Japan is one of the most beautiful countries in East Asia with her many attractions and sights of nature such as park, lakes, majestic mountains and quiet countrysides. They provide a perfect balance of urban charm and seductive nature, and the locations that illustrate this the best way are her parks. There are many that are tucked within cities like Tokyo and Kyoto, while others can only be reached when one goes to the countryside or relatively rural areas.

Most tourists to the country will always include a visit to the national parks as a must-do item on their travel itinerary. As we all face the pressures of the modern world, it is a simple but pleasurable experience to travel to faraway destinations that allow us to escape from that if only for a moment. What could be better to provide that avenue than taking trips to the gorgeous Japanese gardens and parks that have Eastern and Western flavors all mixed together?

There are 29 national parks in Japan as of today, and they make up a total area of more than five per cent of the country. While locals are an ever present in terms of visitors, there is an increasing number of foreign tourists who are eager to have a taste of what the nature of Japan has to offer. Some of the most popular parks are the Nikko, Shiretoko and Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Parks.

Nikko National Park has the city of Nikko acting as its gates, inhabited by a small but warm population. However, visitors arrive non-stop to see for themselves the scenic beauty of the area. From the serene and tranquil Lake Chuzenji to the majestic Mount Nantai, the park reaches far and wide over a total of four prefectures. Even visitors on a budget Nikko National Park day tour would be able to enjoy other highlights that include the large Kegon waterfall as well as the Toshogu shrine that has become a recognizable landmark for the city itself.

Mount Fuji can safely be said to be the one sight that everyone associates most often with Japan. But, the area in which it is located has a quiet elegance of its own in the form of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. It has an even larger area relative to Nikko park. This is due to the inclusion of Mount Fuji, the Fuji Five Lakes and other locations within it. There are even tiny islets found within the region, giving credence to the feeling that it is Japan's biggest national park.

Perhaps one of the most understated parks in Japan is Shiretoko National Park. It is a true natural haven untouched in the most part by civilization or commercialization. In fact, there is no way one can get there on wheels. There is also diverse wildlife that cannot be found elsewhere in Japan, while the flora and fauna existing within Shiretoko had prompted UNESCO to mark the area as a World Heritage Site, a great achievement for a humble site in a modern country.

Whether it be an adventure to the wilderness in Shiretoko, an experience with national symbols in Fuji-Hakone-Izu or visiting Nikko National Park on a tour package, Japan’s national parks have so much to offer for the eager and willing traveler. One will never cease to be amazed by a country that has an advanced and modern metropolis in its city centre of Tokyo, while surrounded by such extensive and beautiful nature.