World Heritage Site

• Japanese: 世界遺産 (sekai isan)

World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) as the sites of the greatest historical and cultural importance to all humanity, and the most worth protecting. UNESCO also maintains a similar list of performing arts and other practices, designating these Intangible Cultural Heritage.

There are currently 16 World Heritage Sites in Japan, several of which are umbrella categories including numerous individual sites.

Cultural Sites

• Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area
• Himeji castle
• Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities)
  • Kamigamo Shrine
  • Shimogamo Shrine
  • Tôji
  • Kiyomizu-dera
  • Enryaku-ji
  • Daigô-ji
  • Ninna-ji
  • Byôdô-in
  • Ujigami Shrine
  • Kozan-ji
  • Koke-dera
  • Tenryû-ji
  • Kinkaku-ji
  • Ginkaku-ji
  • Ryôan-ji
  • Higashi Hongan-ji and Nishi Hongan-ji
  • Nijô castle
• Historic Villages of Shirakawa-gô and Gokayama
• Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome)
• Itsukushima Shrine
• Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara
  • Tôdai-ji
  • Kôfuku-ji
  • Tôshôdai-ji
  • Heijô Imperial Palace
  • Kasuga Shrine
  • Kasugayama Primeval Forest
• Shrines and Temples of Nikko
  • Nikkô Tôshôgû
  • Futarasan Shrine
  • Rinnô-ji
• Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu
  • Tamaudun
  • Sonohyan utaki stone gate
  • Nakijin castle
  • Zakimi gusuku
  • Katsuren gusuku
  • Nakagusuku gusuku
  • Shuri castle
  • Shikinaen
  • Sêfa utaki
• Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range
  • Yoshino and Omine
  • Kumano Sanzan
  • Kôya-san
• Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape
• Hiraizumi – Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land

Natural Sites

• Ogasawara Islands
• Shirakami-Sanchi
• Shiretoko
• Yakushima

References

• "Japan - UNESCO World Heritage Centre."