There are 14 World Heritage sites in Japan inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List (as of July, 2008). It consists of 11 cultural heritage sites and 3 natural heritage sites.
*Sites are listed chronologically by year of inscription.
*Sites are listed chronologically by year of inscription.
Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu
Photo (c) Shizuko Mishima
Year of Inscription: 2000 / Culture Heritage
Location: Okinawa Prefecture
Gusuku are ruins of castles found in Okinawa and Amami islands.
Location: Okinawa Prefecture
Gusuku are ruins of castles found in Okinawa and Amami islands.
- Nakijin-gusuku-ato, Nakijin Village
- Zakimi-gusuku-ato, Yomitan Village
- Katsuren-gusuku-ato, Uruma-city
- Nakagusukujo-ato, Nakagusuku Village
- Shurijo-ato, Naha-city
- Sonohyan-utaki-ishimon
- Tamaudun, Naha-city
- Shikina-en Garden, Naha-city
- Seifautaki, Nanjo-city
Photo: Shurijo Castle
Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range
Photo by Koichi Kamoshida / Getty Images
Year of Inscription: 2004 / Culture Heritage
Location: Mie Prefecture, Nara Prefecture, and Wakayama Prefecture
Location: Mie Prefecture, Nara Prefecture, and Wakayama Prefecture
- Yoshino and Oomine: Yoshonoyama / Yoshinomikumari-jinja Shrine / Kinpu-jinja / Kinpusenji / Yoshimizu-jinja / Oominesanji
- Kumano Sanzan: Kumano Hongu Taisha at Tanabe-city / Kumanohayatama Taisha at Shingu-city / Kumano Nachi Taisha at Nachikatsuura-cho / Seigantoji at Nachikatsuura-cho / Nachi Otaki Falls / Nachigenshirin Forest / Fudarakusanji
- Kouyasan: Nifutsuhime-jinja at Katsuragi-cho / Kongoubuji at Koya-cho / Jisonin Temple at Kudoyama-cho / Niukanshoubuji-jinja at Kudoyama-cho
- Pilgrimage Routes, including Kumano River at Nara, Wakayama, and Mie prefectures
Shiretoko
Year of Inscription: 2005 / Natural Heritage
Location: Shari-cho and Rausu-cho, Hokkaido
Location: Shari-cho and Rausu-cho, Hokkaido
Shiretoko Peninsula is located in eastern Hokkaido and faces the Sea of Okhotsk. Ryuhyo (drift ice) cruises are popular tourist attractions in winter.
Photo: Rausu Town in Shiretoko Peninsula, Hokkaido
Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape
Year of Inscription: 2007 / Culture HeritageLocation: Ooda-city, Shimane Prefecture
- Ginzan Sakunouchi
- Daikansho
- Yataki-jo ato (castle ruins)
- Yahazu-jo ato (castle ruins)
- Iwami-jo ato (castle ruins)
- Omori Ginzan
- Miyanoma
- House of the Kumagai Family
- Rakan-ji Gohyakurakan
- Iwami Ginzan Kaido Tomogaurado
- Iwami Ginzan Kaido Yunotsu-Okidomarido
- Tomogaura
- Okidomari
- Yunotsu
