Environmental education has not spread as widely in Japan as expected and therefore has not had any significant impact on environmental problems, even though many educators and researchers have devoted themselves to environmental educational practice. Why is environmental education not popular in Japan, and what does this tell us? The purpose of this paper is to examine the limitations of environmental education, extrapolate the reasons for such limitations, and finally, to suggest a methodology that can make environmental education more significant and useful. First, the insignificance of current environmental education in Japan and its inability to affect serious global environmental problems are examined. Next, the limitations of environmental education in Japan are examined from a historical point of view. Finally, the obstructions to environmental educational practice are revealed and a new approach proposed. The importance of academic skills, interpersonal skills and a philosophy of living are highlighted for this new environmental education approach. Despite discussions on the limitations of environmental education and its inherent characteristics, it is concluded that current school educational practices should be enhanced to ensure that environmental education becomes an education focused on a sustainable future. Therefore, it is first necessary to understand the irresolvable internal contradictions in EE and to dismiss any ideas that environmental issues can be solved through EE. It is also necessary to recognize that it is possible to work towards solving environmental issues by continuing traditional school education in a more careful, better focused manner so as to ensure that the existing EE is incorporated into the overall school education framework.