Shinjuku Gyoen hosts North Alps exhibition and online talk on mountain conservation

The Ministry of the Environment of Japan organized the “North Alps – Know, Walk, Protect” exhibition for the Chubu Sangaku National Park at the Shinjuku Gyoen Information Centre Art Gallery. The display ran from 22 July to 23 August 2026 and showcased large photographs and graphics of the park’s scenery, information on sustainable trail‑maintenance programs, and the protection and breeding of the whooper swan, a special natural monument. Visitors could join a digital stamp rally on their smartphones, with a chance to win original merchandise through a questionnaire.

On 1 August a free online talk titled “Norikura Whooper Swan Today – NORIKURA, The Mother Land of RAICHO” linked Shinjuku Gyoen with Mount Norikura. Speakers included Miki Ogawa of Ueno Zoo, Shin Fukuda of the Environment Ministry, Masanao Kobayashi of Norikura Hakuyun‑so, and photographer Kohei Takahashi, who presented his whooper‑swan images. The session discussed the bird’s status, mountain‑environment protection, safe hiking practices and community participation in preserving the Alps.