Minakami UNESCO Eco-Park is the common name for the Minakami Biosphere Reserve, a vast area centered on Minakami Town in Gunma Prefecture and extending into parts of Uonuma City, Minamiuonuma City, and Yuzawa Town in Niigata Prefecture.
The reserve covers approximately 91,368 hectares, with forests accounting for more than 90 percent of the total area. Across elevations ranging from approximately 300 to 2,000 meters, pristine natural environments coexist with communities and traditional ways of life.
The region lies in the uppermost reaches of the Tone River, one of Japan’s major rivers. It is the source of the “first drop of water” that ultimately supports the daily lives of approximately 30 million people in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The clean water nurtured by its extensive forests is an essential resource for drinking water, agriculture, industry, and hydroelectric power generation throughout the metropolitan region.
The mountains stretching along the border between Gunma and Niigata form part of the Central Watershed that runs through the Japanese archipelago. Air masses from the Pacific and Sea of Japan sides meet in this region, making it one of the areas of Japan known for exceptionally heavy snowfall.
During winter, enormous amounts of snow accumulate in the mountains. Over many years, this harsh environment has helped create a remarkably varied landscape, including steep rock walls, exposed rock formations, snow-eroded depressions, floodplains, and river terraces.
It is particularly noteworthy that traces of glacial activity have been identified despite the fact that the mountains in the area generally do not reach 2,000 meters in elevation.
The enormous cliffs of Ichinokurasawa are counted among Japan’s three great rock walls, while geological formations such as crystalline schist can be observed near the summit of Mount Tanigawa. These distinctive geological and topographical features were formed over immense periods of time by the region’s heavy snowfall and location within a climatic transition zone.
The Minakami UNESCO Eco-Park is divided into three zones: the Core Area, Buffer Area, and Transition Area. Each zone has a different role, allowing nature conservation and human activities to coexist in a balanced manner.
The Core Area covers approximately 9,123 hectares and includes the headwaters of the Tone River, the Hiwagatake Forest Ecosystem Conservation Area, and Special Protection Zones within Joshin’etsukogen National Park.
This area contains extensive pristine natural environments and is where the “first drop” of the Tone River originates. Mountains approaching 2,000 meters in elevation rise across the landscape, supporting distinctive ecosystems adapted to severe natural conditions.
Mount Ōminakami, also known as Ōtoneyama, is a symbolic landmark associated with the source of the Tone River, while the magnificent Tanigawa mountain range provides spectacular scenery.
The Buffer Area covers approximately 60,421 hectares and surrounds the Core Area. Much of the area consists of national forests, where forest management is carried out to maintain and enhance the forests’ water-retention functions.
Environmental education, scientific research, and ecotourism are promoted through initiatives such as the Tanigawadake Ecotourism Promotion Council and the Akatani Project.
Local residents, researchers, NGOs, and other groups work together to protect the natural environment while promoting its responsible use.
The Transition Area covers approximately 21,824 hectares and encompasses areas where people live and economic activities take place.
Rural landscapes and satoyama environments extend across the area, while traditional culture and agriculture remain part of everyday life. Hot spring resorts and outdoor tourism are also important industries, and efforts are underway to develop a sustainable regional economy that makes thoughtful use of the area’s natural resources.
More than 1,500 species of plants have been recorded in Minakami Town. One notable example is the Hosoba Hinausuyuki-so, a plant endemic to Mount Tanigawa and Mount Shibutsu.
Extensive areas of Sea of Japan-type beech forest can also be found here, including relatively pristine vegetation with similarities to the forests of the Shirakami Mountains.
The region is also home to large birds of prey such as the golden eagle and mountain hawk-eagle. These species are known as umbrella species, occupying the upper levels of the ecosystem, and their presence indicates the preservation of rich forest environments.
Minakami is often described as the “water reservoir of the Tokyo metropolitan area.” The town has seven dams and 13 power-generation facilities, including Yagisawa Dam, Naramata Dam, and Fujiwara Dam.
These facilities play important roles in flood control, water supply, and power generation, helping support the lives of people throughout the Tokyo metropolitan region.
Minakami also has more than 90 natural hot spring sources, with numerous hot spring resorts collectively known as Minakami’s Eighteen Hot Springs. Destinations such as Sarugakyo Onsen and the Minakami Onsen area attract visitors with their varied spring waters and scenic mountain surroundings.
The region’s abundant water resources provide ideal conditions for outdoor activities such as rafting, canoeing, and canyoning.
Rafting on the Tone River is particularly popular, attracting visitors from both Japan and overseas who come to experience the river amid Minakami’s dramatic mountain scenery.
The mountains also offer a wide range of hiking and mountaineering opportunities. Peaks such as Mount Tanigawa, Mount Tairappyo, Mount Shibutsu, and Mount Hotaka offer different landscapes throughout the seasons.
Historic mountain routes such as Mikuni Pass and Shimizu Pass also provide opportunities to experience both the natural environment and the area’s long history of travel and trade.
For generations, people in Minakami have made use of the resources provided by the mountains and rivers, developing agriculture and forestry while living alongside the natural environment.
In recent years, the region has placed increasing emphasis on rediscovering the value of nature through tourism and environmental education while promoting sustainable regional development.
In 2003, the Okutone Water Source Charter was established. Then, on June 14, 2017, Minakami was officially registered as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve at the 29th session of the International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme.
This designation reflects years of regional efforts to balance the conservation of nature with its responsible use.
The area is served by the Minakami Interchange on the Kan-Etsu Expressway, National Routes 17 and 291, and Jōmō-Kōgen Station on the Jōetsu Shinkansen. From Tokyo, Minakami can be reached in approximately one hour and a little more, making the region readily accessible for a nature-focused getaway.
With mountains, rivers, hot springs, and traditional rural landscapes existing side by side, the area is an appealing destination for travelers seeking outdoor experiences, relaxation, and a closer connection with nature.
The Minakami UNESCO Eco-Park is more than a protected natural area. It is a large-scale region where efforts are being made to practice a model of sustainable development that protects nature while making thoughtful use of its resources, extending from pristine mountain environments to traditional satoyama communities.
Rich forests, clear mountain waters, and the people whose livelihoods depend on them are all interconnected. Together, they form a landscape and way of life that are being passed on to future generations.
For visitors, the Minakami UNESCO Eco-Park offers a unique opportunity to experience the coexistence of nature and human communities in one of Japan’s most remarkable mountain regions.