Ministry is aiming to increase the annual number of foreign visitors to the country’s national parks to 14 million by 2030.
This target represents a 1.4-fold increase from last year’s totals as part of a broader push to enhance the appeal of Japan’s natural landscapes, according to an article by nippon.com.
The new target will be included in the ministry’s “project for full enjoyment of national parks” guidelines.
These guidelines outline specific initiatives to increase both domestic and international visitor numbers while prioritizing the preservation of the natural environment.
To accommodate this influx, the ministry will work on improving accessibility and expanding multilingual support across its park system.
These infrastructure upgrades are intended to make the parks more navigable for a diverse range of international travelers.
According to data from the ministry, 9.88 million people from overseas visited Japan’s national parks in 2025.
This figure marked a 1.5-fold growth from 2019 levels, successfully meeting the previous goal of restoring park attendance to levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The revised target for national parks aligns with the Japanese government’s larger objective of attracting 60 million annual inbound visitors to the country by 2030.
The ministry intends for these natural areas to be a cornerstone of the nation’s tourism growth strategy.
This development is significant for the outdoor recreation industry as it signals a major investment in nature-based tourism infrastructure and accessibility in East Asia.
For global outdoor brands and adventure travel operators, Japan’s commitment to high-volume international visitation suggests a growing market for guided tours, equipment rentals, and specialized outdoor hospitality services designed for a global audience.