The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. Adopted in 1971, it entered into force in 1975 and as of February 2026 had 172 contracting parties. Japan was the 24th party to accede, on 17 October 1980. Kushiro-shitsugen was the first of Japan's 54 Ramsar sites as of February 2026, with a total surface area of .
Designated sites Name Prefecture Municipality Altitude Area Designated Image National park status Coords. Ref. Hamatonbetsu 1–2 m 1,607 ha 1989 N/A Horonobe, Toyotomi 3–7 m 2,560 ha 2005 Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park Hokkaido Abashiri, Koshimizu 1 m 900 ha 2005 Abashiri Quasi-National Park Hokkaido Uryū 850–900 m 624 ha 2005 Shokanbetsu-Teuri-Yagishiri Quasi-National Park Hokkaido Betsukai, Shibetsu 0–10 m 6,053 ha 2005 N/A Hokkaido Kushiro 420 m 1,318 ha 2005 Akan National Park Hokkaido Bibai 13 m 41 ha 2002 N/A Hokkaido Betsukai, Nemuro 1 m 6,139 ha 2005 N/A Hokkaido Kushiro City, Kushiro Town, Shibecha, Tsurui 3–10 m 7,863 ha 2005 Kushiro-shitsugen National Park Hokkaido Hamanaka 0–3 m 2,504 ha 1993 N/A Hokkaido Akkeshi 0–20 m 5,277 ha 1993 N/A Hokkaido Tomakomai 1–5 m 510 ha 1991 N/A Hokkaido Nanae 1–5 m 510 ha 2012 Ōnuma Quasi-National Park Aomori Misawa 0–10 m 222 ha 2005 N/A Miyagi Kurihara, Tome 7 m 559 ha 1985 N/A Miyagi Kurihara, Tome, Ōsaki 5.7 m 423 ha 2005 N/A Miyagi Ōsaki 25.9 m 34 ha 2008 N/A Miyagi Minamisanriku 0 m 5,793 ha 2018 Sanriku Fukkō National Park Yamagata Tsuruoka 12 m 39 ha 2008 N/A Fukushima Aizuwakamatsu, Inawashiro, Kōriyama 514 m 10,960 ha 2025 Bandai-Asahi National Park Fukushima, Gunma, Niigata Hinoemata, Katashina, Uonuma 1,400–2,356 m 8,711 ha 2005 Oze National Park Ibaraki Hokota, Ōarai 0 m 935 ha 2015 N/A Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama Koga, Tochigi, Oyama, Nogi, Itakura, Kazo 2–23 m 2,861 ha 2012 N/A Tochigi Nikkō 1,400–1,475 m 260 ha 2005 Nikkō National Park Gunma Kusatsu, Nakanojō 1,200–2,160 m 887 ha 2015 Jōshin'etsu-kōgen National Park Chiba Narashino 0 m 40 ha 1993 N/A Tokyo Edogawa -4–4 m 366 ha 2018 N/A Niigata Agano 8.6 m 24 ha 2008 N/A Niigata Niigata 5 m 76 ha 1996 Sado-Yahiko-Yoneyama Quasi-National Park Toyama Tateyama 1,040–2,120 m 574 ha 2012 Chūbu-Sangaku National Park Ishikawa Kaga 2.5–8 m 10 ha 1993 Echizen-Kaga Kaigan Quasi-National Park Fukui Tsuruga 45 m 87 ha 2012 Echizen-Kaga Kaigan Quasi-National Park Fukui Wakasa, Mihama 0 m 1,110 ha 2005 Wakasawan Quasi-National Park Aichi Toyota 190–244 m 22.5 ha 2012 Aichi Kōgen Quasi-National Park Aichi Nagoya, Tobishima -4-1 m 323 ha 2002 N/A Shiga 10 cities 86 m 65,984 ha 1993 Biwako Quasi-National Park Hyōgo Toyooka 0–20 m 1,094 ha 2012 Sanin Kaigan National Park Wakayama Kushimoto -20–0 m 574 ha 2005 Yoshino-Kumano National Park Tottori, Shimane Yonago, Sakaiminato, Matsue, Yasugi 0 m 8,043 ha 2005 N/A Shimane Matsue, Izumo 0.3 m 7,652 ha 2005 N/A Hiroshima Hatsukaichi 0–80 m 142 ha 2012 Setonaikai National Park Yamaguchi Mine 80–426 m 563 ha 2005 Akiyoshidai Quasi-National Park Saga Saga -3–1 m 218 ha 2015 N/A Saga Kashima -3-1 m 57 ha 2015 N/A Kumamoto Kumamoto 0 m 754 ha 2012 N/A Ōita Kokonoe, Taketa 1,000–1,270 m 91 ha 2005 Aso Kujū National Park Kagoshima Satsumasendai 296 m 60 ha 2005 N/A Kagoshima Izumi 478 ha 2021 N/A Kagoshima Yakushima <10 m 10 ha 2005 Kirishima-Yaku National Park Okinawa Kumejima 120–280 m 255 ha 2009 N/A Okinawa Zamami, Tokashiki 0 m 353 ha 2005 Kerama Shotō National Park Okinawa Tomigusuku, Naha -0.5 m 58 ha 1999 N/A Okinawa Miyakojima 0 m 704 ha 2012 N/A Okinawa Ishigaki 0 m 157 ha 2005 N/A
See also List of Ramsar sites worldwide List of national parks of Japan Wildlife Protection Areas in Japan
References
External links
Ramsar – Japan Ramsar sites in Japan