In order to examine some essential matters of the plan for Suitable recreational use that ministry of the environment have initiated, this study focused on the zoning system and rules of recreational use as the theory and technique of planning for achieving preferable ideal recreational use condition. This paper discussed peculiar findings of planning contents and decision technique to achieve suitable recreational use in Shiretoko and tried to apply the findings obtained from this case study to other national parks in Japan. Results showed that there were two systematic methods for Suitable recreational use. One was a process based on the grasp of the problems recognized by parties concerned who were related to park management, and another was a process based on the content of the legal procedure like an existing park management plan and the administrative plan, etc. They gave assurance of the logical rationality of the process that came to judge Suitable rec-reational use and the objectivity of the material for analysis.
