With rapid urbanization in Japan after 1960s', green areas and farmland surrounding the city have been largely eroded and occupied. Satoyama protection activities have promoted the effecticive management of Satoyama. This paper used the construction and management experience of Maioka Satoyama Park of Yokoharna in Japan as a proxy and discussed the importance of the role of citizen participation in protection of green areas. This paper argued that in protecting Satoyama, building an effective mechanism of consultation cooperation among citizens/volunteers, administration and local residents is imperative. Based on the review of the case study of citizen participation of Maioka Satoyama Park of Yokohama in Japan, this study analyzes the categories, characteristics and mechanisms of the citizen participation and environment protection. These Japanese experiences could be used to inspire local citizen participation in urbanization and urban modernization.