The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is an agency of the United Nations that aims to promote the preservation and growth of the world's intellectual and cultural property. UNESCO is probably best known for designating World Heritage Sites, cultural and natural sites that show "outstanding universal value". There are currently 26 world heritage sites in Japan, 21 cultural ones and 5 natural ones.
Shirakawa-go and Gokayama are remote regions in the mountains of Gifu and Toyama Prefectures, famous for their solid houses built in the gasshozukuri architecture style.
Itsukushima Shrine is one of the most beautiful and unique shrines in Japan, scenically located on the sacred island of Miyajima. It is particularly famous for its "floating" torii gate.
Iwami Ginzan is a former silver mine in the mountains of Shimane Prefecture, whose output accounted for one third of the world's silver production in the 17th century.
Japan's most iconic volcano and highest mountain, Mount Fuji, has been worshiped as a sacred mountain for centuries and had an immeasurable impact on Japanese culture, while it is recognized as a symbol of Japan across the world.
The Tomioka Silk Mill in Gunma Prefecture served as the model factory for revolutionizing Japan's silk industry after the end of the feudal era. The factory complex is well preserved close to its original state.
The Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution are a collection of preserved historical sites spread across eight prefectures. They highlight the country's rapid development into Asia's first industrial power within just half a century.
National Museum of Western Art
Added in 2016
The National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo's Ueno Park is Japan's only building designed by Le Corbusier. Alongside several other works by the pioneering architect in Argentina, Belgium, France, Germany, India and Switzerland, the museum building is part of "The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement".
Okinoshima is a small, remote island, 60 kilometers off the coast of Kyushu. Off-limit to the general public, the island has been revered as a sacred island for many centuries. It is part of the three Munakata Shrines.
Clusters of dozens of ancient tombs in the south of Osaka, including the Mozu Tombs. Built in the 4th to 6th centuries for the ruling elite, the tombs come in many shapes and sizes, but the largest, keyhole-shaped ones are among the biggest tombs in the world.
A collection of sites in northern Japan related to the prehistoric Jomon Period which began around the end of the last ice age about 15,000 years ago and lasted until the year 300 before the rice culture imported from the Asian mainland fully took roots on the Japanese archipelago.
The Sado Gold Mine was the most productive gold mine in Japan, in operation from 1601 throughout the Edo Period (1603-1868) and served as a major source of funding for the ruling Tokugawa Shogunate. Today the Sado Kinzan Gold Mine is open to tourists as an industrial heritage site.
Shirakami Sanchi is a mountain range spanning Aomori and Akita Prefectures, where the last remaining virgin forest of Siebold's beech trees is located.
The subtropical islands of Amami Oshima, Tokunoshima and Iriomote, and the Yanbaru Region have been separated from the continent and other landmasses for millions of years, and therefore harbor a significant number of endemic and rare animals and plants, including the Iriomote leopard cat, the Amami rabbit and the Okinawa rail.
