Unzen-Amakusa National Park

The Unzen -Amakusa National, at the extreme western end of the main Japanese group of islands, includes the central section of Shimabara Peninsula and the Amakusa Islands, just off Kumamoto. The area is bounded by the Ariake Sea, Chijiwa Bay and Yatsushiro Bay.

The backbone of the Shimabara Peninsula is formed by the Unzen Massif, which attracts large numbers of visitors in spring for azaleas and in the fall for the vividly colored foliage. The volcanic origin of the range is reflected in the presence of numerous geysers, fumaroles and bubbling pools of mud.