List of World Heritage Sites in Japan
World Heritage Sites
Table:
Name

Image

Location

UNESCO data

Area:

Monuments

Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area

Nara Prefecture
660 (1993) i, ii, iv, vi
586 ha; (570.7 ha)
Hōryū-ji, Hokki-ji

Himeji-jō

Hyōgo Prefecture
661 (1993) i, iv
107 ha; (143 ha)
Himeji Castle

Yakushima

Kagoshima Prefecture
662 (1993) vii, ix
10,747 ha
Natural Site: warm temperate ancient forest

Shirakami-Sanchi

Aomori/Akita Prefecture
663 (1993) ix
16,939 ha
Natural Site: Siebold's beech forest, mountains

Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto

Kyoto/Shiga Prefecture
688 (1994) ii, iv
1056 ha; (3,579 ha)
Kamigamo Jinja, Shimogamo Jinja, Tō-ji, Kiyomizu-dera, Enryaku-ji, Daigo-ji, Ninna-ji, Byōdō-in, Ujigami Jinja, Kōzan-ji, Saihō-ji, Tenryū-ji, Kinkaku-ji, Ginkaku-ji, Ryōan-ji, Nishi Hongan-ji, Nijō-jō

Historic Villages of Shirakawa-gō and Gokayama

Gifu/Toyama Prefecture
734 (1995) iv, v
68 ha; (58,873 ha)
Shirakawa-go, Gokayama

Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome)

Hiroshima Prefecture
775 (1996) vi
0.4 ha; (43 ha)
Atomic bomb Dome

Itsukushima Shrine

Hiroshima Prefecture
776 (1996) i, ii, iv, vi
431 ha; (2,634 ha)
Itsukushima Jinja

Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara

Nara Prefecture
870 (1998) ii, iii, iv, vi
617 ha; (2,502 ha)
Tōdai-ji, Kōfuku-ji, Kasuga Taisha, Gangō-ji, Yakushi-ji, Tōshōdai-ji, Heijō Palace, Kasugayama Primeval Forest

Shrines and Temples of Nikkō

Tochigi Prefecture
913 (1999) i, iv, vi
51 ha; (373 ha)
Futarasan Jinja, Rinnō-ji, Nikkō Tōshō-gū

Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu

Okinawa Prefecture
972 (2000) ii, iii, vi
55 ha; (560 ha)
Tamaudun, Sonohyan-utaki Ishimon, Nakijin Castle, Zakimi Castle, Katsuren Castle, Nakagusuku Castle, Shuri Castle, Shikinaen, Seifa-utaki

Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range

Wakayama/Nara/Mie Prefecture
1142 (2004) ii, iii, iv, vi
495 ha; (1,137 ha)
Seiganto-ji, Kumano Hayatama Taisha, Kongōbu-ji, Niukanshōfu Jinja, Kumano Hongū Taisha, Niutsuhime Jinja, Mount Yoshino, Ōminesan-ji, Kōyasan chōishi-michi, Jison-in, Yoshino Mikumari Jinja, Kinbu Jinja, Kimpusen-ji, Yoshimizu Jinja, Kumano Nachi Taisha, Nachi Falls, Nachi primaeval forest, Fudarakusan-ji, Kumano Kodō

Shiretoko

Hokkaidō
1193 (2005) ix, x
71,100 ha
Natural Site: peninsula and marine area

Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape

Shimane Prefecture
1246 (2010) ii, iii, v
529 ha; (3,134 ha)
Yunotsu, Iwami Ginzan Kaidō Yunotsu-Okidomaridō, Site of Daikansho, Okidomari, Ginzan Sakunouchi, Site of Yataki-jō, Ōmori Ginzan, Miya-no-mae, Iwami Ginzan Kaidō Tomogauradō, Site of Yahazu-jō, Site of Iwami-jō, Kumagaika residence, Rakan-ji Gohyakurakan, Tomogaura

Hiraizumi – Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land

Iwate Prefecture
1277 (2011) ii, vi
187 ha; (5,998 ha)
Chūson-ji, Mōtsū-ji, Kanjizaiō-in, Muryōkō-in, Kinkeizan

Ogasawara Islands

Tokyo
1362 (2011) ix
7,939 ha
Natural Site: Chichi-jima, Haha-jima, Muko-jima, Iwo-jima

Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration

Shizuoka/Yamanashi Prefecture
1418 (2013) ⅲ, ⅵ
20,638 ha; (49,376 ha)
Mount Fuji, Fuji Five Lakes, Fujisan Hongū Sengen Shrine, Kitaguchi Hongū Fuji Sengen Shrine, Yamamiya Sengen Shrine, Murayama Sengen Shrine, Suyama Sengen Shrine, Higashiguchi Hongū Fuji Sengen Shrine, Kawaguchi Sengen Shrine, Fuji Omuro Sengen Shrine, Oshino Hakkai, Miho no Matsubara

Tomioka Silk Mill and Related Sites

Gunma Prefecture
1149 (2014) ii, iv
7.20 ha; (415 ha)
Tomioka Silk Mill

Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining

Kyūshū, and Yamaguchi, Shizuoka and Iwate prefectures
1484 (2015) ii, iii, iv
307 ha; (2,408 ha)
Hashima Coal Mine, Former Glover House, Shūseikan, Miike Coal Mine, Yawata Steel Works, Mutsurejima Lighthouse, Hagi reverberatory furnace, Shōkasonjuku Academy, Hagi castle town

The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement

Tokyo
1321 (2016) i, ii, vi
0.93 ha; (116.17 ha)
National Museum of Western Art

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The UNESCO World Heritage Site Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area includes a variety of buildings found in Hōryū-ji and Hokki-ji in Ikaruga , Nara Prefecture , Japan . These buildings were designated in 1993 along with the surrounding landscape , under several criteria . The structures inscribed are some of the oldest extant wooden buildings in the world , dating from the 7th to 8th centuries . Many of the monuments are also National Treasures of Japan , and reflect an important age of Buddhist influence in Japan . The structures include 21 buildings in the Hōryū-ji East Temple , 9 in the West Temple , 17 monasteries and other buildings , and the pagoda in Hokki-ji .
Nara Prefecture ( 奈良県 , Nara-ken ) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu . Nara Prefecture has a population of 1,348,930 ( 1 September 2017 ) and has a geographic area of 3,691 km² ( 1,425 sq mi ) . Nara Prefecture borders Kyoto Prefecture to the north , Osaka Prefecture to the northwest , Wakayama Prefecture to the southwest , and Mie Prefecture to the east . Nara is the capital and largest city of Nara Prefecture , with other major cities including Kashihara , Ikoma , and Yamatokōriyama . Nara Prefecture is located in the center of the Kii Peninsula on Japan 's Pacific Ocean coast , and is one of only eight landlocked prefectures . Nara Prefecture has the distinction of having more UNESCO World Heritage listings than any other prefecture in Japan .
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area , selected by the United Nations Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO ) for having cultural , historical , scientific or other form of significance , which is legally protected by international treaties . The sites are judged to be important for the collective and preservative interests of humanity . To be selected , a World Heritage Site must be an already-classified landmark , unique in some respect as a geographically and historically identifiable place having special cultural or physical significance ( such as an ancient ruin or historical structure , building , city , complex , desert , forest , island , lake , monument , mountain , or wilderness area ) . It may signify a remarkable accomplishment of humanity , and serve as evidence of our intellectual history on the planet . The sites are intended for practical conservation for posterity , which otherwise would be subject to risk from human or animal trespassing , unmonitored/uncontrolled/unrestricted access , or threat from local administrative negligence . Sites are demarcated by UNESCO as protected zones . The list is maintained by the international World Heritage Program administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee , composed of 21 states parties that are elected by their General Assembly . The programme catalogues , names , and conserves sites of outstanding cultural or natural importance to the common culture and heritage of humanity . Under certain conditions , listed sites can obtain funds from the World Heritage Fund . The programme began with the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World 's Cultural and Natural Heritage , which was adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO on 16 November 1972 . Since then , 193 state parties have ratified the convention , making it one of the most widely recognised international agreements and the world 's most popular cultural programme . In 1978 the city of Quito earned the distinction of being the first city in the world to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site .
Hōryū-ji ( 法隆寺 , lit . Temple of the Flourishing Law ) is a Buddhist temple that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples , in Ikaruga , Nara Prefecture , Japan . Its full name is Hōryū Gakumonji ( 法隆学問寺 ) , or Learning Temple of the Flourishing Law , the complex serving as both a seminary and monastery . The temple was founded by Prince Shōtoku in 607 , but according to the Nihon Shoki , in 670 all buildings were burned down by lightning . However , reconstructed at least 1,300 years ago , the Kondō ( main holl ) is widely recognized as the world 's oldest wooden building . A fire that broke out during the dismantling and repair of Kondo in January 26 , 1949 destroyed a mural of the Asuka period , a national treasure , and shocked the Japanese . Based on this accident , the day when the fire broke out is now fire prevention day for cultural properties . In 1993 , Horyu-ji Temple , along with Hokki-ji , was registered as Japan 's first UNESCO World Heritage site under the name of Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area . A tree ring survey conducted in 2001 revealed that the shinbashira of the five-story Pagoda were cut down in 594 , before burned down in 670 .
Hokki-ji or Hōki-ji ( 法起寺 , the temple of the Arising Dharma ) - formerly known as Okamoto-dera ( 岡本寺 ) and Ikejiri-dera ( 池後寺 ) - is a Buddhist temple in Okamoto , Ikaruga , Nara Prefecture , Japan . The temple 's honorary sangō prefix is Kōhonzan ( 岡本山 ) , although it is rarely used . The temple was constructed to honor Avalokitesvara , and an 11-faced statue of the goddess is the primary object of worship in the temple . Hokki-ji is often considered to be one of the seven great temples founded by Prince Shōtoku , however , the temple was not completed until some decades after his death . In 1993 , it was registered together with Hōryū-ji as an UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area .
Himeji Castle ( 姫路城 , Himeji-jō ) is a hilltop Japanese castle complex situated in the city of Himeji which is located in the Hyōgo Prefecture of Japan . The castle is regarded as the finest surviving example of prototypical Japanese castle architecture , comprising a network of 83 rooms with advanced defensive systems from the feudal period . The castle is frequently known as Hakuro-jō or Shirasagi-jō ( White Egret Castle or White Heron Castle ) because of its brilliant white exterior and supposed resemblance to a bird taking flight . Himeji Castle dates to 1333 , when Akamatsu Norimura built a fort on top of Himeyama hill . The fort was dismantled and rebuilt as Himeyama Castle in 1346 , and then remodeled into Himeji Castle two centuries later . Himeji Castle was then significantly remodeled in 1581 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi , who added a three-story castle keep . In 1600 , Tokugawa Ieyasu awarded the castle to Ikeda Terumasa for his help in the Battle of Sekigahara , and Ikeda completely rebuilt the castle from 1601 to 1609 , expanding it into a large castle complex . Several buildings were later added to the castle complex by Honda Tadamasa from 1617 to 1618 . For over 400 years , Himeji Castle has remained intact , even throughout the extensive bombing of Himeji in World War II , and natural disasters such as the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake . Himeji Castle is the largest and most visited castle in Japan , and it was registered in 1993 as one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country . The area within the middle moat of the castle complex is a designated Special Historic Site and five structures of the castle are also designated National Treasures . Along with Matsumoto Castle and Kumamoto Castle , Himeji Castle is considered one of Japan 's three premier castles .
Hyōgo Prefecture ( 兵庫県 , Hyōgo-ken ) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu . Hyōgo Prefecture has a population of 5,469,762 ( 1 June 2019 ) and has a geographic area of 8,400 km² ( 3,243 sq mi ) . Hyōgo Prefecture borders Kyoto Prefecture to the east , Osaka Prefecture to the southeast , and Okayama Prefecture and Tottori Prefecture to the west . Kōbe is the capital and largest city of Hyōgo Prefecture , and the sixth-largest city in Japan , with other major cities including Himeji , Nishinomiya , and Amagasaki . Hyōgo Prefecture 's mainland stretches from the Sea of Japan to the Seto Inland Sea , where Awaji Island and a small archipelago of islands belonging to the prefecture are located . Hyōgo Prefecture is a major economic center , transportation hub , and tourist destination in western Japan , with 20% of the prefecture 's land area was designated as Natural Parks . Hyōgo Prefecture forms part of the Keihanshin metropolitan area , the second-most-populated urban region in Japan after the Greater Tokyo area and one of the world 's most productive regions by GDP .
Yakushima ( 屋久島 ) is one of the Ōsumi Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture , Japan . The island , 504.88 km2 ( 194.94 sq mi ) in area , has a population of 13,178 . Access to the island is by hydrofoil ferry ( 7 or 8 times a day from Kagoshima , depending on the season ) , slow car ferry ( once or twice a day from Kagoshima ) , or by air to Yakushima Airport ( 3 to 5 times daily from Kagoshima , once daily from Fukuoka and once daily from Osaka ) . Administratively , the whole island is the town of Yakushima . The town also serves neighbouring Kuchinoerabujima . The majority of the island is within the borders of the Kirishima-Yaku National Park . Yakushima 's electricity is more than 50% hydroelectric , and surplus power has been used to produce hydrogen gas in an experiment by Kagoshima University . The island has been a test site for Honda 's hydrogen fuel cell vehicle research . ( There are no hydrogen cars stationed on the island but electric cars are run by the municipality . )
Kagoshima Prefecture ( 鹿児島県 , Kagoshima-ken ) is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyushu and the Ryukyu Islands . The capital is the city of Kagoshima .
Shirakami-Sanchi ( 白神山地 ) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Tōhoku region of northern Honshū , Japan . This mountainous area includes the last virgin forest of Siebold 's beech which once covered most of northern Japan . The area straddles both Akita and Aomori Prefectures . Of the entire 1,300 square kilometres ( 500 sq mi ) , a tract covering 169.7169.7 square kilometres ( 65.5 sq mi ) was included in the list of World Heritage Sites in 1993 . Fauna found in the area includes Japanese black bear , the Japanese serow , Japanese macaque and 87 species of birds . The Shirakami-Sanchi was one of the first sites entered on the World Heritage List in Japan , along with Yakushima , Himeji Castle , and Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area in 1993 . Permission is needed from Forest Management to enter the heart of the Shirakami-Sanchi .
Aomori Prefecture ( 青森県 , Aomori-ken ) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region . The capital is the city of Aomori .
Akita Prefecture ( 秋田県 , Akita-ken ) is a prefecture located in the Tōhoku region of Japan . The capital is the city of Akita .
Fagus crenata , known as the Siebold 's beech , Japanese beech , or buna , is a deciduous tree of the beech genus , Fagus , of the family Fagaceae . It is native to Japan , where it is widespread and often one of the dominant trees of Japan 's deciduous forests . It is found from the Oshima Peninsula in Hokkaidō south to the Ōsumi Peninsula in Kyūshū . In north-east Honshū it grows in large stands from sea level up to 1,400 metres ( 4,600 ft ) but in the south-west of its range it is restricted to mountainous areas and occurs in small , isolated populations . It grows in well-drained , loamy or sandy soils . It reaches 35 metres ( 115 ft ) in height . The crown is rounded and the bark is smooth and grey . The simple leaves are arranged alternately along the branch . They are broadest towards the base and have 7 to 11 pairs of veins . The nut has a short thick stalk , 15 millimetres ( 0.6 in ) long . There are flattened green whiskers at the base of the husk of the nut . The flowers are wind-pollinated .
The UNESCO World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto ( Kyoto , Uji and Otsu Cities ) encompasses 17 locations in Japan within the city of Kyoto and its immediate vicinity . The locations are in three cities : Kyoto and Uji in Kyoto Prefecture ; and Ōtsu in Shiga Prefecture ; Uji and Ōtsu border Kyoto to the south and north , respectively . Of the monuments , 13 are Buddhist temples , three are Shinto shrines , and one is a castle . The properties include 38 buildings designated by the Japanese government as National Treasures , 160 properties designated as Important Cultural Properties , eight gardens designated as Special Places of Scenic Beauty , and four designated as Places of Scenic Beauty . UNESCO listed the site as World Heritage in 1994 .
Kyoto Prefecture ( 京都府 , Kyōto-fu ) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu . Kyoto Prefecture has a population of 2,610,353 ( 1 October 2015 ) and has a geographic area of 4,612 km² ( 1,780 sq mi ) . Kyoto Prefecture borders Fukui Prefecture to the northeast , Shiga Prefecture to the east , Mie Prefecture to the southeast , Nara Prefecture and Osaka Prefecture to the south , and Hyogo Prefecture to the west . Kyoto is the capital and largest city of Kyoto Prefecture , with other major cities including Uji , Kameoka , and Maizuru . Kyoto Prefecture is located on the Sea of Japan coast and extends to the southeast towards the Kii Peninsula , covering territory of the former provinces of Yamashiro , Tamba , and Tango . Kyoto Prefecture is centered on the historic Imperial capital of Kyoto , and is one of Japan 's two urban prefectures using the designation fu rather than the standard ken for prefectures . Kyoto has made Kyoto Prefecture one of the most popular tourism destinations in Japan for national and international tourists , and 21% of the prefecture 's land area was designated as Natural Parks . Kyoto Prefecture forms part of the Keihanshin metropolitan area , the second-most-populated urban region in Japan after the Greater Tokyo area and one of the world 's most productive regions by GDP .
Shiga Prefecture ( 滋賀県 , Shiga-ken ) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu . Shiga Prefecture has a population of 1,412,916 ( 1 October 2015 ) and has a geographic area of 4,017 km² ( 1,551 sq mi ) . Shiga Prefecture borders Fukui Prefecture to the north , Gifu Prefecture to the northeast , Mie Prefecture to the southeast , and Kyoto Prefecture to the west . Ōtsu is the capital and largest city of Shiga Prefecture , with other major cities including Kusatsu , Nagahama , and Higashiōmi . Shiga Prefecture encircles Lake Biwa , the largest freshwater lake in Japan , and 37% of the total land area is designated as Natural Parks , the highest of any prefecture . Shiga Prefecture 's southern half is located adjacent to the former capital city of Kyoto and forms part of Greater Kyoto , the fourth-largest metropolitan area in Japan . Shiga Prefecture is home to Ōmi beef , the Eight Views of Ōmi , and Hikone Castle , one of four national treasure castles in Japan .
Kamigamo Shrine ( 上賀茂神社 , Kamigamo Jinja ) is an important Shinto sanctuary on the banks of the Kamo River in north Kyoto , first founded in 678 . Its formal name is the Kamo-wakeikazuchi Shrine ( 賀茂別雷神社 , Kamo-wakeikazuchi jinja ) . It is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan and is one of the seventeen Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto which have been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site . The term Kamo-jinja in Japanese is a general reference to Shimogamo Shrine and Kamigamo Shrine , the traditionally linked Kamo shrines of Kyoto . The Kamo-jinja serve the function of protecting Kyoto from malign influences . The jinja name identifies the Kamo family of kami or deities who are venerated . The name also refers to the ambit of shrine 's nearby woods , which are vestiges of the primeval forest of Tadasu no Mori . In addition , the shrine name references the area 's early inhabitants , the Kamo clan , many of whom continue to live near the shrine their ancestors traditionally served . Kamogamo Shrine is dedicated to the veneration of Kamo Wake-ikazuchi , the kami of thunder .
Shimogamo Shrine ( 下鴨神社 , Shimogamo-jinja ) in Japanese , is the common name of an important Shinto sanctuary in the Shimogamo district of Kyoto city 's Sakyō ward . Its formal name is Kamo-mioya-jinja ( 賀茂御祖神社 ) . It is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan and is one of the seventeen Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto which have been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site . The term Kamo-jinja in Japanese is a general reference to Shimogamo Shrine and Kamigamo Shrine , the traditionally linked Kamo shrines of Kyoto ; Shimogamo is the older of the pair , being believed to be 100 years older than Kamigamo , and dating to the 6th century , centuries before Kyoto became the capital of Japan ( 794 , see Heian-kyō ) . The Kamo-jinja serve the function of protecting Kyoto from malign influences . The jinja name identifies the Kamo family of kami or deities who are venerated . The name also refers to the ambit of shrine 's nearby woods , which are vestiges of the primeval forest of Tadasu no Mori . In addition , the shrine name references the area 's early inhabitants , the Kamo clan , many of whom continue to live near the shrine their ancestors traditionally served . Shimogamo Shrine is dedicated to the veneration of Tamayori-hime ( 玉依姫 ; lit. , the spirit-inviting maiden ) and her father , Kamo Taketsunomi ( 賀茂建角身 ) . Tamayori-hime is the mother of Kamo Wakeikazuchi ( 賀茂別雷 ; the thunder-divider of Kamo ) , who was sired by Honoikazuchi-no-mikoto ( 火雷神 ; the God of Fire and Thunder ) . Kamigamo Shrine , the other of the two Kamo shrines of Kyoto , is dedicated to Kamo Wakeikazuchi . These kami are variously associated with thunder .
Tō-ji ( 東寺 , Tō-ji ) is a Shingon Buddhist temple in the Minami-ku ward of Kyoto , Japan . Founded in 796 , it was one of the only three Buddhist temples allowed in the city at the time it became the capital of Japan . As such it has a long history , housing treasures and documents from the early Heian period and the Tang dynasty , and with buildings in its complex covering the Kamakura , Muromachi , Momoyama , and Edo periods . Five of these buildings have been designated National Treasures in two different categories : the Lotus Flower Gate ( rengemon ) , the Miei Hall ( mieidō ) , the Golden Hall ( kondō ) and the five-storied Pagoda ( gojūnotō ) ( temple buildings ) and the Kanchiin Guest Hall ( kanchiin kyakuden ) ( residences ) . Tō-ji was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 , as part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto .
Kiyomizu-dera ( 清水寺 ) , formally Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera ( 音羽山清水寺 ) , is a Buddhist temple in eastern Kyoto . The temple is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto ( Kyoto , Uji and Otsu Cities ) UNESCO World Heritage site . The place is not to be confused with Kiyomizu-dera in Yasugi , Shimane , which is part of the 33-temple route of the Chūgoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage through western Japan , or the Kiyomizu-dera temple associated with the Buddhist priest Nichiren . The temple is currently covered entirely by semi-transparent scaffolding while it is undergoing restoration works in preparation for the 2020 Olympics .
Enryaku-ji ( 延暦寺 , Enryaku-ji ) is a Tendai monastery located on Mount Hiei in Ōtsu , overlooking Kyoto . It was founded in 788 during the early Heian period ( 794-1185 ) . The temple complex was established by Saichō ( 767-822 ) , also known as Dengyō Daishi , who introduced the Tendai sect of Mahayana Buddhism to Japan from China . Enryaku-ji is the headquarters of the Tendai sect and one of the most significant monasteries in Japanese history . As such , it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto ( Kyoto , Uji and Otsu Cities ) . The founders of Jōdo-shū , Sōtō Zen , and Nichiren Buddhism all spent time at the monastery . Enryaku-ji is also the center for the practice of kaihōgyō ( aka the marathon monks ) .
Daigo-ji ( 醍醐寺 , Daigo-ji ) is a Shingon Buddhist temple in Fushimi-ku , Kyoto , Japan . Its main devotion ( honzon ) is Yakushi . Daigo , literally ghee , is used figuratively to mean crème de la crème and is a metaphor of the most profound part of Buddhist thoughts .
Ninna-ji ( 仁和寺 , Ninna-ji ) is the head temple of the Omuro school of the Shingon Sect of Buddhism . Located in western Kyoto , Japan , it was founded in AD 888 by the retired Emperor Uda . It is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto , a UNESCO World Heritage Site .
Byōdō-in ( 平等院 ) is a Buddhist temple in the city of Uji in Kyoto Prefecture , Japan , built in late Heian period . It is jointly a temple of the Jōdo-shū ( Pure Land ) and Tendai-shū sects .
The Ujigami Shrine ( 宇治上神社 , Ujigami-jinja ) is a Shinto shrine in the city of Uji , Kyoto Prefecture , Japan . The shrine was built as a guardian shrine for the nearby Byōdō-in , and is adjacent to the Uji Shrine . In 1994 , it was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto . The honden and haiden have been designated by the Agency for Cultural Affairs as National Treasures in the category shrines . The Ujigami Shrine is dedicated to the Emperor Ōjin and his sons , the imperial princes Uji no Wakiiratsuko and Emperor Nintoku . Uji no Wakiiratsuko committed suicide to solve a dispute over the imperial succession , and the shrine was built in his honor . The honden of the Ujigami Shrine is known as the oldest example of nagare-zukuri style of shrine architecture in Japan . In this style of architecture the three inner shrine structures are built side-by-side , with the structure in the middle being larger than those to the left and right . The honden dates to the late Heian period ( 794 - 1185 ) . The haiden is built in the shinden-zukuri style , and its roof in the sugaruhafu style . The haiden dates to the Kamakura period ( 1185 - 1333 ) . The Kasuga Shrine , also within the shrine precinct , dates to the same period .
Kōzan-ji ( 高山寺 ) , officially Toganōsan Kōsan-ji ( 栂尾山高山寺 ) , is a Buddhist temple of the Omuro sect of Shingon Buddhism in Umegahata Toganōchō , Ukyō Ward , Kyoto , Japan . Kōzan-ji is also known as Kōsan-ji and Toganō-dera . The temple was founded by the Shingon scholar and monk Myōe ( 1173 - 1232 ) and is renowned for its numerous national treasures and important cultural properties . The Chōjū-jinbutsu-giga , a group of ink paintings from the 12th and 13th centuries , are among the most important treasures of Kōzan-ji . The temple celebrates Biyakkōshin , Zenmyōshin and Kasuga Myōjin , as well as the temple 's tutelary Shintō deity . In 1994 , it was registered as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto .
Saihō-ji ( 西芳寺 ) is a Rinzai Zen Buddhist temple located in Matsuo , Nishikyō Ward , Kyoto , Japan . The temple , which is famed for its moss garden , is commonly referred to as Koke-dera ( 苔寺 ) , meaning moss temple , while the formal name is Kōinzan Saihō-ji ( 洪隠山西芳寺 ) . The temple , primarily constructed to honor Amitābha , was first founded by Gyōki and was later restored by Musō Soseki . In 1994 , Saihō-ji was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site , as part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto . Over 120 types of moss are present in the two-tiered garden , resembling a beautiful green carpet with many subtle shades .
Tenryū-ji ( 天龍寺 ) , formally known as Tenryū Shiseizen-ji ( 天龍資聖禅寺 ) , is the head temple of the Tenryū-ji branch of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism , located in Susukinobaba-chō , Ukyō Ward , Kyoto , Japan . The temple was founded by Ashikaga Takauji in 1339 , primarily to venerate Gautama Buddha , and its first chief priest was Musō Soseki . Construction was completed in 1345 . As a temple related to both the Ashikaga family and Emperor Go-Daigo , the temple is held in high esteem , and is ranked number one among Kyoto 's so-called Five Mountains . In 1994 , it was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site , as part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto .
Kinkaku-ji ( 金閣寺 , literally Temple of the Golden Pavilion ) , officially named Rokuon-ji ( 鹿苑寺 , literally Deer Garden Temple ) , is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto , Japan . It is one of the most popular buildings in Japan , attracting many visitors annually . It is designated as a National Special Historic Site , a National Special Landscape and is one of 17 locations making up the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto which are World Heritage Sites .
Ginkaku-ji ( 銀閣寺 , lit . Temple of the Silver Pavilion ) , officially named Jishō-ji ( 慈照寺 , lit . Temple of Shining Mercy ) , is a Zen temple in the Sakyo ward of Kyoto , Japan . It is one of the constructions that represents the Higashiyama Culture of the Muromachi period .
Ryōan-ji ( Shinjitai : 竜安寺 , Kyūjitai : 龍安寺 , The Temple of the Dragon at Peace ) is a Zen temple located in northwest Kyoto , Japan . It belongs to the Myōshin-ji school of the Rinzai branch of Zen Buddhism . The Ryōan-ji garden is considered one of the finest surviving examples of kare-sansui ( dry landscape ) , a refined type of Japanese Zen temple garden design generally featuring distinctive larger rock formations arranged amidst a sweep of smooth pebbles ( small , carefully selected polished river rocks ) raked into linear patterns that facilitate meditation . The temple and its gardens are listed as one of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto , and as a UNESCO World Heritage Site .
Nishi Hongan-ji ( 西本願寺 ) is a Jōdo Shinshū Buddhist temple in the Shimogyō ward of Kyoto , Japan . It is one of two Jōdo Shinshū temple complexes in Kyoto , the other being Higashi Hongan-ji . Jōdo Shinshū is a school of Pure Land Buddhism , and today Nishi Hongan-ji serves as the head temple of the organization . Established in its current location in 1591 , the origin of the temple goes back to the 14th century . Many of its building have survived from the Azuchi-Momoyama and early Edo period , making it a great example of the Japanese architecture from the 17th and 18th centuries . A total of seven Nishi Hongan-ji structures have been designated National Treasures in three different categories : the karamon , Goei-dō and Amida hall ( temple buildings ) , the Flying Cloud Pavilion , shoin and the Black study hall , including the Denrō gallery ( residences ) and the north Noh stage ( miscellaneous structure ) . Nishi Hongan-ji was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 , as part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto .
Nijō Castle ( 二条城 , Nijō-jō ) is a flatland castle in Kyoto , Japan . The castle consists of two concentric rings ( Kuruwa ) of fortifications , the Ninomaru Palace , the ruins of the Honmaru Palace , various support buildings and several gardens . The surface area of the castle is 275,000 square metres ( 27.5 ha ; 68 acres ) , of which 8,000 square metres ( 86,000 sq ft ) is occupied by buildings . It is one of the seventeen Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto which have been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site .
The Historic Villages of Shirakawa-gō and Gokayama are one of Japan 's UNESCO World Heritage Sites . The cultural property consists of three historic mountain villages over an area of 68 hectares ( 170 acres ) in the remote Shogawa river valley , stretching across the border of Gifu and Toyama Prefectures in central Japan . Shirakawa-gō ( 白川郷 , White River Old-District ) is located in the village of Shirakawa in Gifu Prefecture . The Gokayama ( 五箇山 , Five Mountains ) area is divided between the former villages of Kamitaira and Taira in Nanto , Toyama Prefecture . The valley is in a mountain region with considerable snowfall , and these villages are well known for their clusters of farmhouses , constructed in the architectural style known as gasshō-zukuri ( 合掌造り ) , which are designed to easily shed snow from their roofs .
Gifu Prefecture ( 岐阜県 , Gifu-ken ) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshu . Gifu Prefecture has a population of 1,991,390 ( 1 June 2019 ) and has a geographic area of 10,621 km² ( 4,100 sq mi ) . Gifu Prefecture borders Toyama Prefecture to the north ; Ishikawa Prefecture to the northwest ; Fukui Prefecture to the west ; Shiga Prefecture to the southwest ; Mie Prefecture and Aichi Prefecture to the south ; and Nagano Prefecture to the east . Gifu is the capital and largest city of Gifu Prefecture , with other major cities including Ōgaki , Kakamigahara , and Tajimi . Gifu Prefecture is located in the center of Japan , one of only eight landlocked prefectures , and features the country 's center of population . Gifu Prefecture has served as the historic crossroads of Japan with routes connecting the east to the west , including the Nakasendō , one of the Five Routes of the Edo Period . Gifu Prefecture was a long-term residence of Oda Nobunaga and Saitō Dōsan , two influential figures of Japanese history in the Sengoku period , spawning the popular phrase of control Gifu and you control Japan in the late Medieval era . Gifu Prefecture is known for its traditional Washi paper industry , including Gifu Lanterns and Gifu Umbrellas , and as a center for the Japanese swordsmithing and cutlery industries . Gifu Prefecture is home to Gifu Castle , the 1,300-year-old tradition of Cormorant fishing on the Nagara River , and the site of the Battle of Sekigahara .
Toyama Prefecture ( 富山県 , Toyama-ken ) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshu . Toyama Prefecture has a population of 1,044,588 ( 1 June 2019 ) and has a geographic area of 4,247.61 km² ( 1,640.01 sq mi ) . Toyama Prefecture borders Ishikawa Prefecture to the west , Gifu Prefecture to the south , Nagano Prefecture to the east , and Niigata Prefecture to the northeast . Toyama is the capital and largest city of Toyama Prefecture , with other major cities including Takaoka , Imizu , and Nanto . Toyama Prefecture is part of the historic Hokuriku region , and the majority of prefecture 's population lives on Toyama Bay , one of the largest bays in Japan . Toyama Prefecture is the leading industrial prefecture on the Japan Sea coast and has the advantage of cheap electricity from abundant hydroelectric resources . Toyama Prefecture contains the only known glaciers in East Asia outside of Russia , first recognized in 2012 , and 30% of the prefecture 's area is designated as national parks .
Shirakawa ( 白川村 , Shirakawa-mura ) is a village located in Ōno District , Gifu Prefecture , Japan . It is best known for being the site of Shirakawa-gō , a small , traditional village showcasing a building style known as gasshō-zukuri . Together with Gokayama in Nanto , Toyama , it is one of UNESCO 's World Heritage Sites . As of 1 January 2019 [ update ] , the village had an estimated population of 1,630 in 588 households and a population density of 4.6 persons per km2 . The total area of the village was 356.55 km2 ( 137.66 sq mi ) .
Gokayama ( Japanese : 五箇山 ) is an area within the city of Nanto in Toyama Prefecture , Japan . It has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List due to its traditional gasshō-zukuri houses , alongside nearby Shirakawa-gō in Gifu Prefecture . The survival of this traditional architectural style is attributed to the region 's secluded location in the upper reaches of the Shōgawa river . This is also the reason that Gokayama 's lifestyle and culture remained very traditional for many years after the majority of the country had modernized . Many of the houses surpass 300 years in age . The Gokayama region includes the former villages of Taira , Kamitaira , and Toga . The gasshō hamlet of Ainokura is located in Taira , while that of Suganuma is in Kamitaira ; both are nationally designated Historic Sites .
The Hiroshima Peace Memorial ( 広島平和記念碑 , Hiroshima Heiwa Kinenhi ) , originally the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall , and now commonly called the Genbaku Dome , Atomic Bomb Dome or A-Bomb Dome ( 原爆ドーム , Genbaku Dōmu ) , is part of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima , Japan and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996 . The ruin of the hall serves as a memorial to the people who were killed in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945 . Over 70,000 people were killed instantly , and another 70,000 suffered fatal injuries from the radiation .
Hiroshima Prefecture ( 広島県 , Hiroshima-ken ) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshu island . The capital is the city of Hiroshima . It has a population of around 2.8 million .
The United States detonated two nuclear weapons over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9 , 1945 , respectively , with the consent of the United Kingdom , as required by the Quebec Agreement . The two bombings killed between 129,000 and 226,000 people , most of whom were civilians , and remain the only use of nuclear weapons in armed conflict . In the final year of World War II , the Allies prepared for a very costly invasion of the Japanese mainland . This undertaking was preceded by a conventional and firebombing campaign which devastated 67 Japanese cities . The war in Europe had concluded when Germany signed its instrument of surrender on May 8 , 1945 , and the Allies turned their full attention to the Pacific theater . The Allies called for the unconditional surrender of the Imperial Japanese armed forces in the Potsdam Declaration on July 26 , 1945 , the alternative being prompt and utter destruction . Japan ignored the ultimatum and the war continued . By August 1945 , the Allies ' Manhattan Project had produced two types of atomic bombs , and the 509th Composite Group of the United States Army Air Forces ( USAAF ) was equipped with the specialized Silverplate version of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress that could deliver them from Tinian in the Mariana Islands . The Allies issued orders for atomic bombs to be used on four Japanese cities on July 25 . On August 6 , one of the modified B-29s dropped a uranium gun-type bomb ( Little Boy ) on Hiroshima . Another B-29 dropped a plutonium implosion bomb ( Fat Man ) on Nagasaki three days later . The bombs immediately devastated their targets .
Itsukushima Shrine ( 厳島神社 , Itsukushima-jinja ) is a Shinto shrine on the island of Itsukushima ( popularly known as Miyajima ) , best known for its floating torii gate . It is in the city of Hatsukaichi in Hiroshima Prefecture in Japan . The shrine complex is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site , and the Japanese government has designated several buildings and possessions as National Treasures . The Itsukushima shrine is one of Japan 's most popular tourist attractions . It is most famous for its dramatic gate , or torii on the outskirts of the shrine , the sacred peaks of Mount Misen , extensive forests , and its aesthetic ocean view . The shrine complex itself consists of two main buildings : the Honsha shrine and the Sessha Marodo-jinja , as well as 17 other different buildings and structures that help to distinguish it . The complex is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site , and six of its buildings and possessions have been designated by the Japanese government as National Treasures . The tori gate is currently covered entirely by semi-transparent scaffolding while it is undergoing restoration works in preparation for the 2020 Olympics
Itsukushima Shrine ( 厳島神社 , Itsukushima-jinja ) is a Shinto shrine on the island of Itsukushima ( popularly known as Miyajima ) , best known for its floating torii gate . It is in the city of Hatsukaichi in Hiroshima Prefecture in Japan . The shrine complex is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site , and the Japanese government has designated several buildings and possessions as National Treasures . The Itsukushima shrine is one of Japan 's most popular tourist attractions . It is most famous for its dramatic gate , or torii on the outskirts of the shrine , the sacred peaks of Mount Misen , extensive forests , and its aesthetic ocean view . The shrine complex itself consists of two main buildings : the Honsha shrine and the Sessha Marodo-jinja , as well as 17 other different buildings and structures that help to distinguish it . The complex is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site , and six of its buildings and possessions have been designated by the Japanese government as National Treasures . The tori gate is currently covered entirely by semi-transparent scaffolding while it is undergoing restoration works in preparation for the 2020 Olympics
The UNESCO World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara encompasses eight places in the old capital Nara in Nara Prefecture , Japan . Five are Buddhist temples , one is a Shinto shrine , one is a Palace and one a primeval forest . The properties include 26 buildings designated by the Japanese Government as National Treasures as well as 53 designated as Important Cultural Properties . All compounds have been recognized as Historic Sites . The Nara Palace Site was designated as Special Historic Site and the Kasugayama Primeval Forest as Special Natural Monument . Tōdai-ji , Kōfuku-ji and the Kasugayama Primeval Forest overlap with Nara Park , a park designated as one of the Places of Scenic Beauty by the Ministry of Education , Culture , Sports , Science and Technology ( MEXT ) . UNESCO listed the site as World Heritage in 1998 .
Tōdai-ji ( 東大寺 , Eastern Great Temple ) is a Buddhist temple complex that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples , located in the city of Nara , Japan . Though it was originally founded in the year 738 CE , Todai-ji was not opened until the year 752 CE . Its Great Buddha Hall ( 大仏殿 Daibutsuden ) houses the world 's largest bronze statue of the Buddha Vairocana , known in Japanese as Daibutsu ( 大仏 ) . The temple also serves as the Japanese headquarters of the Kegon school of Buddhism . The temple is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara , together with seven other sites including temples , shrines and places in the city of Nara .
Kōfuku-ji ( 興福寺 , Kōfuku-ji ) is a Buddhist temple that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples in the city of Nara , Japan . The temple is the national headquarters of the Hossō school .
Kasuga Grand Shrine ( 春日大社 , Kasuga-taisha ) is a Shinto shrine in Nara , Nara Prefecture , Japan . Established in 768 CE and rebuilt several times over the centuries , it is the shrine of the Fujiwara family . The interior is famous for its many bronze lanterns , as well as the many stone lanterns that lead up the shrine . The architectural style Kasuga-zukuri takes its name from Kasuga Shrine 's honden ( sanctuary ) . Kasuga Shrine , and the Kasugayama Primeval Forest near it , are registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara . The path to Kasuga Shrine passes through a deer park . In the deer park , deer are able to roam freely and are believed to be sacred messengers of the Shinto gods that inhabit the shrine and surrounding mountainous terrain . Kasuga Shrine and the deer have been featured in several paintings and works of art of the Nambokucho Period . Over three thousand stone lanterns line the way . The Man'yo Botanical Garden is adjacent to the shrine .
Gangō-ji ( 元興寺 ) is an ancient Buddhist temple , that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples , in Nara , Japan .
Yakushi-ji ( 薬師寺 ) is one of the most famous imperial and ancient Buddhist temples in Japan , that was once one of the Seven Great Temples of Nanto , located in Nara . The temple is the headquarters of the Hossō school of Japanese Buddhism . Yakushi-ji is one of the sites that are collectively inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site , under the name of Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara . The main object of veneration , Yakushi Nyorai , also named The Medicine Buddha , was one of the first Buddhist Deities to arrive in Japan from China in 680 , and gives the temple its name .
Tōshōdai-ji ( 唐招提寺 ) is a Buddhist temple of the Risshū sect in the city of Nara , in Nara Prefecture , Japan . The Classic Golden Hall , also known as the kondō , has a single story , hipped tiled roof with a seven bay wide facade . It is considered the archetype of classical style . It was founded in 759 by the Tang dynasty Chinese monk Jianzhen during the Nara period . Jianzhen was hired by the newly empowered clans to travel in search of funding from private aristocrats as well . Tōshōdai-ji is one of the places in Nara that UNESCO has designated as World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara . A reflection written by Yan Wenjing on the hope for friendly Sino-Japanese relations describing the author 's discovery of Lotus flowers imported from China which had been planted around the portrait of Jianzhen in the Tōshōdai-ji is included as one of the oral assessment passages on the Putonghua Proficiency Test .
Heijō Palace ( 平城宮 , Heijō-kyū ) was the imperial residence in the Japanese capital city Heijō-kyō ( today 's Nara ) , during most of the Nara period . The palace , which served as the imperial residence and the administrative centre of for most of the Nara period from 710 to 794 AD , was located at the north-central location of the city in accordance with the Chinese models used for the design of the capital . The palace consisted of a large rectangular walled enclosure ( the daidairi ) , which contained several ceremonial and administrative buildings including the government ministries . Inside this enclosure was the separately walled residential compound of the emperor or the Inner Palace . In addition to the emperor 's living quarters , the Inner Palace contained the residences of the imperial consorts , as well as certain official and ceremonial buildings more closely linked to the person of the emperor . The original role of the palace was to manifest the centralised government model adopted by Japan from China in the 7th century - the Daijō-kan and its subsidiary Eight Ministries . The palace was designed to provide an appropriate setting for the emperor 's residence , the conduct of great affairs of state , and the accompanying ceremonies . After the capital was moved to Heian , the palace structures were either moved there or suffered several fires and other disasters and disappeared . The site was built over for agriculture that almost no trace of it remained , however the location was still known . Excavations started in the 1970s and large-scale reconstruction based on contemporary literary sources and excavations starting in the 2000s . The excavated remains of the palace , and the surrounding area , was established as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998 along with a number of other buildings and area , as the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara .
Kasuga Grand Shrine ( 春日大社 , Kasuga-taisha ) is a Shinto shrine in Nara , Nara Prefecture , Japan . Established in 768 CE and rebuilt several times over the centuries , it is the shrine of the Fujiwara family . The interior is famous for its many bronze lanterns , as well as the many stone lanterns that lead up the shrine . The architectural style Kasuga-zukuri takes its name from Kasuga Shrine 's honden ( sanctuary ) . Kasuga Shrine , and the Kasugayama Primeval Forest near it , are registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara . The path to Kasuga Shrine passes through a deer park . In the deer park , deer are able to roam freely and are believed to be sacred messengers of the Shinto gods that inhabit the shrine and surrounding mountainous terrain . Kasuga Shrine and the deer have been featured in several paintings and works of art of the Nambokucho Period . Over three thousand stone lanterns line the way . The Man'yo Botanical Garden is adjacent to the shrine .
The UNESCO World Heritage Site Shrines and Temples of Nikkō encompasses 103 buildings or structures and the natural setting around them . It is located in Nikkō , Tochigi Prefecture , Japan . The buildings belong to two Shinto shrines ( Futarasan Shrine and Tōshō-gū ) and one Buddhist temple ( Rinnō-ji ) . Nine of the structures are designated National Treasures of Japan while the remaining 94 are Important Cultural Properties . UNESCO listed the site as World Heritage in 1999 .
Tochigi Prefecture ( 栃木県 , Tochigi-ken ) is a prefecture located in the Kantō region of Japan . The capital is the city of Utsunomiya . Nikkō , with its ancient Shintō shrines and Buddhist temples , is a UNESCO World Heritage Site . Other famous parts of Tochigi include a region called Nasu known for onsen and local sake and ski resorts . The Imperial Family has a villa in Nasu . Nasu-Shiobara is a major Shinkansen station .
Futarasan jinja ( 二荒山神社 ) is a Shinto shrine in the city of Nikkō , Tochigi Prefecture , Japan . It is also known as Nikkō Futarasan Shrine , to distinguish it from the shrine in nearby Utsunomiya . Futarasan enshrines three deities : Ōkuninushi , Tagorihime , and Ajisukitakahikone . It is located between Nikkō Tōshō-gū and the Taiyū-in Mausoleum . Many visitors go to all three , as well as to Rinnō-ji . Together with Nikkō Tōshō-gū and Rinnō-ji , it forms the Shrines and Temples of Nikkō UNESCO World Heritage Site . The shrine possesses two swords that are National treasures of Japan . Additionally , dozens of buildings and cultural artifacts are listed as Important Cultural Assets . The Sacred Bridge ( 神橋 , shinkyō ) crossing the Daiya River belongs to the Futarasan Shrine . This beautiful vermilion lacquered structure is known as one of the three most beautiful bridges in Japan and is a perfect gateway for Nikko . The bridge was registered as a World Heritage in December 1999 . Shinkyo measures 28 meters long , 7.4 meters wide , and stands 10.6 meters above the Daiya River .
Rinnō-ji ( 輪王寺 ) is a Tendai Buddhist temple buildings in the city of Nikkō , Tochigi Prefecture , Japan .
Nikkō Tōshō-gū ( 日光東照宮 ) is a Tōshō-gū Shinto shrine located in Nikkō , Tochigi Prefecture , Japan . Together with Futarasan Shrine and Rinnō-ji , it forms the Shrines and Temples of Nikkō UNESCO World Heritage Site , with 42 structures of the shrine included in the nomination . Five of them are designated as National Treasures of Japan , and three more as Important Cultural Properties .
The Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu ( 琉球王国のグスク及び関連遺産群 , Ryūkyū ōkoku no gusuku oyobi kanren'isangun ) is an UNESCO World Heritage Site which consists of nine sites all located in the Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . The heritage sites include two utaki ( or sacred sites , one a gate and the other a grove ) , the Tamaudun mausoleum , one garden , and five gusuku castles sites , four of which are ruins and one of which is a reconstruction . The sites were inscribed based on the criteria that they were a fine representation of the Ryūkyū Kingdom 's culture , whose unique blend of Japanese and Chinese influence made it a crucial economic and cultural junction between several neighboring states .
Okinawa Prefecture ( Japanese : 沖縄県 , Hepburn : Okinawa-ken , Okinawan : ウチナー Uchinaa , Kunigami : フチナー Fuchinaa ) is the southernmost prefecture of Japan . It encompasses two thirds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over 1,000 kilometres ( 620 mi ) long . The Ryukyu Islands extend southwest from Kagoshima Prefecture on Kyushu ( the southwesternmost of Japan 's four main islands ) to Taiwan . Naha , Okinawa 's capital , is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island .
Tamaudun ( 玉陵 ) is one of the three royal mausoleums of the Ryukyu Kingdom , along with Urasoe yōdore at Urasoe Castle and Izena Tamaudun near Izena Castle in Izena , Okinawa . The mausoleum is located in Shuri , Okinawa , and was built for Ryūkyūan royalty in 1501 by King Shō Shin , the third king of the Second Shō Dynasty a short distance from Shuri Castle .
Sonohyan-utaki ( 園比屋武御嶽 , Okinawan : スヌファンウタキ Sunufan-utaki ) is a sacred grove of trees and plants ( utaki ) of the traditional indigenous Ryukyuan religion . It is located on the grounds of Shuri Castle in Naha , Okinawa , a few paces away from the Shureimon castle gate . The utaki , or more specifically its stone gate ( 石門 , ishimon ) , is one of a number of sites which together comprise the UNESCO World Heritage Site officially described as Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu , and has been designated an Important Cultural Property by the Japanese national government . While the gates were once opened only for the king , today they are always closed , and so the gates have in a way become a sacred space themselves , representative of the actual sacred space behind them . Many travellers and locals come to pray at the gates . The stone gate was first built in 1519 , during the reign of Ryukyuan king Shō Shin , though the space had been recognized as a sacred utaki prior to that . Whenever the king left the castle on a journey , he would first stop at Sonohyan-utaki to pray for safe travels . The site also played an important role in the initiation of the High Priestess ( 聞得大君 , kikoe-ōgimi ) of the native religion . The gate is said to be a prime example of traditional Okinawan architecture , and shows many signs of Chinese influence , along with a Japanese-influenced gable in the karahafu style . It was severely damaged in the 1945 battle of Okinawa , but was restored in 1957 , and officially designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000 , along with a number of other sites across Okinawa Island . The utaki , i.e . the sacred grove itself , was once much larger than it is today , an elementary school and other buildings having encroached upon the space .
Nakijin Castle ( 今帰仁城 , Nakijin Gusuku , Kunigami : Nachijin Gushiiku , Okinawan : Nachijin Gushiku ) is a Ryukyuan gusuku located in Nakijin , Okinawa . It is currently in ruins . In the late 14th century , the island of Okinawa consisted of three principalities : Nanzan to the south , Chūzan in the central area , and Hokuzan in the north . Nakijin was the capital of Hokuzan . The fortress includes several sacred Utaki groves , reflecting the castle 's role as a center of religious activity . It is today known for the Hikan cherries which bloom in northern Okinawa between mid-January and early February , providing the first cherry blossoms each year in Japan .
Zakimi Castle ( 座喜味城 , Zakimi jō , Okinawan : Zachimi Gushiku ) is a Ryukyuan gusuku in Yomitan , Okinawa . It is in ruins , but the walls and foundations have been restored .
Katsuren Castle ( 勝連城 , Katsuren jō , Okinawan : Kacchin Gushiku ) is a Ryukyuan gusuku in Uruma , Okinawa . It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site .
Nakagusuku Castle ( 中城城 , Nakagusuku jō , Okinawan : Nakagushiku ) is a gusuku in the village of Kitanakagusuku , Okinawa , Japan . It is one of a number of castles built on the island of Okinawa by the Ryukyu Kingdom now in ruins . The legendary Ryukyuan commander , Gosamaru , built the fortress in the early 15th century to defend against attacks from the east by Lord Amawari of Katsuren Castle . Amawari attacked the castle in 1458 and defeated Gosamaru shortly before his own castle was attacked by Uni-Ufugusuku . The castle was visited by Commodore Matthew C. Perry in 1853 , who noted that the walls seemed to be designed to absorb cannon fire . The six courtyards of this fortress with stacked stone walls make it a prime example of a gusuku . It was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2000 . It is regarded as one of the 100 most famous castles in Japan . Less than 50 metres ( 55 yards ) away from the castle is the Nakagusuku Hotel ruins .
Shuri Castle ( 首里城 , Shuri-jō , Okinawan : Sui Gushiku ) is a Ryukyuan gusuku castle in Shuri , Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . Between 1429 and 1879 , it was the palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom , before becoming largely neglected . In 1945 , during the Battle of Okinawa , it was almost completely destroyed . After the war , the castle was re-purposed as a university campus . Beginning in 1992 , the central citadel and walls were largely reconstructed on the original site based on historical records , photographs , and memory . On the morning of 31 October 2019 , the main courtyard structures of the castle were again destroyed in a fire .
The gardens of Shikina-en ( 識名園 ) are located on a small hill to the south of Shuri Castle in Naha , Okinawa . The residence and its gardens are also known as Shichina-nu-Udun ( シチナヌウドゥン ) or Southern Gardens ( 南苑 ) , as opposed to the Eastern Gardens ( 東苑 ) or Uchayaudun ( 御茶屋御殿 ) , laid out on a small hill east of Shuri Castle in 1677 . In 1992 Hiroshi Shō , the great-grandson of Shō Tai , the last king of the Ryūkyū Kingdom , donated the royal mausoleum of Tamaudun and Shikina-en to the City of Naha .
Sefa-utaki ( 斎場御嶽 , Okinawan : シェーファウタキ Seefa-utaki ) , meaning purified place of Utaki , is a historical sacred space , overlooking Kudaka Island , that served as one of the key locations of worship in the native religion of the Ryukyuan people for millennia . Later as a part of assimilation of Okinawa by Japan , it was shifted to serve as a Shinto Shrine . It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu in Nanjō , Okinawa . Sefa Utaki is on the Chinen Peninsula , and has been recognized as a sacred place since the earliest period of Ryukyuan history . According to Chūzan Seikan , this was the spot where Amamikyu , goddess of creation , made landfall on Okinawa . The shrine area itself comprises a number of caves and overhanging ledges opening to the east and south among towering rock formations of a high promontory over the sea . All buildings have been destroyed , but the outer and inner precincts can still be traced .
Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located on the Kii Peninsula in Japan .
Wakayama Prefecture ( 和歌山県 , Wakayama-ken ) is a prefecture of Japan on the Kii Peninsula in the Kansai region , located on the southernmost point of Honshū island . The capital is the city of Wakayama .
Mie Prefecture ( 三重県 , Mie-ken ) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu . Mie Prefecture has a population of 1,781,948 ( 1 June 2019 ) and has a geographic area of 5,774 km² ( 2,229 sq mi ) . Mie Prefecture borders Gifu Prefecture to the north , Shiga Prefecture and Kyoto Prefecture to the northwest , Nara Prefecture to the west , Wakayama Prefecture to the southwest , and Aichi Prefecture to the east . Tsu is the capital and Yokkaichi is the largest city of Mie Prefecture , with other major cities including Suzuka , Matsusaka , and Kuwana . Mie Prefecture is located on the eastern coast of the Kii Peninsula , forming the western side of Ise Bay which features the mouths of the Kiso Three Rivers . Mie Prefecture is a popular tourism destination home to Nagashima Spa Land , Suzuka International Racing Course , and some of the oldest and holiest sites in Shinto , the traditional religion of Japan , including the Ise Grand Shrine and the Tsubaki Grand Shrine .
Seiganto-ji ( 青岸渡寺 ) , Temple of Crossing the Blue Shore , is a Tendai Buddhist temple in Wakayama Prefecture , Japan . In 2004 , it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with other locations , under the name Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range . According to a legend , it was founded by the priest Ragyō Shōnin , a monk from India . The temple was purposely built near Nachi Falls , where it may have previously been a site of nature worship . Seiganto-ji is part of the Kumano Sanzan shrine complex , and as such can be considered one of the few jingū-ji ( shrine temples , see article Shinbutsu shūgō ) still in existence after the forcible separation of Shinto and Buddhism operated by the Japanese government during the Meiji restoration . It is Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage 's No.1 ( first stop ) and an Important Cultural Properties of Japan .
Kumano Hayatama Taisha ( 熊野速玉大社 ) is a Shinto shrine located in Shingu , Wakayama Prefecture , on the shores of the Kumanogawa in the Kii Peninsula of Japan . It is included as part of the Kumano Sanzan in the UNESCO World Heritage site Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range . The three Kumano Sanzan shrines are the Sōhonsha ( head shrines ) of all Kumano shrines , lie at between 20 and 40 km of distance one from the other and are connected by the pilgrimage route known as Kumano Sankeimichi ( 熊野参詣道 ) .
Kongōbu-ji ( 金剛峯寺 ) is the ecclesiastic head temple of Koyasan Shingon Buddhism , located on Mount Kōya ( 高野山 , Kōya-san ) , Wakayama prefecture , Japan . Its name means Temple of the Diamond Mountain Peak . It is part of the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range UNESCO World Heritage Site . The temple was first constructed as Seigan-ji Temple in 1593 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi on the death of his mother , rebuilt in 1861 , and given its present name in 1869 . It contains many sliding screen doors painted by Kanō Tanyū ( 1602-1674 ) and members of the Kyoto Kanō school . The temples modern Banryūtei ( 蟠龍庭 rock garden ) is Japan 's largest ( 2340 square meters ) , with 140 granite stones arranged to suggest a pair of dragons emerging from clouds to protect the temple . The 413th abbot of Kongobuji is Reverend Keiho Nakanishi , who also acts as the archbishop of the Koyasan Shingon school . At the temple , visitors can listen to the sermons of the monks and participate in ajikan meditation sessions . The term ajikan refers to a fundamental breathing and meditation method of Shingon Buddhism : meditating on the letter A written using the Siddhaṃ alphabet .
Niukanshōfu Shrine or Niukanshōbu Shrine ( 丹生官省符神社 , Niukanshōfu-jinja , Niukanshōbu-jinja ) is a Shinto shrine in Ito district , Wakayama Prefecture , Japan . In 2004 , it was designated as part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range .
Kumano Hongū Taisha ( 熊野本宮大社 ) is a Shinto shrine located in Tanabe , Wakayama , deep in the rugged mountains of the Kii Peninsula of Japan . It is included as part of the Kumano Sanzan in the World Heritage site Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range . The main deity enshrined is Kumano Gongen ( 熊野権現 ) . All of the ancient Kumano Kodō routes lead to the Grand Shrine . It was originally located at present Ōyunohara ( 大斎原 ) , on a sandbank at the confluence of the Kumano River and Otonashi River . In 1889 , it was partially destroyed in a flood and the remaining shrine buildings were relocated at its present site in 1891 . Of the original five main pavilions only three were rebuilt . Four deities were moved there and the other eight are still enshrined there in two stone monuments .
Niutsuhime Shrine or Nibutsuhime Shrine ( 丹生都比売神社 , Niutsuhime-jinja , Nibutsuhime-jinja ) is a Shinto shrine in Ito district , Wakayama Prefecture , Japan . The main hall is partially built in the kasuga-zukuri style . In 2004 , it was designated as part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range .
Yoshino Mountain ( 吉野山 , Yoshino-yama ) is a mountain located in the town of Yoshino in Yoshino District , Nara Prefecture , Japan . In 2004 it was designated as part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range . Yoshino Mountain was the subject of a waka poem in the 10th century poetry compilation Kokin Wakashū . It is also the subject of several poems in the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu . Several important religious and pilgrimage destinations are located around Mount Yoshino , including Yoshino Mikumari Shrine , Kimpu Shrine and Kimpusen-ji . It is well known for its cherry blossoms and attracts many visitors every spring . Yoshino Mountain is famous for its many thousands of sakura trees , and is heavily referenced in both traditional waka poetry and folk song for its abundance of flowers in the spring , with famous poets such as Chiyo offering prose on the peak and its many flowers . These flowering specimen trees were planted in four groves at different altitudes , in part so that the famed trees would come into bloom at different times of the spring . A 1714 account explained that , on their climb to the top , travelers would be able to enjoy the lower 1,000 cherry trees at the base , the middle 1,000 on the way , the upper 1,000 toward the top , and the 1,000 in the precincts of the inner shrine at the top . Famous products that can be found in shops in the area of Mount Yoshino include edible goods made from kudzu root and persimmon leaf-wrapped sushi ( kakinoha-zushi ) .
Ōminesan-ji ( 大峯山寺 , Ōminesan-ji ) is an important temple of the Shugendō religion in Yoshino district , Nara prefecture , Japan . It is located at the peak of Mount Ōmine , or Sanjōgatake . According to tradition , it was founded by En no Ozunu , the founder of Shugendō , a form of mountain asceticism drawing from Buddhist and Shinto beliefs . The sanctuary around the Sanjōgatake peak ( 山上ヶ岳 ) has long been considered sacred in Shugendō , and women are not allowed in the area beyond four gates on the route to the peak . On the neighboring Inamuragatake peak ( 稲村ヶ岳 ) , altitude 1,726 m , it has been opened as a place of training for female believers since 1959 , thus called Women 's Ōmine ( 女人大峯 , Nyonin Ōmine ) . In 2004 , Ōminesan-ji was designated as part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range .
Kōyasan chōishi-michi ( 高野山町石道 ) is a twenty-four kilometre path with a stone marker ( ishi ) every 109 metres ( chō ) leading to Kōyasan , Wakayama Prefecture , Japan . Created by Kūkai and within the Kōyasan Chōishi-michi Tamagawa Prefectural Park ( 高野山町石道玉川峡県立自然公園 ) , it forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site : Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range .
Jison-in ( 慈尊院 ) is a Buddhist temple in the town of Kudoyama that marks the entrance to the pilgrimage route of Koyasan . It is part of the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range UNESCO World Heritage Site . The Koyasan complex includes
Yoshino Mikumari Shrine ( 吉野水分神社 , Yoshino Mikumari-jinja ) is a Shinto shrine located on Mount Yoshino in Yoshino district , Nara , Japan . It is closely associated with Emperor Go-Daigo . The Shrine is dedicated to mikumari [ Wikidata ] , a female Shinto kami associated with water , fertility and safe birth . Yoshino Mikumari Shrine is one of four important mikumari shrines in the former province Yamato . The shrine also houses six kami that are more or less related to mikumari ( Takami-musubi-no-kami , Sukuna-hiko-no-kami , Mikogami , Ama-tsu-hiko-hi-no-ninigi-no-mikoto ] , Tamayori-hime-no-mikoto , and Yorozu-hata-toyo-akitsushi-hime-no-mikoto ) . A wooden statue of the deity Tamayori hime is registered as a National Treasure of Japan . The present-day buildings go back to 1605 , when Toyotomi Hideyori rebuilt the shrine , as his father Toyotomi Hideyoshi once had prayed here for a son and successor . The main hall ( honden ) , an Important Cultural Property，is an unusual structure 9 ken long and 2 ken wide . Built in the nagare-zukuri style , it has however an independent 1x1 ken unit in the kasuga-zukuri style at the center . The three resulting edifices all lie under the same bark roof , which has three dormer gables . In 2004 , it was designated as part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range .
Kinpu Shrine ( 金峯神社 , Kinpu-jinja ) is a Shinto shrine located in Yoshino district , Nara Prefecture , Japan . The honden , or main hall , is constructed in the nagare-zukuri style . In 2004 , it was designated as part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range .
Kinpusen-ji ( 金峯山寺 , Kinpusen-ji ) is the head temple of a branch of the Shugendō religion called Kinpusen-Shugendō in Yoshino district , Nara Prefecture , Japan . According to tradition , it was founded by En no Gyōja , who propagated a form of mountain asceticism drawing from Shinto and Buddhist beliefs . The temple 's main building , the Zaō-Hall ( Zaōdō ) dedicated to Zaō gongen ( 蔵王権現 ) , is the second largest wooden structure in Japan after the Great Buddha Hall at Tōdai-ji in Nara . Kinpusen-ji is a junction in a series of stops on pilgrimage routes . A Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari Ōkami is attached to the main compound . In 1963 , the Temple constructed a hall named Southern Court Mystic Law Hall ( Nanchō Myōhōden ) to appease the soul of the four emperors of the Southern Court and others who lost their lives in many battles since the Northern and Southern Courts period ( Nanboku-chō period , 1336-1392 ) . The principal image is the statue of Gautama Buddha ( Shaka Nyōrai ) . In 2004 , it was designated as part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range .
Yoshimizu Shrine ( 吉水神社 , Yoshimizu-jinja ) is a Shinto shrine located on Mount Yoshino in Yoshino district , Nara , Japan . It is dedicated to Emperor Go-Daigo , and the samurai Kusunoki Masashige . In 2004 , it was designated as part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range . In 2014 the temple was embroiled in a scandal when it was discovered that head priest Satō Kazuhiko 's private blog contained extreme hate speech towards Chinese and Koreans , in addition to him being the head of a local right-wing extremist group .
Kumano Nachi Taisha ( 熊野那智大社 ) is a Shinto shrine and part of the UNESCO-designated World Heritage Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range of Japan . The Kumano Kodō route connects it to other sites under the same classification , which are primarily located in Wakayama Prefecture , Japan . The four sites on the route , classified as pilgrimage destinations and World Heritage Sites , are : 1 ) Nachi Taisha ; 2 ) Hongū Taisha ; 3 ) Hayatama Taisha ; 4 ) Koya-san . Kumano Nachi Taisha is also one of the three sacred Kumano Sanzan shrines :
Nachi Falls ( 那智滝 , Nachi no Taki ) in Nachikatsuura , Wakayama Prefecture , Japan , is one of the best-known waterfalls in Japan . With a drop of 133 meters ( and 13 meters wide ) , it is the country 's tallest water fall with single uninterrupted drop ; however , the tallest waterfalls with multiple drops in Japan are Hannoki Falls , at 497 m ( seasonal ) , and Shōmyō Falls , at 350m ( year round ) . There are two rocks at the top of the falls that are the guardian kami of the falls and the Shinto shrine . There was also a Buddhist temple here that was destroyed during the Meiji Restoration ( late 19th century ) . Many shugenja and star-crossed lovers have leaped from the top of the waterfall in the belief that they will be reborn into Kannons paradise . Early each morning the Shinto priest make offerings to the waterfall in a ritual . In 1918 , a Sutra mound was excavated at the base of the waterfall and found to contain many important archaeological artifacts , including statues , mirrors , altar fittings and Sutra cylinders . These are now displayed in the Ryuhoden ( Treasure Hall ) , located next to the Sanjūdō Pagoda ( the 3-story pagoda ) . These Sutra mounds were created by priests in times of war to hide their treasures but also many items were buried in this way as a result of the belief that the end of the world was coming at the start of the 10th century . Believed to house a kami called Hiryū Gongen worshiped at Kumano Nachi Taisha , it is part of the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range UNESCO World Heritage Site .
Fudarakusan-ji ( 補陀洛山寺 , Fudarakusan-ji ) is Tendai temple of the Higashimuro district , Wakayama prefecture , Japan . The name of temple comes from mount Potalaka . It is said to have been founded by Ragyō Shōnin , a monk from India . In 2004 , it was designated as part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range .
The Kumano Kodō ( 熊野古道 ) is a series of ancient pilgrimage routes that crisscross the Kii Hantō , the largest peninsula of Japan . These sacred trails were and are used for the pilgrimage to the sacred site Kumano Sanzan ( 熊野三山 ) or the Three Grand Shrines of Kumano : Kumano Hongū Taisha ( 熊野本宮大社 ) , Kumano Nachi Taisha ( 熊野那智大社 ) and Kumano Hayatama Taisha ( 熊野速玉大社 ) . [ citation needed ] The Kumano Kodō pilgrimage routes that lead to Kumano can be categorized into three sub-routes : Kiji ; Kohechi ; and Iseji . [ citation needed ] On 7 July 2004 the Kumano Kodō and Kumano Sanzan , along with Koyasan and Yoshino and Omine , were registered as World Heritage sites together as the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range .
Shiretoko National Park ( 知床国立公園 , Shiretoko Kokuritsu Kōen ) covers most of the Shiretoko Peninsula at the northeastern tip of the island of Hokkaidō , Japan . The word Shiretoko is derived from an Ainu word sir etok , meaning the place where the earth protrudes . One of the most remote regions in Japan , much of the peninsula is only accessible on foot or by boat . Shiretoko is best known as the home of Japan 's largest brown bear population and for offering views of Kunashiri Island , ownership of which Japan and Russia dispute . The park has a hot springs waterfall called Kamuiwakka Falls ( カムイワッカの滝 , Kamuiwakka-no-taki ) . Kamui wakka means water of the gods in Ainu . The forests of the park are temperate and subalpine mixed forests ; the main tree species include Sakhalin fir ( Abies sachalinensis ) , Erman 's birch ( Betula ermanii ) and Mongolian oak ( Quercus mongolica ) . Beyond the forest limit there are impenetrable Siberian dwarf pine ( Pinus pumila ) thickets . In 2005 , UNESCO designated the area a World Heritage Site , advising to develop the property jointly with the Kuril Islands of Russia as a transboundary World Heritage Peace Park . Shiretoko 's listing as Natural Heritage was seen by the Indigenous Ainu as contradicting the long history of Ainu settlement in the park area . The Shiretoko Park Nature Center is in Shari . It serves as the visitor center and includes a movie about the park , a restaurant , and a gift shop .
Hokkaido ( 北海道 , Hokkaidō , lit . Northern Sea Circuit ; Japanese : [ hokːaꜜidoː ] ( listen ) , English : /hɒˈkaɪdoʊ/ ) is the second largest main island of Japan , and the largest and northernmost prefecture . The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu . It was formerly known as Ezo , Yezo , Yeso , or Yesso . The two islands are connected by the undersea railway Seikan Tunnel . The largest city on Hokkaido is its capital , Sapporo , which is also its only ordinance-designated city . About 43 kilometers ( 26 mi ) north of Hokkaido lies Sakhalin Island and to the east and northeast are the Kuril Islands , which are administered by Russia , although the four most southerly are claimed by Japan - see Kuril Islands dispute .
The Iwami Ginzan ( 石見銀山 ) was an underground silver mine in the city of Ōda , in Shimane Prefecture on the main island of Honshu , Japan . It was the largest silver mine in Japanese history . It was active for almost four hundred years , from its discovery in 1526 to its closing in 1923 . The mines , mining structures , and surrounding cultural landscape - listed as the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape - became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007 .
Shimane Prefecture ( 島根県 , Shimane-ken ) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu . Shimane Prefecture is the second-least populous prefecture of Japan at 689,963 ( 2016 ) and has a geographic area of 6,708.24 km2 ( 2,590.07 sq mi ) . Shimane Prefecture borders Yamaguchi Prefecture to the southwest , Hiroshima Prefecture to the south , and Tottori Prefecture to the east . Matsue is the capital and largest city of Shimane Prefecture , with other major cities including Izumo , Hamada , and Masuda . Shimane Prefecture contains the majority of the Lake Shinji-Nakaumi metropolitan area centered on Matsue , and with a population of approximately 600,000 is the second-largest on the Sea of Japan coast after Niigata . Shimane Prefecture is bounded by the Sea of Japan coastline on the north , where two-thirds of the population live , and the Chūgoku Mountains on the south . Shimane Prefecture governs the Oki Islands in the Sea of Japan which juridically includes theTakeshima ( 竹島 ) . Shimane Prefecture is home to Izumo-taisha , one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan , and the Tokugawa-era Matsue Castle .
A daikansho ( 代官所 ) was the office of a magistrate ( daikan ) during the Edo period ( 18th & 19th century ) of Japanese history .
In Buddhism , an arhat ( Sanskrit ) or arahant ( Pali ) is one who has gained insight into the true nature of existence and has achieved nirvana . Mahayana Buddhist traditions have used the term for people far advanced along the path of Enlightenment , but who may not have reached full Buddhahood . The understanding of the concept has changed over the centuries , and varies between different schools of Buddhism and different regions . A range of views on the attainment of arhats existed in the early Buddhist schools . The Sarvāstivāda , Kāśyapīya , Mahāsāṃghika , Ekavyāvahārika , Lokottaravāda , Bahuśrutīya , Prajñaptivāda , and Caitika schools all regarded arhats as imperfect in their attainments compared to buddhas . Mahayana Buddhist teachings urge followers to take up the path of a bodhisattva , and to not fall back to the level of arhats and śrāvakas . The arhats , or at least the senior arhats , came to be widely regarded by Theravada buddhists as moving beyond the state of personal freedom to join the Bodhisattva enterprise in their own way . Mahayana Buddhism regarded a group of Eighteen Arhats ( with names and personalities ) as awaiting the return of the Buddha as Maitreya , while other groupings of 6 , 8 , 16 , 100 , and 500 also appear in tradition and Buddhist art , especially in East Asia called luohan or lohan . They may be seen as the Buddhist equivalents of the Christian saint , apostles or early disciples and leaders of the faith .
Hiraizumi - Temples , Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land is a grouping of five sites from late eleventh- and twelfth-century Hiraizumi , Iwate Prefecture , Japan . The serial nomination was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2011 , under criteria ii and vi .
Iwate Prefecture ( 岩手県 , Iwate-ken ) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region of Honshu . Iwate Prefecture has a population of 1,229,432 ( 1 June 2019 ) and is the second-largest prefecture at 15,275 km² ( 5,897 sq mi ) . Iwate Prefecture borders Aomori Prefecture to the north , Akita Prefecture to the west , and Miyagi Prefecture to the south . Morioka is the capital and largest city of Iwate Prefecture , with other major cities including Ichinoseki , Ōshū , and Hanamaki . Iwate Prefecture is located on Japan 's Pacific Ocean coast and features the easternmost point of Honshu at Cape Todo . Iwate Prefecture shares the highest peaks of the Ōu Mountains , the longest mountain range in Japan , at the border with Akita Prefecture . Iwate Prefecture is home to famous attractions such as Morioka Castle , the Buddhist temples of Hiraizumi including Chūson-ji and Mōtsū-ji , the Fujiwara no Sato movie lot and theme park in Ōshū , and the Tenshochi park in Kitakami known for its big , old cherry trees . Iwate Prefecture has the lowest population density of any prefecture outside Hokkaido and 5% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks .
Chūson-ji ( 中尊寺 ) is a Buddhist temple in the town of Hiraizumi in southern Iwate Prefecture , Japan . It is the head temple of the Tendai sect in Tōhoku region of northern Honshu . The temple claims it was founded in 850 by Ennin , the third chief abbot of the sect . George Sansom states Chūson-ji was founded by Fujiwara no Kiyohira in 1095 . Chūson-ji is designated as a Special Historic Site and in June 2011 was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a part of the Historic Monuments and Sites of Hiraizumi .
Mōtsū-ji ( 毛越寺 ) is a Buddhist temple of the Tendai sect in the town of Hiraizumi in southern Iwate Prefecture ] , Japan , and also refers to the historic area surrounding it containing the ruins of two older temples , Enryū-ji ( 圓隆寺 ) and Kashō-ji ( 嘉祥寺 ) in a Jōdo ( Pure Land ) garden . The current temple was built in the 18th century and bears no relation to the ancient temple structures that once stood here . In June 2011 , Mōtsū-ji was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as Historic Monuments and Sites of Hiraizumi .
Kanjizaiō-in ( 観自在王院 ) is former temple in Hiraizumi in what is now southern Iwate Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan . The temple was founded by the wife of Fujiwara no Motohira , the second of the Northern Fujiwara rulers , and was located directly across from Enryū-ji and Kashō-ji , twin temples founded by her husband . As with other Buddhist temples in the Hiraizumi area , the temple shared the Pure Land theme with a large pond surrounded by gardens . The pond was fed by a stream from Mōtsū-ji . Both Mōtsū-ji and Kanjizaiō-in also had large earthen walls surrounding their compounds with majestic entrance gates . Whereas the temple structures at Mōtsū-ji were elaborate and opulent , the buildings at Kanjizaiō-in were much plainer and simpler . Kanjizaiō-in consisted of a Large Amida Hall and a Small Amida Hall . Bridges from the entrance gate on the south to an island in the center of the pond led to the Amida Halls on the northern side of the pond . There may have been a pagoda on the eastern as well . The Large Amida Hall contained an Amida triad and its walls were painted with scenes of Kyoto . The walls of the Small Amida Hall were decorated with poems written by Fujiwara no Norinaga much like the walls at Enryū-ji . It is possible that Motohira 's wife lived in the smaller hall and worshipped in the larger one .
The Bonin Islands , also known as the Ogasawara Islands ( 小笠原群島 , Ogasawara Guntō ) , or , Yslas del Arzobispo , are an archipelago of over 30 subtropical and tropical islands , some 1,000 kilometres ( 540 nmi ; 620 mi ) directly south of Tokyo , Japan . The name Bonin Islands comes from the Japanese word bunin ( an archaic reading of 無人 mujin ) , meaning no people or uninhabited . The only inhabited islands of the group are Chichijima ( 父島 ) , the seat of the municipal government , and Hahajima ( 母島 ) . Ogasawara Municipality ( mura ) and Ogasawara Subprefecture take their names from the Ogasawara Group . Ogasawara Archipelago ( 小笠原諸島 , Ogasawara shotō ) is also used as a wider collective term that includes other islands in Ogasawara Municipality , such as the Volcano Islands , along with three other remote islands ( Nishinoshima , Minami-Tori-shima and Okinotorishima ) . Geographically speaking , all of these islands are part of the Nanpō Islands . A total population of 2,440 ( 2015 ) , 2,000 on Chichijima and 440 on Hahajima , lives in the Ogasawara Group , which has a total area of 84 square kilometres ( 32 sq mi ) . Because the Ogasawara Islands have never been connected to a continent , many of their animals and plants have undergone unique evolutionary processes . This has led to the islands ' nickname of The Galápagos of the Orient , and their nomination as a natural World Heritage Site on June 24 , 2011 . The giant squid ( genus Architeuthis ) was photographed off the Ogasawara Islands for the first time in the wild on 30 September 2004 , and was filmed alive in December 2006 . A 25-metre-diameter ( 82 ft ) radio telescope is located in Chichijima , one of the stations of the very-long-baseline interferometry ( VLBI ) Exploration of Radio Astrometry ( VERA ) project , and is operated by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan .
Tokyo ( 東京 , Tōkyō , English : /ˈtoʊkioʊ/ , Japanese : [ toːkʲoː ] ( listen ) ) , officially Tokyo Metropolis ( 東京都 , Tōkyō-to ) , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan . The capital of Japan , it houses the Emperor of Japan and the Japanese government . Tokyo forms part of the Kantō region on the southeastern side of Japan 's main island , Honshu , and includes the Izu and Ogasawara Islands . Originally a small fishing village named Edo ( 江戸 ) , the city became a prominent political center of Japan when Shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu made the city his headquarters in 1603 . When Emperor Meiji moved the imperial seat to the city from Kyoto in 1868 , Edo was renamed Tokyo , literally the Eastern Capital . The Tokyo Metropolis formed in 1943 from the merger of the former Tokyo Prefecture ( 東京府 , Tōkyō-fu ) and the city of Tokyo ( 東京市 , Tōkyō-shi ) . While commonly referred to as a city , Tokyo is a collective entity of multiple smaller municipalities , including 23 special wards and various bed towns in the western area . Modern Tokyo is categorized as an alpha+ city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network . As of 2019 , the population of Tokyo was estimated to be over 13.9 million , making it Japan 's most populous prefecture . The metropolitan area is the world 's most populous with over 40 million people as well as the world 's largest urban agglomeration economy . As of 2011 [ update ] , Tokyo hosted 51 of the Fortune Global 500 companies , the highest number of any city in the world at that time . The city ranked sixth on the Global Financial Centres Index of 2019 .
Chichijima ( 父島 , Father Island ) , formerly known as Peel Island is the largest island in the Ogasawara archipelago . Chichijima is about 240 km ( 150 mi ) north of Iwo Jima . The island is within the political boundaries of Ogasawara Village , Ogasawara Subprefecture , Tokyo , Japan . Around 2,000 people live on its land area of 23.5 km2 ( 9.1 sq mi ) .
Hahajima ( 母島 , meaning Mother Island ) is the second-largest island of the Ogasawara Islands ( informally Bonin Islands ) south of the Japanese main island chain . It is about 21 km2 ( 8 sq mi ) in area with a population of 440 . The highest points are Chibusayama , ( literally Breast Mountain ) , approximately 462 metres ( 1,516 ft ) , and Sakaigatake , 443 metres ( 1,453 ft ) . The largest island of the group , Chichijima is located approximately 50 km ( 31 mi ) to the north . Together with nearby smaller islands like Anejima and Imōtojima and Mukōjima , Hahajima forms the Hahajima Rettō ( 母島列島 ) , or in former times , the Baily Group . The island is within the political boundaries of Ogasawara Village , Ogasawara Subprefecture , Tokyo , Japan .
Iwo Jima ( /ˌiːwoʊ ˈdʒiːmə/ , also US : /ˌiːwə ˈ-/ ) , known in Japan as Iwo To ( 硫黄島 , Iō-tō , lit . sulfur island ) , is one of the Japanese Volcano Islands and lies south of the Bonin Islands . Together with other islands , they form the Ogasawara Archipelago . The highest point of Iwo Jima is Mount Suribachi at 169 m ( 554 ft ) high . Although 1,200 kilometres ( 750 mi ; 650 nmi ) south of the metropolis of Tokyo on the mainland , this island of 21 km2 ( 8 square miles ) is administered as part of the Ogasawara Subprefecture of Tokyo and since July 1944 , when the civilian population was forcibly evacuated , has been only populated by military forces . The island was the location of the Battle of Iwo Jima between February 1945-March 1945 . The island became globally recognized when Joe Rosenthal , who worked for the Associated Press at the time , published his photograph Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima , which was photographed on Mount Suribachi . The US military occupied Iwo Jima until 1968 , when it was returned to Japan .
Mount Fuji ( 富士山 , Fujisan , IPA : [ ɸɯꜜ ( d ) ʑisaɴ ] ( listen ) ) , located on Honshū , is the highest volcano in Japan at 3,776.24 m ( 12,389 ft ) , 2nd-highest volcano of an island in Asia ( after Mount Kerinci in Sumatra ) , and 7th-highest peak of an island in the world . It is an active stratovolcano that last erupted in 1707-1708 . Mount Fuji lies about 100 kilometers ( 60 mi ) south-west of Tokyo , and can be seen from there on a clear day . Mount Fuji 's exceptionally symmetrical cone , which is snow-capped for about 5 months a year , is commonly used as a symbol of Japan and it is frequently depicted in art and photographs , as well as visited by sightseers and climbers . Mount Fuji is one of Japan 's Three Holy Mountains ( 三霊山 , Sanreizan ) along with Mount Tate and Mount Haku . It is also a Special Place of Scenic Beauty and one of Japan 's Historic Sites . It was added to the World Heritage List as a Cultural Site on June 22 , 2013 . According to UNESCO , Mount Fuji has inspired artists and poets and been the object of pilgrimage for centuries . UNESCO recognizes 25 sites of cultural interest within the Mount Fuji locality . These 25 locations include the mountain and the Shinto shrine , Fujisan Hongū Sengen Taisha , as well as the Buddhist Taisekiji Head Temple founded in 1290 , later depicted by Japanese ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai .
Shizuoka Prefecture ( 静岡県 , Shizuoka-ken ) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshu . Shizuoka Prefecture has a population of 3,637,998 ( 1 December 2019 ) and has a geographic area of 7,777.42 km² ( 3,002.88 sq mi ) . Shizuoka Prefecture borders Kanagawa Prefecture to the east , Yamanashi Prefecture to the northeast , Nagano Prefecture to the north , and Aichi Prefecture to the west . Shizuoka is the capital and Hamamatsu is the largest city in Shizuoka Prefecture , with other major cities including Fuji , Numazu , and Iwata . Shizuoka Prefecture is located on Japan 's Pacific Ocean coast and features Suruga Bay formed by the Izu Peninsula , and Lake Hamana which is considered to be one of Japan 's largest lakes . Mount Fuji , the tallest volcano in Japan and cultural icon of the country , is partially located in Shizuoka Prefecture on the border with Yamanashi Prefecture . Shizuoka Prefecture has a significant motoring heritage as the founding location of Honda , Suzuki , and Yamaha , and is home to the Fuji International Speedway .
Yamanashi Prefecture ( 山梨県 , Yamanashi-ken ) is a prefecture located in the Chūbu region of Japan . The prefecture is landlocked , featuring a fertile central valley , the Kōfu Basin , surrounded by many of the highest mountains in Japan including the highest , Mount Fuji located on the southern border with Shizuoka .
Fuji Five Lakes ( 富士五湖 , Fuji-goko ) is the name of the area located at the base of Mount Fuji in the Yamanashi Prefecture of Japan . It has a population of about 100,000 and sits about 1,000 meters ( 3,300 ft ) above sea level . The name Fuji Five Lakes comes from the fact that there are five lakes formed by previous eruptions of Mount Fuji . The principal city in the region , Fujiyoshida , has a population of roughly 54,000 and is particularly famous for its udon noodles . Another point of interest is Aokigahara Jukai Forest . The Fuji Five Lakes was selected by the Tokyo Nichi Nichi Shimbun and Osaka Mainichi Shimbun as one of the Twenty-Five Winning Sites of Japan in 1927 .
The Fujisan Hongū Sengen Taisha ( 富士山本宮浅間大社 ) is a Shintō shrine in the city of Fujinomiya in Shizuoka Prefecture , Japan . It is the ichinomiya of former Suruga Province , and is the head shrine of the 1300 Asama or Sengen shrines in the country . The shrine has an extensive location within downtown Fujinomiya ; in addition , the entire top of Mount Fuji from the 8th stage upwards is considered to be part of the shrine grounds . The main festival of the shrine is held annually on May 5 , and features yabusame performances . In 2013 , the shrine was added to the World Heritage List as part of the Fujisan Cultural Site .
Miho no Matsubara ( 三保の松原 , Miho Pine Grove ) is a scenic area on the Miho Peninsula in Shimizu Ward of Shizuoka City , Japan . Its seven-kilometre seashore is lined with pine trees . It is the location of the legend upon which the Noh drama Hagoromo is based ; on the second Saturday and Sunday of October , the city of Shizuoka holds a Hagoromo Festival and a performance of the Noh drama takes place near the pine tree of the legend . It was designated as a National Places of Scenic Beauty of Japan in 1922 . In 2013 the pine groves were added to the World Heritage List as part of the Fujisan Cultural Site .
Tomioka Silk Mill ( 富岡製糸場 , Tomioka Seishijō ) is Japan 's oldest modern model silk reeling factory , established in 1872 by the government to introduce modern machine silk reeling from France and spread its technology in Japan . The factory is designated by the government as a historic site and all its buildings are preserved in very good condition . It is a big factory in the old city of Tomioka , in Gunma prefecture , Japan - about 100 km northwest of Tokyo .
Gunma Prefecture ( 群馬県 , Gunma-ken ) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region . Its capital is Maebashi .
Sites of Japan 's Meiji Industrial Revolution : Iron and Steel , Shipbuilding and Coal Mining ( 明治日本の産業革命遺産 製鉄・鉄鋼、造船、石炭産業 , Meiji nihon no sangyōkakumei isan : seitetsu , tekkō , zōsen , sekitan sangyō ) are a group of historic sites that played an important part in the industrialization of Japan in the Bakumatsu and Meiji periods , and are part of the industrial heritage of Japan . In 2009 the monuments were submitted jointly for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List under criteria ii , iii , and iv . The sites were accepted at the 39th UNESCO World Heritage session . Eight areas are registered , with thirty component sites :
Kyushu ( 九州 , Kyūshū , pronounced [ kʲɯꜜːɕɯː ] ( listen ) ; literally Nine Provinces ) is the third largest island of Japan 's five main islands . Its alternative ancient names include Kyūkoku ( 九国 , Nine Countries ) , Chinzei ( 鎮西 , West of the Pacified Area ) , and Tsukushi-no-shima ( 筑紫島 , Island of Tsukushi ) . The historical regional name Saikaidō ( 西海道 , lit . West Sea Circuit ) referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands . In the 8th-century Taihō Code reforms , Dazaifu was established as a special administrative term for the region . As of 2016 [ update ] , Kyushu has a population of 12,970,479 and covers 36,782 square kilometres ( 14,202 sq mi ) .
Yamaguchi Prefecture ( 山口県 , Yamaguchi-ken ) is a prefecture of Japan in the Chūgoku region of the main island of Honshu . The capital is the city of Yamaguchi , in the center of the prefecture . The largest city , however , is Shimonoseki .
Hashima Island ( 端島 , or simply Hashima - -shima is a Japanese suffix for island ) , commonly called Gunkanjima ( 軍艦島 ; meaning Battleship Island ) , is an abandoned island lying about 15 kilometers ( 9 miles ) from the city of Nagasaki , in southern Japan . It is one of 505 uninhabited islands in Nagasaki Prefecture . The island 's most notable features are its abandoned concrete buildings , undisturbed except by nature , and the surrounding sea wall . While the island is a symbol of the rapid industrialization of Japan , it is also a reminder of its history as a site of forced labour prior to and during the Second World War . The 6.3-hectare ( 16-acre ) island was known for its undersea coal mines , established in 1887 , which operated during the industrialization of Japan . The island reached a peak population of 5,259 in 1959 . In 1974 , with the coal reserves nearing depletion , the mine was closed and all of the residents departed soon after , leaving the island effectively abandoned for the following three decades . Interest in the island re-emerged in the 2000s on account of its undisturbed historic ruins , and it gradually became a tourist attraction . Certain collapsed exterior walls have since been restored , and travel to Hashima was re-opened to tourists on April 22 , 2009 . Increasing interest in the island resulted in an initiative for its protection as a site of industrial heritage . The island was formally approved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2015 , as part of Japan 's Sites of Japan 's Meiji Industrial Revolution : Iron and Steel , Shipbuilding and Coal Mining .
Glover Garden ( グラバー園 , Gurabāen ) is a park in Nagasaki , Japan built for Thomas Blake Glover , a Scottish merchant who contributed to the modernization of Japan in shipbuilding , coal mining , and other fields . In it stands the Glover Residence , the oldest Western style house surviving in Japan and Nagasaki 's foremost tourist attraction . It is located on the Minamiyamate hillside overlooking Nagasaki harbor . It was built by Hidenoshin Koyama of Amakusa island and completed in 1863 . It has been designated as an Important Cultural Asset . As the house and its surroundings are reminiscent of Puccini 's opera , it is also known as the Madame Butterfly House . Statues of Puccini and diva Miura Tamaki , famed for her role as Cio-Cio-san , stand in the park near the house . This house was also the venue of Glover 's meetings with rebel samurai particularly from the Chōshū and Satsuma domains .
Miike coal mine ( 三池炭鉱 , Miike Tankō ) , also known as the Mitsui Miike Coal Mine ( 三井三池炭鉱 , Mitsui Miike Tankō ) , was the largest coal mine in Japan , located in the area of Ōmuta , Fukuoka and Arao , Kumamoto , Japan .
Mutsurejima Lighthouse ( 六連島灯台 , mutsurejima tōdai ) is a lighthouse on the island of Mutsurejima , which is administered by Shimonoseki , Yamaguchi , Japan .
Hagi ( 萩市 , Hagi-shi ) is a city located in Yamaguchi Prefecture , Japan , which was incorporated on July 1 , 1932 . As of May 31 , 2016 , the city has an estimated population of 50,179 and a population density of 71.80 of persons per km² . The total area is 698.86 km² .
The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier , an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement is a World Heritage Site consisting of a selection of 17 building projects in several countries by the Franco-Swiss architect Le Corbusier . These sites demonstrate how Modern Movement architecture was applied to respond to the needs of society and show the global range of a style and an architect .
The National Museum of Western Art ( 国立西洋美術館 , Kokuritsu Seiyō Bijutsukan , 'National Western Art Museum ' ) ( NMWA ) is the premier public art gallery in Japan specializing in art from the Western tradition . The museum is located in the museum and zoo complex in Ueno Park in Taito , central Tokyo . It received 1,162,345 visitors in 2016 .