Guides & Stories

Visitor Centers: The Secret to More Enjoyable National Park Visits

These convenient facilities offer detailed information on the natural environment, history, culture, and outdoor activities available at the park

Japan’s 35 national parks showcase a wide range of natural wonders, from towering snowy peaks and active volcanos to ancient forests and vibrant coral reefs teeming with marine life. The outdoor activities available at these parks are just as varied, including hiking, river exploration, scuba diving, and even soaking tired muscles in natural hot springs. One thing that is found at every location, however, is the park’s Visitor Center, a facility that provides information about the park’s unique environment. These centers offer displays and explanations about each park’s topography, geology, and wildlife, for example, as well as insights into the region’s history and local culture. They also provide important practical information, such as safety advisories, weather updates, and maps.

Whether you’re on a day trip or an extended visit to the park, Visitor Centers are inviting spaces where you can simply rest and relax or deepen your knowledge about the park’s natural phenomena and other attractions. Here, we highlight a few visitor centers as an example of the discoveries that await you, and how they can help make a national park visit an even more enjoyable experience on your visit to Japan.

Chubusangaku National Park
Kamikochi Visitor Center

The Kamikochi Visitor Center is situated in Kamikochi, one of the most iconic spots in the Chubusangaku National Park. The impressive wooden structure stands alongside the Shimizu River that runs down the valley, and blends seamlessly with the natural surroundings. Inside, visitors will find the center’s interior marked by a massive, 3.6-meter-wide panoramic painting depicting Mt. Kasumizawa from a height of 3,500 meters. The friendly staff at the guide counter below can assist with information on the hiking routes and suggestions about the seasonal highlights.

The large painting over the guide counter depicts a panoramic view of the Kamikochi area and surrounding mountains. At right is one of the building’s pillars made of cypress. © Kamikochi Visitor Center

The center is filled with exhibits, many of which are interactive, offering valuable insights into the Kamikochi area. The Nature Information Corner features an information board with seasonal updates, such as trail conditions and flower blossoms schedules, while a computerized search system provides details on the flora, fauna, history, and other regional details. A lecture hall presents a rotation of videos describing the history and natural features in easy-to-understand terms. Another popular corner of the center displays the works of 15 well-known mountain photographers along with literary works related to Kamikochi. A museum shop near the entrance offers maps, postcards, and other items, including—for the botanically inclined—illustrations for identifying local plants on their treks through the park.

One section of the Visitor Center features a collaboration of literary works and images of Kamikochi by well-known mountainphotographers. © Kamikochi Visitor Center

There are three ideal seasons for visiting Kamikochi: May to June, for the wild birds and the spring flowers against a background of snow-capped peaks; July and August, for the explosion of wildflowers and the launching point for hiking the surrounding peaks; early October for the stunning fall colors of the Hotaka mountain range—Mt. Kasumizawa, Mt. Karasawa, and Mt. Dakesawa—seen from Kamikochi; in mid-October for the autumn colors of the Japanese elm, white birch, maples and other trees along the Kamikochi valley; and the autumn colors of the larch trees from late October to early November. Note that heavy winter snows cause Kamikochi and the center to close from mid-November through mid-April.

Doing Your Part to Protect the Park

Kamikochi receives many visitors each year, and protecting the fragile environment is a responsibility shared by everyone. Those using the area as the starting point of climbing the surrounding peaks should make preparations depending on the season and weather conditions. Everyone visiting the park is asked to observe the following practices:

  • Please do not collect plants of living creatures, including insects
  • Please do not bring pets or alien species
  • Please stay on the paths
  • Please do not feed the wild animals
  • Please take all your litter with you
  • Please do not ride bicycles on the trails
  •  Please do not use drones in the park

Chubusangaku National Park

Kamikochi Visitor Center
4468 Azumikamikochi, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture 
Phone: (+81) 0263-95-2606 

An autumn view from the circular route near Omagari. © Kamikochi Visitor Center

San’in Kaigan National Park
Tottori Sand Dunes Visitor Center

The Tottori Sand Dunes, located along the Sea of Japan in Tottori Prefecture, are a major attraction, drawing over 1 million visitors each year. Part of the San’in Kaigan National Park, the dunes also are the location of the Tottori Sand Dunes Visitor Center, a one-stop hub for tourists. The center’s staff, which includes dune experts, encourage visitors to spend time at the center first to enhance their appreciation of the dunes. They recommend starting with the 20-minute tour that includes a wind tunnel experiment that replicates the formation of the wind ripples in the sand dunes. (Reservations are required.) The guides also host walking tours of the dunes, providing deeper insights into their origins, the history, and the natural processes that shape this remarkable landscape.

The center’s staff demonstrates how the ripples on the dunes are created by the wind, using a wind tunnel device. ©San'in Kaigan National Park Tottori Sand Dunes Visitor Center

The center’s second floor is divided into various displays. The Sunakura mini theater shows a video of seasonal changes in the dunes, captured by drones. Other exhibits include hand-made displays made by the center’s guides that introduce the unique terrain, presentations on the diverse plants and insects found in the dunes, and an interactive demonstration of the relationship that exists between the dunes and the local community. The center also features a library corner, a nursing room, and resting areas both indoors and outside the facility. Special wheelchairs designed for navigating the sand dunes are available, and visitors can rinse off at the foot showers after exploring the dunes. The staff also can provide information about recreational activities, sightseeing spots, and nearby dining or shopping options.

The wind patterns that cover the entire wall of the theater are molded from actual wind ripples that appear on the Tottori sand dunes. ©San'in Kaigan National Park Tottori Sand Dunes Visitor Center

Due to the extremely high temperatures at the dunes in summer and the bitterly cold of winter, the staff recommends visiting in spring and autumn. If you do visit during the hot summer season, please wear suitable clothing—such as hats—to protect from heat stroke, and avoid walking in bare feet or sandals. During the recommended seasons of spring and autumn, steady winds create unique formations on a daily basis. Visitors can also enjoy participating in a digital stamp rally, tracking their progress on their smartphone while exploring the area. The rally is available in four languages—Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean. 

Doing Your Part to Protect the Park

The Tottori Sand Dunes receive many visitors each year, and protecting the fragile environment is a responsibility shared by everyone. Everyone visiting the park is asked to observe the following practices:

  • Please do not drive automobiles or motorcycles on the dunes
  • Please do not ride bicycles on the dunes
  • Please do not take sand from the dunes
  • Please do not write or draw grafitti images on the dune slopes

San’in Kaigan National Park

Tottori Sand Dunes Visitor Center
2164-971 Yuyama, Fukube-cho, Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture
Phone: (+81) 0857-22-0021

Be sure to drop in at the Tottori Sand Dunes Visitor Center before visiting the dunes. ©San'in Kaigan National Park Tottori Sand Dunes Visitor Center

A Helpful Location for Additional Information: the National Park Discovery Center

If you are interested in exploring one or more of Japan’s National Parks, be sure to visit the National Parks Discovery Center, located just outside Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden in central Tokyo. The center provides comprehensive information on all 35 parks through various interactive displays, helping visitors select destination parks and plan their trips. An expansive 4K panoramic theater shows immersive videos showcasing the parks’ natural wonders, creating the feeling of actually being in the parks. Large touch panel displays grant access a digital library filled with photos and information on the parks’ attractions, and staff at the information counter can assist you if you have any questions in English or Japanese. The facility also includes a spacious art gallery with various exhibits related to national parks and the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden depending on the season, a resting area, and a café. Admission to the center is free.

The 4K theater gives visitors the feeling of a visit to a national park.
The National Parks Discovery Center is located in the Information Center of Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.

Make Your Park Visits Memorable with the National Parks of Japan’s Stamp Collection

The Discovery Center is an ideal place to start your Japan National Parks of Japan’s Stamp Collection, an unforgettable way to memorialize your visit to Japan. The design of each stamp is a striking image of the name of the park based on the motif of a traditional seal script. On every park journey, be sure to visit the National Park Visitor Center, where you can stamp these unique designs on dedicated mounts to make a long-lasting souvenir. This stamp event is running from February 1, 2025 until March 31, 2027 at all 35 National Parks, and at the National Park Discovery Center. 

Link to stamp locations and the Stamp Sheet download. 

National Parks stamp sheet

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