Travel

Visiting Japan’s UNESCO

World Heritage Sites
Himeji Castle
(World Heritage Registration: 1993)
Himeji Castle is the finest surviving example of early 17th-century Japanese
castle architecture. Most of the structures in the 83-building complex were
constructed between 1601 and 1609. Surrounding the donjon are watchtow-
ers, gate buildings and plastered earthen walls all strategically positioned for
defense purposes. Himeji Castle satisfies UNESCO World Heritage criteria #1
and #4.

Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu cities)

(World Heritage Registration: 1993)
Kyoto (Heian-kyo) was the seat of Japan’s imperial court between 794-1868,
and has prospered as the center of Japanese culture for more than 1,200 years.
In fact, the whole of Kyoto could be regarded as a museum of Japanese history.
After 1868, the national government recognized the need to protect Kyoto’s
cultural properties, historic sites and monuments and the surrounding areas
have been provided with appropriate protection and maintenance ever since.
Kyoto satisfies UNESCO World Heritage criteria #2 and #4.

Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara

(World Heritage Registration: 1993)
From 710-784, Nara, enjoyed great prosperity and established itself as the
fountainhead of Japanese culture. The city’s historic monuments provide a
vivid picture of life in the Japanese capital in the 8th century. During the Nara
Period the government officially supported Buddhism and as such, a collection
of large temples were built at strategic points to venerate the emperor and the
state. The monuments of Nara satisfy UNESCO World Heritage criteria #2,
#3, #4 and #6.

Shirakami Mountains
(World Heritage Registration: 1993)
The Shirakami Mountains cover an area of approximately 1,300 sq. km located
on the border between Aomori and Akita Prefectures in northeastern Japan.
The area is unique in Japan as it is home to a vast untouched Seibold’s beech
forest covering more than 170 sq. km and is completely devoid of manmade
structures. The area satisfies UNESCO World Heritage criteria #9.

Yakushima Island
(World Heritage Registration: 1993)
Yakushima is a round mountainous island that rises out of the ocean south
of Kagoshima, the southern tip of Kyushu. A variety of subtropical to arctic
vegetation range from the seashores to the mountaintops, and the heavy an-
nual rainfall contribute to the island’s more than 1,900 distinctive species and
subspecies of vegetation. This ancient coniferous forests, which is also home

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to endangered bird species, is treasured for its
ecology as well as its morphology. Yakushima
satisfies UNESCO World Heritage criteria #7
and #9.
Historic Gassho-style Villages
(World Heritage Registration: 1995)
The three villages of Ogimachi in Gifu Prefecture
and Ainokura and Suganuma in Toyama Prefec-
ture, lay claim to Japan’s only group of historical
farmhouses possessing the unique and remark-
able architectural character referred to as “Gas-
sho-style.” The Gassho-style houses were built
between the 17th century and the beginning of
the 20th century and are named for their unique
Gassho-shaped roof. As it snows heavily in win-
ter in this region, the steep roofs aid in snow re-
moval and thus prevent the houses from being
crushed. Gassho-style villages satisfy UNESCO
World Heritage criteria #4 and #5.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku
Dome)
(World Heritage Registration: 1996)
The Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promo-
tion Hall (now known as the Hiroshima Peace
Memorial) was Hiroshima City’s sole surviving
structure after the atomic bomb explosion in Au-
gust 1945. Still today, the dome serves as a silent
reminder of the tragedy of the bombing and the
futility of war. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial
satisfies UNESCO World Heritage criterion #6.
Itsukushima Shinto Shrine
(World Heritage Registration: 1996)
Miyajima is a 9 km by 6 km island located in
Hiroshima Bay. With the Itsukushima Shrine
standing in an inlet backed by the surrounding
mountains soaring steeply from the coast, the
island is often considered among the most sce-
nic places in Japan. Because the Otorii (shrine
UNESCO World Heritage Selection Criteria
1. A masterpiece of human creative genius;
2. An example of an important interchange
of human values, over a span of time or within
a cultural area of the world, on developments
in architecture or technology, monumental arts,
town-planning or landscape design;
3. An exceptional testimony to a cultural tra-
dition or to a current or extinct civilization;
4. An outstanding example of a building,
architectural or technological structure or land-
scape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s)
in human history;
5. An outstanding example of a traditional
human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which
is representative of a culture (or cultures), or
human interaction with the environment espe-
cially when it has become vulnerable under the
impact of irreversible change;
6. A direct or tangible association with
events or living traditions, ideas or beliefs, or
Japan Scope Vol.5 February 2007
gate) and shrine buildings are built on the coastal Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in
edge, they appear as if they are afloat on the sea the Kii Mountain Ranges
when the tide is in. Miyajima satisfies UNESCO (World Heritage Site Registration: 2005)
World Heritage criteria #1, #2, #4 and #6. Set in the dense forests of the Kii Mountains
overlooking the Pacific Ocean, three sacred sites
Temples and Shrines of Nikko – Yoshino and Omine, Kumano Sanzan, and
(World Heritage Registration: 1999) Koyasan - linked by pilgrimage routes to the an-
Today, Nikko is a famous sightseeing point, but cient capital cities of Nara and Kyoto, reflect the
originally it was revered in mountain worship as fusion of Shinto (the ancient tradition of nature
the center of religious devotion in the Kanto re- worship) and Buddhism. The surrounding forest
gion. The shrines and temples of Nikko, together landscape and collection of 9th-century shrines,
with their natural surroundings, have for centu- offer a very well documented tradition of moun-
ries been considered sacred for their architec- tain worship spanning more than 1,200 years.
tural and decorative perfection. UNESCO World The Kii Mountains satisfy UNESCO World Her-
Heritage criteria satisfied: #1, #4 and #6. itage criteria #2, #3, #4 and #6.
Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of
the Kingdom of Ryukyu
(World Heritage Registration: 2000)
The Gusuku Sites and related properties rep-
resent 500 years of Ryukyu history (12th-17th
century). The castles, built on imposing elevat-
ed sites, are evidence of the supremacy of the
Ryukyu kingdom, while the sacred sites provide
mute testimony to the rare survival of an ancient
form of religion into the modern age. The Gusu-
ku sites satisfy UNESCO World Heritage criteria
#2, #3 and #6.
Shiretoko Mountains
(World Heritage Site Registration: 2005)
Shiretoko Peninsula is located in the northeastern
region of Hokkaido. It provides an outstanding ex-
ample of the coexistence of marine/terrestrial eco-
systems and ecosystem productivity evidenced by
the formation of rare low-latitude sea ice. The site
is globally important for preserving threatened sea
birds and migratory birds, a number of salmonid
species, and a number of marine mammals and
cetacean species. Shiretoko satisfies UNESCO
World Heritage criteria #9 and #10.
artistic or literary works of outstanding univer-
sal significance.
7. A superlative natural phenomena or area
of exceptional natural beauty or aesthetic im-
portance;
8. An outstanding representation of major
stages of earth’s history, including the record
of life, on-going geological processes in the
development of landforms, or geomorphic or
physiographic features;
9. An outstanding representation of signifi-
cant on-going ecological and biological pro-
cesses in the evolution and development of
terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine eco-
systems;
10. An area, which contains significant
natural habitats for conservation of biological
diversity, including those containing threatened
species of outstanding scientific or universal
value.
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