World Heritage Sites in Japan
There are 26 World Heritage Sites in Japan.
As the World Cultural Heritage, 21 sites have been designated.
The ages of the sites range from primitive ages to the 20th century.
As the World Natural Heritage, 5 sites have been designated.
Valuable primeval forests and remote islands with rich nature are designated.
Many of them are popular sightseeing spots.
But, a few spots don't accept the general tourists for religious reasons.
World Heritage Site in each region
Hokkaido Tohoku Kanto Koshin-etsu Tokai Kansai Chugoku Kyushu
World Heritage Site in Hokkaido Region
Shiretoko Peninsula (知床半島) is a long peninsula extending about 70 km toward northeast like a horn.
Most parts in the peninsula are covered with primary forests and wild animals and birds live in the forest.
The northeastern half of the peninsula was designated as a World Natural Heritage Site.
There is no road in the whole area.
World Heritage Site in Tohoku Region
Shirakami-Sanchi (白神山地, Aomori, Akita Prefs.) is a wide mountaious area and old beech forests extend inthe area.
Untouched natural forests have remained here, so it is designated as the World Natural Heritage Site.
Hiraizumi (平泉, Iwate Pref.) is a sacred area in the 11th to 12th centuries.
Some constructions based on Buddhism has been built.
San'nai-Maruyama site (三内丸山遺跡, Aomori Pref.) is the remains of village about 5,500 to 4,000 years ago.
The period is called as Jomon Period in Japan.
The prehistoric sites including this are dotted in the northern Tohoku and Hokkaido regions, and they were designated as the World Cultural Heritage Sites.
World Heritage Site in Kanto Region
Nikko (日光, Tochigi Pref.) is a local city where Shogun family constructed the their sacred area in the 17th century.
Main constructions of World heritage are two shrine and a Buddhist temple.
Futarasan shrine Toshogu shrine Rinnoji
Ogasawara Islands (小笠原諸島) is a small islands in the Pacific Ocean.
They are located 900 to 1,100 km south of Tokyo.
It takes 24 hours from Tokyo by ship and there is no airline.
The islands have animals and plants with unique evolution, so it is called "Galapagos of the East".
Tomioka Silk Mill (富岡製糸場) is the Japan's first modern factory built in 1872.
By this factory, high-quality silk was able to produced in quantity.
National Museum of Western Art (国立西洋美術館, Tokyo) is the art museum specializing in western art, and was opened in 1959.
It is one of major art museums in Japan and is located in Ueno area in Tokyo.
The museum was constructed by the design of Le Corbusier (1887-1965), a leading French architect.
His 17 works in the world were designated as the World Cultural Heritage Site.
National Museum of Western Art
World Heritage Site in Koshin-etsu Region
Mount Fuji (富士山, Yamanashi, Shizuoka Prefs.) is the highest mountain in Japan (3,776 m) and is a symbol of Japan.
The beautiful shape had been an object of worship, so the area and the related places have been designated as the World Cultural Heritage Site.
Sado gold mine (佐渡金山, Niigata Pref.) is the remain of the largest gold mine in Japan, and is in Sado Island.
The mine was worked from 1601 to 1989, andthe gold sustained the finances of Edo government (1603-1867).
World Heritage Site in Tokai Regions
Shirakawa-go, Gokayama (白川郷, 五箇山, Gifu, Toyama Prefs.) are the villages of the houses with unique traditional steep thatched roof.
The house of this type has been built around this area since the 17th century, and the people still live in the house.
Gokayama village is located about 20 km north of Shirakawa-go.
World Heritage Site in Kansai Region
Hoyuji, Hokiji (法隆寺, 法起寺, Nara Pref.) have the world's oldest wooden buildings.
Both are the Buddhist temples and they were constructed in the 7th century.
Himeji Castle (姫路城, Kyogo Pref.) is a beautiful Japanese castle.
It was built in 1346 and the current buildings were developed in the 1600s.
Kyoto (京都, Kyogo Pref.) had been the capital of Japan from 794 to 1868, and is the most popular sightseeing city.
There are many historical structures constructed in the period.
17 structures including the ones in Uji, Otsu cities adjacent to Kyoto were designated as the World Cultural Heritage.
Many of them are Buddhist temples and the others are Shonto shrines and a castle.
Nara (奈良, Nara Pref.) had been the capital of Japan from 710 to 784, and the capital was moved to Kyoto in 794.
The nation based on Buddhism was constructed.
There are many historical structures constructed in the period.
Kumano Kodo and Koyasan, Mt.Yoshino (熊野古道. 高野山, 吉野山, Wakayama, Nara, Mie Prefs.) are the the ancient pilgrimage routes leading to the three shrines in Kumano area and the main starting spots.
Most of the routes run in hilly Kii Mountain Range.
Few villages are along the routes and most parts of the routes are in the forest.
Koyasan is a sacred town of Buddhism constructed in the mountain in the 9th century.
Mt.Yoshino is a sacred areas that the mountain worshippers has trained since the 7th century.
Mounded Tombs of Ancient Japan (Osaka Pref.) are dotted in Mozu area to the south of Osaka city.
They are called "Kofun" in Japanese, and they were the tombs of high-rank persons in the 4th and 5th centuries.
Daisenryo Kofun is the largest in width in the world.
World Heritage Site in Chugoku Region
Genbaku Dome (原爆ドーム, Hiroshima Pref.) is the ruin of damaged building by atomic bomb in 1945.
After atomic bomb was dropped in Hiroshima city, only the remain of this building was in the ruin of the city.
Some citizens said this building should be demolished because it brought back bitter memories of the atomic bombing.
But, in 1966, the city council decided to preserve this to tell the horror of A-bomb to future generation for eternity.
And, it became a World Heritage site, despite the opposition of United States and the abstention of China in 1996.
Itsukushima Shrine (厳島神社, Hiroshima Pref.) is the Shinto shrine built in 1168.
The shrine is built on the shore of Miyajima Island, and main Torii gate stands in the sea.
Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine (石見銀山, Shimene Pref.) is the former Japan's largest silver mine in the mountain.
The mining operation started in 1526, and was closed in 1943.
The mines and the mining town remain.
Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution (Yamaguchi Pref. & Kyushu) are located in Hagi city and Kyushu Island.
Japan changed from samurai nation to modern nation by Western culture in 1868.
The sites related to industrialization of Japan were designated as the World Cultural Heritage Sites.
Hagi city Gunkanjima (Nagasaki city) Glover Garden (Nagasaki city)
World Heritage Site in Kyushu Region
Yakushima island (屋久島, Kagoshima Pref.) is located located about 70 km south of Kyushu Island.
It is designated as the World Natural Heritage Site.
The much rain has grown the rich forests in whole island and the trees over 2,000 years old are attractive.
Ruins of Ryukyu Kingdom (琉球王国, Okinawa Pref.) are dotted in Okinawa island.
Ryukyu Kingdom exited from 1429 and was absorbed into Japan in 1609.
The constructions were different from the ones in the mainland of Japan, and they are similar to Chinese style.
Nakijin Castle Zakimi Castle Katsuren Castle Nakagusuku Castle Shuri Castle Shikina-en garden Seifa-Utaki
Hidden Christian Sites (Nagasaki, Kumamoto Prefs.) are dotted in Kyushu Island.
Christianity was introduced into Japan in 1492, but it was banned by Shogun in 1614.
But, after that, hidden Christians had lived in Kyushu Island secretly.
The related sites remain in Nagasaki, Hirado and Amakusa islands.
Oura Catholic Church Hirado city Amakusa islands
Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, Northern Part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island (Kagoshima, Okinawa Prefs.) were designated as the World Natural Heritage.
They have a subtropical climate and protect biodiversity.