Touring Japan's World Heritage Sites

Horyu-ji Temple, where the world's oldest wooden structures remain, conveying the Buddhist culture of the Asuka period to the present day.

The beauty of the White Egret Castle, the only World Heritage site as an existing castle keep, and its 400-year history are captivating.

A giant Yakusugi cedar tree aged 7,200 years, a natural wonder nurtured by the primeval forests of Yakushima.

A base for learning about the primeval beech forests of Shirakami-Sanchi, an entrance to an untouched natural heritage.

The beauty of the Shariden Hall shining with gold leaf, a famous temple representing the cultural assets of the ancient capital of Kyoto.

A negative World Heritage site conveying the tragedy of war, a symbol of Hiroshima with a wish for peace.

The mysterious and beautiful scenery of Itsukushima Shrine, famous for its vermilion torii gate floating on the sea, is captivating.

The solemnity of the Todai-ji Daibutsuden Hall, a symbol of the ancient capital known for the Great Buddha of Nara, is breathtaking.

The polychrome decorations of the mausoleum enshrining Tokugawa Ieyasu, a group of buildings representing Nikko's shrines and temples.

Shurijo Castle, which tells the story of the Ryukyu Kingdom's culture, where Okinawa's unique architectural beauty and history can be experienced.

A mountainous village where traditional Gassho-zukuri houses remain, the historic village landscape of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama.

The central shrine of the Kumano Sanzan, a sacred place that forms part of the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes of the Kii Mountain Range.

Five lakes symbolizing the untouched nature of Shiretoko, the core of the World Natural Heritage site.

Once produced one-third of the world's silver, a silver mine ruins remaining in the mountains of Iwami.

The Konjikido (Golden Hall) that evokes the glory of the Oshu Fujiwara clan, a group of structures representing the Buddhist paradise ideal of Hiraizumi.

The center of the Ogasawara Islands, known as the "Galapagos of the East," with its unique ecosystem being a major attraction.

A symbol of Japan and an object of worship, registered as 'Mount Fuji - Object of Worship and Source of Artistic Inspiration'.

A silk reeling factory that supported Japan's modernization, highly valued as a Meiji industrial revolution heritage.

A museum where you can learn about the history of coal mining on Hashima Island (Gunkanjima), part of the Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution.

A masterpiece of architecture designed by Le Corbusier, recognized for its significant contribution to the modern architecture movement.

A sacred site that has enshrined the god of the sea since ancient times, part of the 'Sacred Island of Munakata and Oshima' heritage.

The oldest existing church architecture in Japan, one of Nagasaki's hidden Christian sites.

A group of giant keyhole-shaped ancient burial mounds from the Kofun period, registered as a World Heritage site as the Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group.

A large-scale Jomon period settlement site, representing the Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku.

An island where subtropical endemic species thrive, Amami Oshima, Tokunoshima, Northern Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island.

The newest World Heritage site registered in 2024. Recognized for its Edo period hand-dug tunnels and gold mining techniques.