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Mine-Akiyoshidai added to UNESCO geoparks list

People pose for a photo during a celebration in Mine, Yamaguchi Prefecture, on April 23, 2026, after the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council added Mine-Akiyoshidai karst plateau in the western Japan city to its geoparks list.

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Mine-Akiyoshidai added to UNESCO geoparks list

People celebrate in Mine, Yamaguchi Prefecture, on April 23, 2026, after the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council added Mine-Akiyoshidai karst plateau in the western Japan city to its geoparks list.

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Mountain-burning event in Japan

Grass is burnt during a "yamayaki" mountain burning event at Akiyoshidai Quasi-National Park in Mine, Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, on Feb. 18, 2024. Setting fires on the karst plateau is a traditional practice to preserve the landscape and ecology and is said to herald the arrival of spring.

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Mountain-burning event in Japan

Spectators watch as grass is burnt during a "yamayaki" mountain burning event at Akiyoshidai Quasi-National Park in Mine, Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, on Feb. 18, 2024. Setting fires on the karst plateau is a traditional practice to preserve the landscape and ecology and is said to herald the arrival of spring.

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Mountain-burning event in Japan

Spectators watch as grass is burnt during a "yamayaki" mountain burning event at Akiyoshidai Quasi-National Park in Mine, Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, on Feb. 18, 2024. Setting fires on the karst plateau is a traditional practice to preserve the landscape and ecology and is said to herald the arrival of spring.

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Mountain-burning event in Japan

Spectators watch as grass is burnt during a "yamayaki" mountain burning event at Akiyoshidai Quasi-National Park in Mine, Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, on Feb. 23, 2023.

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Mountain-burning event in Japan

Spectators watch as grass is burnt during a "yamayaki" mountain burning event at Akiyoshidai Quasi-National Park in Mine, Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, on Feb. 23, 2023.

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Dead grass burnt at Akiyoshidai park in Yamaguchi Pref.

YAMAGUCHI, Japan - Dead grass is burnt at the Akiyoshidai quasi-national park on Feb. 29, heralding the arrival of spring.

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Dead grass burning at Akiyoshidai park

Dead grass burning is carried out at Akiyoshidai Quasi-National Park in Mine in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, on Feb. 26, 2022. Setting fires on the karst plateau is a traditional practice to preserve the landscape and ecology and is said to herald the arrival of spring.

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Dead grass burning at Akiyoshidai park

Dead grass burning is carried out at Akiyoshidai Quasi-National Park in Mine in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, on Feb. 26, 2022. Setting fires on the karst plateau is a traditional practice to preserve the landscape and ecology and is said to herald the arrival of spring.

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Baby lion unveiled to press at western Japan safari park

A baby lion is unveiled to the press at Akiyoshidai Safari Land in the western Japan city of Mine on July 13, 2016. From July 16, visitors to the animal park will be able to see the female cub that was born on June 30 and now weighs 1.5 kilograms. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Fire at Japan's largest karst plateau

Photo taken March 4, 2016, shows a fire set in the Akiyoshidai quasi-national park in the western Japan city of Mine. Setting fires on the nation's largest karst plateau has been taking place for more than 600 years and is meant to preserve the landscape and ecology. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Fire at Japan's largest karst plateau

Photo taken March 4, 2016, shows a fire set in the Akiyoshidai quasi-national park in the western Japan city of Mine. Setting fires on the nation's largest karst plateau has been taking place for more than 600 years and is meant to preserve the landscape and ecology. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Dead grass burnt at park in Japan

Tourists watch dead grass burning at Akiyoshidai Park in Mine in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, on Feb. 28, 2021, heralding the arrival of spring. The practice of setting fires on the nation's largest karst plateau began more than 600 years ago to preserve the landscape and ecology.

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Dead grass burnt at park in Japan

Tourists watch dead grass burning at Akiyoshidai Park in Mine in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, on Feb. 28, 2021, heralding the arrival of spring. The practice of setting fires on the nation's largest karst plateau began more than 600 years ago to preserve the landscape and ecology.

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Dead grass burnt at park in Japan

Tourists watch dead grass burning at Akiyoshidai Park in Mine in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, on Feb. 28, 2021, heralding the arrival of spring. The practice of setting fires on the nation's largest karst plateau began more than 600 years ago to preserve the landscape and ecology.

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Dead grass burnt at Akiyoshidai park in Yamaguchi Pref.

YAMAGUCHI, Japan - Dead grass is burnt at the Akiyoshidai quasi-national park on Feb. 29, heralding the arrival of spring. (Kyodo)

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Tokyo Olympics torch relay

A Tokyo Olympic torch relay participant runs in Akiyoshidai karst plateau area in the Yamaguchi Prefecture city of Mine, western Japan, on May 14, 2021.

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Tokyo Olympics torch relay

A Tokyo Olympic torch relay participant runs in Akiyoshidai karst plateau area in the Yamaguchi Prefecture city of Mine, western Japan, on May 14, 2021.

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Tokyo Olympics torch relay

A Tokyo Olympic torch relay participant runs in Akiyoshidai karst plateau area in the Yamaguchi Prefecture city of Mine, western Japan, on May 14, 2021.

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Dead grass burnt at park in Japan

Tourists watch dead grass burning at Akiyoshidai Park in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, on Feb. 18, 2018, heralding the arrival of spring. The practice of setting fires on the nation's largest karst plateau began more than 600 years ago to preserve the landscape and ecology. (Kyodo) (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Dead grass burnt at park in Japan

Tourists watch dead grass burning at Akiyoshidai Park in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, on Feb. 18, 2018, heralding the arrival of spring. The practice of setting fires on the nation's largest karst plateau began more than 600 years ago to preserve the landscape and ecology. (Kyodo) (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Dead grass burnt at park in Japan

Tourists watch dead grass burning at Akiyoshidai Park in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, on Feb. 18, 2018, heralding the arrival of spring. The practice of setting fires on the nation's largest karst plateau began more than 600 years ago to preserve the landscape and ecology. (Kyodo) (Kyodo) ==Kyodo