[Complete Guide to Japan’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites] Everything You Need to Know: Highlights, Must-Sees, and Locations

World Heritage Sites are divided into the following three types depending on their content.
When describing them in more detail, they are labeled as “World ○○ Heritage.”
As for the current number of registered sites, Cultural Heritage (933 sites) is the largest category, followed by Natural Heritage (227 sites), and then Mixed Heritage (39 sites).

“Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area” was first inscribed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in Japan in 1993, along with “Himeji Castle.”
The following two points are mainly cited as the background for its inscription.
・The world’s oldest surviving wooden architecture, “Horyu-ji,” is a masterpiece that represents outstanding design and decorative beauty seen in Buddhist architecture, and it has had a major influence as a heritage site that conveys Japan’s uniquely developed Buddhist culture
・It also has historical value as an important structure that shows the introduction of Buddhism during the Asuka period (592–710) and suggests exchanges with China (East Asia)
The area is made up of 48 structures, including “Horyu-ji,” and has deep ties to Prince Shotoku (Shotoku Taishi).
From grand cultural treasures like the Kondo (Main Hall) and Five-story Pagoda, you can feel the spirit of the Asuka period.
Next, we’ll introduce the charm and highlights of “Horyu-ji” and “Hokki-ji,” which make up “Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area.”

Located in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, “Himeji Castle” was inscribed in 1993 as one of Japan’s first World Heritage Sites, along with “Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area.”
Built in 1609 by the warlord Ikeda Terumasa, the main keep has a 5-tier, 6-story structure with 1 basement level, making it the largest surviving Edo-period castle keep in Japan.
Its buildings, including the keep complex praised as a masterpiece of wooden architecture, are well preserved, and it is also internationally recognized as a castle that conveys Japan’s unique castle design.

Yakushima, located Approx. 37 miles (60 km) south-southwest of Cape Sata in Kagoshima Prefecture, was also inscribed as a UNESCO Natural Heritage Site in 1993 and is one of Japan’s first World Heritage Sites.
The island, with a circumference of 82 miles (132 km) and an area of 195 sq mi (505 km²), has many mountains over 3,281 ft (1,000 m), including Miyanoura-dake, Kyushu’s highest peak at 6,351 ft (1,936 m). About 90% of the island is forest, and it is also called the “Alps on the Ocean.”
Blessed with abundant rainfall, it is home to over 70% of Japan’s plant species, including endemic species, forming a rich forest ecosystem. Moss is also abundant, coloring Yakushima’s forests in beautiful green.

A general term for a vast mountainous region spanning northwestern Akita Prefecture and southwestern Aomori Prefecture, covering Approx. 32 acres (13 ha). Within the area, one of the world’s largest virgin beech forests—largely untouched by human influence since ancient times—can be found in scattered pockets.
Because a wide variety of living things inhabit and grow here and its precious ecosystem is preserved, it was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1993.

Kyoto was Japan’s capital from the Heian period (794–1185) through the Edo period (1603–1868).
In Kyoto, which continued to flourish as the center of each era for nearly 1,000 years, historically significant buildings still remain today.
The “Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto,” made up of 17 cultural properties (including Enryaku-ji in Shiga Prefecture) that symbolize Kyoto’s spirituality and beauty, were inscribed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 1994.
Reasons include that they pass down architectural styles (National Treasures) and garden styles (Special Places of Scenic Beauty) to the present, represent their era and culture, and remain in excellent protected condition.
These cultural properties offer more than standard sightseeing—they can move you through the depth of Kyoto’s long history.
Next, we’ll introduce the charm and highlights of major properties that make up the “Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.”

Inscribed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 1995, the “Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama” is an area with beautiful scenery often called Japan’s original landscape.
In these villages, people developed many ingenious ways to adapt to harsh winter natural conditions and social circumstances, nurturing a unique culture.
In particular, the distinctive architectural style known as “gassho-zukuri” (the landscape of thatched-roof houses clustered together) is famous.
The steeply pitched roofs not only help prevent snow accumulation, but also combine various forms of functional beauty to suit the climate.
Another feature is the strong remaining spirit of cooperation and mutual help among residents, known as “yui.”
These traditional lifestyles and precious landscapes are part of what met the criteria for World Heritage inscription.
From the properties that make up the “Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama,” let’s introduce popular places to visit.

The Genbaku Dome was designed by Czech architect Jan Letzel and completed on April 5, 1915, as the “Hiroshima Prefectural Commercial Exhibition Hall.”
However, when the atomic bomb was dropped, it was damaged at a very close distance of 525 ft (160 m) from the hypocenter.
The exposed steel framework and crumbling exterior walls remain as they were at the time of the bombing, and it eventually came to be called the “Genbaku Dome.” It is a precious building that conveys this tragic history to the present day.
Located within Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 1996.

Located on Miyajima in Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture, “Itsukushima Shinto Shrine” was inscribed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 1996.
It is said to have been founded in 593 by Saeki no Kuramoto.
Most of the shrine buildings are designated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties. The great torii gate standing in the sea was restored to its vivid vermilion color after completing a three-and-a-half-year “Reiwa-era major renovation” in 2022, making it even more striking.

Made up of eight properties, the “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara” were inscribed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 1998.
With a history of 1,300 years, Nara is a traditional region often called “the birthplace of Japan.”
It flourished as the nation’s center during the Nara period (710–794), bringing political and cultural change to Japan.
Even today, starting with “Heijo-kyo,” many shrines and temples, Buddhism, and cultural treasures remain closely connected to daily life and continue to live on in people’s lives.
These are cited as reasons for its inscription, and the “ancient Nara” designation is also distinctive.
It would not be an exaggeration to say the entire city is a World Heritage Site, and each element overlaps to tell Nara’s story.
Below are the charm and highlights of the main properties that make up the “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara.”

Inscribed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 1999, the “Shrines and Temples of Nikko” refers to a group of buildings in Nikko City and the surrounding landscape, also known as “Nikko Sannai” and “Two Shrines and One Temple.”
The structures included in the “Shrines and Temples of Nikko” are masterpieces created by genius artists, and the Gongen-zukuri style became a model for Edo-period shrines and temples.
Also, Nikko has long inherited a unique culture where mountain worship and Shinto thought merged, creating a religious space integrated with nature—this is part of the background for its inscription.
Weaving together Tokugawa Ieyasu and the history and culture of the Edo period, the “Shrines and Temples of Nikko” will leave a deep impression.
Here, we’ll introduce a carefully selected set of highlights and must-sees from the main properties.

The “Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu” consist of nine historic sites scattered across Okinawa and were inscribed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 2000.
One reason is that the gusuku, which symbolized the history of Ryukyu culture and served as places of nature worship in rural villages, were recognized for their value.
By the way, “gusuku” is an Okinawan (Ryukyuan) dialect word meaning castles, royal tombs, sacred sites, utaki, and more.
The Kingdom of Ryukyu, which flourished from the 15th to the 19th centuries, features unique styles seen in its stone walls, gates, gardens, and many other elements.
The related properties are extremely important for understanding the social structure and archaeological remains of the Ryukyu Kingdom era, and they also remain spiritual anchors for Okinawa residents today.
From the properties that make up the “Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu,” we’ll focus on three and introduce their charm and highlights.

“Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range” consists of three sacred sites spanning Wakayama, Nara, and Mie prefectures, along with the pilgrimage routes leading to them.
This area has been revered since ancient times as a place “where gods dwell,” attracting followers of nature worship for over 1,000 years.
It is also a place where diverse beliefs—Shinto, Buddhism, Shugendo, and more—intersect, and it has played an important role in the cultural and spiritual development of the Japanese people.
There are no other examples like this that form a cultural landscape woven from nature and faith, and it has extremely high value.
It is rare for roads to be selected among World Heritage Sites, but for the reasons above, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 2004.
Let’s introduce the characteristics and key points of the main properties that make up “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.”

Shiretoko, located on the northeastern tip of Hokkaido, was inscribed as a UNESCO Natural Heritage Site in 2005.
A vast area of Approx. 175,654 acres (71,100 ha), centered around the Shiretoko Peninsula facing the Sea of Okhotsk, is dotted with beautiful mountains, ocean views, forests, lakes, and marshlands.
These natural environments are closely connected to wildlife, and nutrients brought by drift ice support a unique ecosystem.
It is also home to many endangered species like the Shiretoko violet and Blakiston’s fish owl, as well as rare species such as sperm whales and orcas, leading to recognition as an important place for the entire planet and its inscription.
The charm and highlight of Shiretoko is its treasure trove of untouched nature with primitive beauty.
In particular, we recommend the scenic “Shiretoko Five Lakes” and “Oshinkoshin Falls.”

Inscribed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 2007, “Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape” refers to the surrounding landscape including a silver mine that developed in the early Edo period.
This region, often seen as symbolic of the Sengoku period, produced one-third of the world’s silver at its peak, making it an essential historic site not only for Japan but also for world history.
The following three points are cited as background for its inscription.
1. It influenced the culture and economy of European countries and Asia
2. The remains of workshops, tunnels, and other sites related to silver production are in good condition and are preserved in large numbers
3. Mine operations and management were carried out without destroying the natural environment, preserving the cultural landscape to the present day
Even today, people live throughout the surrounding area and daily life is rooted there, which adds to its appeal with warmth and a nostalgic atmosphere.
Among the properties that make up “Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape,” let’s introduce highlights of spots you should definitely visit.

Located Approx. 621 miles (1,000 km) south-southeast of central Tokyo, the “Ogasawara Islands” are an area made up of around 30 islands floating in the Pacific Ocean.
Of these, only Chichijima and Hahajima are inhabited, and the land areas (excluding residential areas) and parts of the surrounding sea fall within the World Heritage zone.
From Tokyo to Chichijima, it takes Approx. 24 hours by regular ferry (operating one trip every 3–6 days).
The biggest feature of the “Ogasawara Islands” is that they are “oceanic islands” that have remained isolated from continents since their formation.
Many endemic species evolved uniquely here, and plants and animals found only in Ogasawara—such as snails and Munin-tsutsuji—live and grow here.
This ecosystem, also known as the “Galápagos of the Orient,” was highly evaluated and led to inscription as a UNESCO Natural Heritage Site in 2011.
For highlights, we recommend scenic viewpoints and marine activities.
The cobalt-blue sea and blue sky are truly special, offering unforgettable experiences.

“Hiraizumi – Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land” is the name of a group of sites located in Hiraizumi, in southwestern Iwate Prefecture.
In Hiraizumi, sites based on Pure Land thought (being reborn in the Pure Land after death) are well preserved.
This was an outstanding design that flourished under the Oshu Fujiwara clan in the Heian period, aiming to create an ideal paradise of the Buddhist realm, and it developed uniquely in Japan.
Recognized for its archaeological value and as a precious group showing cultural exchange with East Asia, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 2011.
It is still passed down through folk performing arts and religious rituals, and beyond its visual beauty, you can see Hiraizumi’s appeal in the depth of its living history and culture.
Below, we’ll introduce some of the properties that make up “Hiraizumi – Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land” in more detail.

Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest peak (12,389 ft / 3,776 m) spanning Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures, has long inspired awe through repeated volcanic activity.
Though it is part of nature, its mysterious presence—shaped through coexistence with people and the development of faith and culture—is one of Mount Fuji’s rare qualities.
Its beautiful cone-shaped silhouette has also inspired artists in Japan and around the world, led by ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai’s “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji.”
As a result, in 2013, its value as a “sacred place” and “source of artistic inspiration” was recognized, and it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site under the name “Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration.”
Next, we’ll introduce highlights of the main properties that make up “Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration,” centered around Mount Fuji.

Made up of a group of four cities including Tomioka City in Gunma Prefecture, the “Tomioka Silk Mill and Related Sites” were inscribed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 2014.
In a single phrase, this heritage can be described as a “symbol of Japan’s modernization.”
In the early Meiji period (1868–1912), as exchange with foreign countries increased, modern Western technology was introduced into the silk industry, and the government promoted raw silk production as a key industry.
When the Tomioka Silk Mill was built in Tomioka City—an ideal area with optimal sericulture conditions and vast land—it enabled the high-quality, mass production of silk, which was difficult at the time.
Its contribution to global technical exchange and the major push forward in modernization through innovation were highly evaluated.
Here, we’ll introduce the charm of the main property, “Tomioka Silk Mill,” that makes up the “Tomioka Silk Mill and Related Sites.”

“Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining” is a group of heritage sites scattered across eight prefectures (Iwate, Shizuoka, Yamaguchi, Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, and Kagoshima).
All of them show Japan’s path to achieving industrialization in a short period (from the end of the Edo period to the early Meiji period) by merging traditional Japanese technology with technology introduced from Western countries.
Recognized as the world’s first successful example of an industrial nation emerging in a non-Western country, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 2015.
Some of the sites are still in operation today, and their historical value is immeasurable.
Below, we’ll introduce highlights and charm of the main properties that make up “Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining.”

Inscribed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 2016, “The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement” is a group of works by architect Le Corbusier.
Le Corbusier, who was mainly active in France, is known as one of the “three great masters of modern architecture” and had a major influence on modern architecture and urban planning.
New ways of using space that he proposed through his works—such as the “Five Points of a New Architecture (pilotis, horizontal windows, etc.)” and the “Dom-Ino system”—also became clues for solving social issues.
Recognized for being the only Le Corbusier-designed building in East Asia, “The National Museum of Western Art” in Tokyo was selected as part of the inscribed properties.
In addition to viewing artworks by masters such as Van Gogh, Renoir, and Picasso, the building itself has high artistic value and offers plenty to see.

Located in Fukuoka Prefecture, “Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region” is known as a sacred place of nature worship continuing since ancient times.
Its historical value, purity of faith, and continuity of tradition were recognized, leading to inscription as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 2017.
On Okinoshima, which has been worshipped for over 1,500 years, offerings have been passed down from the late 4th century to the present, making a major contribution to the formation of Japanese culture.
Entry is generally prohibited to the public, and its mysterious veil adds to its appeal.
Here, we’ll introduce highlights of Munakata Taisha Shrine, a main property of “Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region.”
Other properties include the “Munakata Taisha Okitsu-miya Yohaisho” and the “Shinbaru-Nuyama burial mounds (Shinbaru-Nuyama kofun-gun).”

Located in Nagasaki Prefecture and the Amakusa region of Kumamoto Prefecture, “Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region” is a precious area that tells the history of people who continued to protect their faith under anti-Christian policies.
The lives of Hidden Christians who endured hardships in pursuit of religious freedom remain here, and a uniquely Japanese Christian culture still survives today.
As evidence of a one-of-a-kind story—secretly maintaining faith for over 250 years and developing an original religious tradition—it was recognized as having universal value and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 2018.
The 12 component properties show how the Hidden Christians continued their faith and how it changed after the ban was lifted.
Here, we’ll focus on two main properties and introduce their appeal.

A group of kofun (ancient burial mounds) built for kings who ruled the ancient Japanese archipelago, concentrated in the “Mozu area” in Sakai City and the “Furuichi area” in Habikino and Fujiidera cities, Osaka Prefecture.
It was inscribed as Osaka’s first UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 2019.
Kofun are tombs with earthen mounds built during the Kofun period (from the mid-3rd century to the late 6th century). The Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group was constructed from the late 4th to the late 5th century on the Osaka Plain, which was one of the political and cultural centers of ancient Japan.
With a wide variety of mound shapes and tombs of different sizes, this site is filled with historical romance as an architectural expression of ancient political and social structures.

“Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, Northern Part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island” are part of the Ryukyu Islands scattered over Approx. 746 miles (1,200 km) from the southern tip of Kyushu.
The total area reaches 105,497 acres (42,698 ha) and consists of four islands in Kagoshima and Okinawa prefectures.
All are covered in subtropical rainforests and form distinctive regions with beautiful nature and unique ecosystems.
Because they include habitats of threatened species and are important and meaningful for biodiversity conservation, they were inscribed as a UNESCO Natural Heritage Site in 2021.
From “Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, Northern Part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island,” let’s introduce the highlights and charm of three islands.

“Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan” are a group of sites preserving Jomon-period culture (Approx. 18,000 BC–300 BC).
In the target areas scattered across one region and three prefectures (Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, and Akita), which are rich in resources and environment, traces of life based on gathering and hunting over more than 10,000 years can be seen.
Recognized as valuable sites where you can feel the development of Jomon culture before rice farming began, as well as the rich spirituality and intelligence of the Jomon people, they were inscribed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 2021.
Here, we’ll introduce the charm of Sannai-Maruyama Site, a main property that makes up “Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan.”

Located in Niigata Prefecture, the “Sado Island Gold Mines” are a group of heritage sites where gold and silver mining continued for over 400 years.
They played a particularly important role in Japan, once known as “Zipangu, the land of gold.”
Full-scale development began in the mid-16th century, and during the Edo period they supported the shogunate’s finances as Japan’s largest gold and silver mines.
At its peak, the mining town of Aikawa formed, with Approx. 50,000 residents, and it also contributed to Japan’s modernization in the Meiji period.
Mining technology and management methods established on Sado had a major impact on the development of other mines in Japan.
Because a wide variety of technical remains have been preserved in good condition, it was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2024.

Kamakura, located in Kanagawa Prefecture, is the city where Japan’s first samurai government was established.
The Kamakura period (1185–1333) continued for Approx. 150 years, and it laid the foundation of samurai culture that lasted until 1868, when the Edo shogunate ended.
Because Edo became Tokyo and was reborn as a modern city, Kamakura became the only region that strongly preserves the history of samurai culture.
Heritage sites such as Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Kencho-ji Temple, and the Great Buddha of Kamakura are considered extremely valuable as spiritual pillars of the samurai government.
With this background, it was added to the Tentative List in 1992, and although the Japanese government submitted it as a sole nomination in 2013, it was recommended not to be inscribed.
It is currently aiming for World Heritage inscription under the name “Temples, Shrines and Other Structures of Ancient Kamakura.”

Also known as Konki Castle, Hikone Castle began construction under the order of Tokugawa Ieyasu, who won the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 and established the Edo shogunate in 1603. Construction was begun by Ii Naomasa, one of the Tokugawa Four Guardians.
It was completed in 1622 after about 20 years of work, during the time of Naomasa’s son, Naotsugu.
Perched atop Mt. Hikone, the keep is one of Japan’s 12 original castles still standing today, and in 1952 it was designated as a National Treasure along with the attached turret and the tamon-yagura (longhouse turret).
You can tour the inside of the keep, and the view from the top floor overlooking Lake Biwa is a must-see.
As a castle symbolizing the political system that supported the stable social order of the Edo period, which lasted for Approx. 260 years, it is listed as a World Heritage candidate site.

“Asuka and Fujiwara Palaces and Related Sites” is a group of cultural properties and heritage sites in the Asuka area of Nara Prefecture.
Asuka and Fujiwara, Japan’s capital from the Asuka period through the Nara period, still preserve many important historic sites and ruins, including the Asuka Palace Site.
It also includes Special Historic Sites such as Ishibutai Tumulus, Kitora Tumulus, and Takamatsuzuka Tumulus, vividly conveying ancient culture, politics, and religion.
It is said these are outstanding cultural assets showing that a centralized state was born in Japan in a short period of just 100 years.
Because it is also considered an outstanding cultural landscape woven from both historical climate and archaeological remains, it was proposed for World Heritage inscription.
The prefecture and related municipalities are working toward inscription as early as 2026.

“Hiraizumi – Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land” was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2011, but during the review process, some sites were excluded.
Iwate Prefecture is seeking an extension application to further promote its value to the world.
The proposed extension includes five sites: “Yanagi no Gosho Site,” “Takkoku no Iwaya,” “Honedera Village Estate Site,” “Shirotoridate Site,” and “Chojagahara Haiji Site.”
All are important properties that broadly convey Hiraizumi’s diverse value, but after discussions, it was decided that only the “Yanagi no Gosho Site” would be a recommended candidate, while the other four would remain as continuing candidates.
The “Yanagi no Gosho Site” has long been said to be the former residence site of Fujiwara no Kiyohira and Motohira.
In addition, emergency excavations that began in 1988 led to successive discoveries of outstanding quality and quantity—such as moats, ponds, and post-built building remains—raising the likelihood that it corresponds to the “Hiraizumi-kan” (government office recorded in the historical text Azuma Kagami) of the Oshu Fujiwara clan.