The wildlife of Japan is classified either as game species or protected species.^[5] The former includes thirty species of bird and seventeen of mammal that are considered (1) able to withstand hunting (2) harmful to agriculture and forestry (3) useful for meat or other derivatives.^[5] These species include the brown bear, black bear, Japanese deer, Japanese hare, Japanese quail, and Japanese pheasant.^[4] Over six hundred species are protected.^[4] Insectivorous mammals and rats are excluded from protection since they are considered harmful to agriculture; some marine mammals fall under the alternative jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.^[4] While the number of animals hunted is falling with the decline in the number of hunters, the number of birds and mammals "controlled" is rising in relation to damage to crops.^[5]

As of 1 November 2019, eighty-six Wildlife Protection Areas have been established at a national level, covering an area of 5,930 square kilometres (2,290 sq mi), including 1,639 square kilometres (633 sq mi) of Special Protection Areas.^[6] As of the same date, 3,639 Wildlife Protection Areas have been established at a prefectural level, covering an area of 29,260 square kilometres (11,300 sq mi), including 1,425 square kilometres (550 sq mi) of prefectural Special Protectional Areas.^[7] The eighty-six nationally designated areas, divided into the four classes of large habitats (大規模生息地), wetland areas (集団渡来地), breeding areas (集団繁殖地), and habitats of rare birds and mammals (希少鳥獣生息地), are as follows:^[6]

Wildlife Protection Areas are just one element in a network of complementary protected area systems.^[8] Others include Wilderness Areas and Nature Conservation Areas under the Nature Conservation Law; Natural Parks under the Natural Parks Law; Natural Habitat Conservation Areas under the Law for the Conservation of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora; Natural Monuments and Special Natural Monuments under the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties 1950; Protected Forests under the National Forest Management Bylaw; and Protected Waters under the Preservation of Fisheries Resources Law.^[8] Areas are also protected in accordance with three international programmes: the World Heritage Convention (see Yakushima, Shirakami-Sanchi, Shiretoko, and Ogasawara Islands); Man and the Biosphere Programme (see Yakushima, Mount Ōmine/Mount Ōdaigahara, Hakusan, and Shiga Kōgen); and the Ramsar Convention (see Ramsar Sites in Japan).^[8]

• Wildlife of Japan
• National Parks of Japan
• Environmental issues in Japan

• Protected areas in Japan (Ministry of the Environment)
• Overview of wildlife protection in Japan (Ministry of the Environment)
• Map of all 86 Wildlife Protection Areas (Ministry of the Environment)
• (in Japanese) Wildlife protection in Japan (Ministry of the Environment)