For the past decade, the Council of Unzen Volcanic Area Geopark has been practicing GeoLearning activities in schools. By analyzing the yearly cumulative rise in GeoLearning activities and its provider's assignments, the increasing demand for these activities in recent years becomes clear. Taking as an example activities utilizing local resources found around an elementary school located in a coastal area, the study also discusses the significance and challenges of such practices from the perspective of a geopark expert. The GeoLearning initiative received positive feedback from both teachers and students. Additionally, the Geopark experts were pleased with the development of such activities, recognizing that the practical implementation enhanced their skills and know-how. However, challenges emerged, such as the potential bias towards the expert's field and the shortage of individuals capable of leading these activities. GeoLearning is an activity created to convey the charm of the local area to the next generation by fostering a sense of attachment and pride in the region.

Sandbars and sand spits are commonly misconstrued features within coastal geomorphology. Prevailing misconceptions suggest that sandbars are merely extensions of sand spits, stretching toward the opposite shore under the influence of littoral transport. Contrary to this belief, sand spits, upon formation, serve as barriers to open sea waves, fostering a sedimentary environment on their leeward side. Wave refraction around the sand spit induces a curvature in the littoral transport direction, leading to the spit’s convex shape towards the open sea. Sandbars, in contrast, typically exhibit a concave configuration. Sand spits predominantly occur along coastlines with unidirectional sand drift, such as strait coasts, bay sides, and areas leeward of islands. They are not found on open coasts with extensive shorelines facing the sea directly, nor at the heads of bays. This absence may be attributed to the inconsistent direction of littoral drift in such locales. Conversely, sandbars are more frequently associated with open coasts and bay head areas. In Mie Prefecture, along the Ria coast of Kumano-nada, numerous small bays are flanked by capes, resulting in negligible littoral drift within these bays. Consequently, this region lacks sand spits yet features an abundance of sandbars. These observations support the assertion that coastal dynamics do not substantiate the process of sand spits evolving into sandbars.

According to a survey by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan, the country currently consists of 14,125 islands. Of these, 416 are inhabited. These remote islands face challenges such as aging populations and population decline. In response, the government has designated certain areas as “Specified Populated Remote Territorial Island Areas”, where budgets are allocated to support local communities. This includes reducing transportation costs, expanding employment opportunities by promoting business start-ups, and boosting tourism. Tourism, in particular, has been promoted as a way of bringing economic benefits, especially to resource-poor islands. This paper provides an overview of tourism on Japan’s remote islands, using materials published by government-related organizations. The focus is on social aspects, such as the role of remote islands and government support mechanisms. From the perspective of tourism contributing to sustainable development, I will present examples of remote islands that are registered as UNESCO World Natural Heritage sites, ecotourism initiatives aimed at conserving nature, and regional bottom-up geotourism initiatives in geoparks. I will also discuss sustainable tourism promotion on remote islands, with reference to responsible tourism in the Hawaiian Islands. To protect the natural environment, many remote islands have been designated as national parks or quasi-national parks, with eco-tour programs developed by the Ministry of the Environment. The UNESCO World Natural Heritage framework has also been introduced, with Yakushima Island and the Ogasawara Islands already registered, and efforts underway to protect and preserve their value. In recent years, UNESCO geoparks have been established in locations such as the Oki Islands, Izu Oshima Island, Sado Island, Himeshima Island, and the Goto Islands, focusing on preserving the geology and topography that reveal the islands’ origins and the history of their inhabitants. Through the connection to local culture, there is also a movement to revitalize the local economy through educational activities for the next generation and geotourism practices. Given the limited resources of the regions, for tourism to remain sustainable, both local communities and tourists must understand and respect the unique characteristics of each island and act accordingly.

Micro-landforms formed by mass movement reflect their process. In this study, classification and its arrangement of micro-landforms were examined subjecting to the Hidakahoronaigawa rockslide induced by the 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake, using precise topographical maps based on DTM with 0.5 m grid, aero photos and satellite images before and after the earthquake. The descending, disruptive and arresting processes of the deplete mass and the mode of movement were analyzed based on the arrangement and the relationship of the classified micro-landforms. The landslide movement launched as a translational slide immediately after shallow tephra layer slide. And then the movement continued as rotational slides and rock avalanches in sequence while in the depositional area. Finally, shallow slides, debris flows occurred in various places. The precise topographic maps and satellite images before and after the earthquake were very useful for recognizing the landform formation by this landslide.