UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Japan

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UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Japan is home to more than twenty UNESCO World Heritage Sites, spanning ancient temples and shrines, castles, historic villages, sacred mountains, and natural wonders. Together they tell the story of Japan's culture and landscapes.

How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites are in Japan?

Japan has 25 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 20 cultural and 5 natural, ranging from the temples of Kyoto and Nara to Himeji Castle, the historic villages of Shirakawa-go, and the forests of Yakushima.

What are the most famous World Heritage Sites in Japan?

Highlights include Himeji Castle, the historic monuments of Kyoto such as Kinkaku-ji, Itsukushima Shrine's floating torii, and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial.

Festival

Motsu-ji Temple Hatsukayasai Festival

The final day of this week-long Buddhist observance at a UNESCO World Heritage temple features torchlit processions and prayers for good fortune.

14–20 Jan 2027Exact date not confirmed yetHiraizumi · Iwate

Museum

Atomic Bomb Dome

The ruin of the former Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, about 160 meters from the hypocenter of the 1945 atomic bomb. A World Heritage Site.

Hiroshima

Pilgrimage

Kumano Kodo

For over a thousand years, the Kumano Kodo has led pilgrims through the mountains of Kii to the sacred Kumano Sanzan shrines - now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Wakayama · Kansai

Festival

Gion Festival

A month-long Kyoto festival centered on Yasaka Jinja Shrine, with sacred rituals, food stalls and illuminated floats, ending in a grand procession and parade.

1–31 Jul 2027Kyoto

Shrine

Futarasan Shrine

Guardian shrine of Nikko from the 8th century, honoring three family deities and a prominent figure in mythology revered for love and matchmaking.

Nikko · Tochigi

National Park

Yakushima Island

Subtropical island of ancient cedar forests and mossy landscapes that inspired Hayao Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke, one of Japan's first World Heritage Sites.

Yakushima · Kagoshima

Historic Site

Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go

UNESCO-recognized villages showcasing gassho-zukuri farmhouses with distinctive steep thatched roofs, maintained through collective community traditions.

Shirakawa · Gifu

Shrine

Shimogamo Shrine

Kyoto shrine dating to the 6th century, dedicated to Tamayori-hime and her father, worshipped for protection from misfortune and as guardian of the capital.

Kyoto

Historic Site

Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine

Iwami Ginzan, Japan's largest silver mine, ran from 1526 to 1923 and produced a third of the world's silver at its peak. UNESCO World Heritage since 2007.

Oda · Shimane

Temple

Rinnoji Temple

Rinnoji is a Tendai Buddhist temple in Nikko within a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its Sanbutsudo hall and the National Treasure Taiyuin mausoleum.

Nikko · Tochigi

Temple

Kongobu-ji (Koyasan)

Mount Koya is a sacred temple complex where the entire mountain is treated as one unified holy domain dedicated to Shingon Esoteric Buddhism.

Koya · Wakayama

Museum

Sannai-Maruyama Site

Japan's largest Jomon settlement, spread over 40 hectares, with a reconstructed six-pillared structure from around 2600 BC; a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Aomori

Historic Site

Heijo Palace Ruins

Imperial residence and administrative center during the Nara period (710-794), designed after Chinese models and reconstructed from excavations.

Nara

Temple

Motsu-ji

Buddhist temple from the 12th century, renowned for its gold-leaf decorated hall and picturesque pond garden in the finest Heian-era style.

Hiraizumi · Iwate

Shrine

Nikko Tosho-gu

Shinto shrine established 1617 to enshrine Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun who ended the Sengoku period and founded 260 years of Edo peace.

Nikko · Tochigi

Temple

Ginkaku-ji

Zen temple from the late 15th century with a garden of sand and stone featuring a pond, inspired by but never covered with silver like Kinkaku-ji.

Kyoto

Shrine

Kamigamo Shrine

One of Japan's oldest Shinto shrines, dedicated to the thunder deity and honored since 794 when Kyoto became the imperial capital.

Kyoto

Castle

Himeji Castle

Iconic castle with brilliant white exterior, designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Treasure, fully restored to its original appearance in 2015.

Himeji · Hyogo

How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites are in Japan?

Japan has 25 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 20 cultural and 5 natural, ranging from the temples of Kyoto and Nara to Himeji Castle, the historic villages of Shirakawa-go, and the forests of Yakushima.

What are the most famous World Heritage Sites in Japan?

Highlights include Himeji Castle, the historic monuments of Kyoto such as Kinkaku-ji, Itsukushima Shrine's floating torii, and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial.

Festival

Motsu-ji Temple Hatsukayasai Festival

The final day of this week-long Buddhist observance at a UNESCO World Heritage temple features torchlit processions and prayers for good fortune.

14–20 Jan 2027Exact date not confirmed yetHiraizumi · Iwate

Museum

Atomic Bomb Dome

The ruin of the former Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, about 160 meters from the hypocenter of the 1945 atomic bomb. A World Heritage Site.

Hiroshima

Pilgrimage

Kumano Kodo

For over a thousand years, the Kumano Kodo has led pilgrims through the mountains of Kii to the sacred Kumano Sanzan shrines - now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Wakayama · Kansai

Festival

Gion Festival

A month-long Kyoto festival centered on Yasaka Jinja Shrine, with sacred rituals, food stalls and illuminated floats, ending in a grand procession and parade.

1–31 Jul 2027Kyoto

Shrine

Futarasan Shrine

Guardian shrine of Nikko from the 8th century, honoring three family deities and a prominent figure in mythology revered for love and matchmaking.

Nikko · Tochigi

National Park

Yakushima Island

Subtropical island of ancient cedar forests and mossy landscapes that inspired Hayao Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke, one of Japan's first World Heritage Sites.

Yakushima · Kagoshima

Historic Site

Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go

UNESCO-recognized villages showcasing gassho-zukuri farmhouses with distinctive steep thatched roofs, maintained through collective community traditions.

Shirakawa · Gifu

Shrine

Shimogamo Shrine

Kyoto shrine dating to the 6th century, dedicated to Tamayori-hime and her father, worshipped for protection from misfortune and as guardian of the capital.

Kyoto

Historic Site

Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine

Iwami Ginzan, Japan's largest silver mine, ran from 1526 to 1923 and produced a third of the world's silver at its peak. UNESCO World Heritage since 2007.

Oda · Shimane

Temple

Rinnoji Temple

Rinnoji is a Tendai Buddhist temple in Nikko within a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its Sanbutsudo hall and the National Treasure Taiyuin mausoleum.

Nikko · Tochigi

Temple

Kongobu-ji (Koyasan)

Mount Koya is a sacred temple complex where the entire mountain is treated as one unified holy domain dedicated to Shingon Esoteric Buddhism.

Koya · Wakayama

Museum

Sannai-Maruyama Site

Japan's largest Jomon settlement, spread over 40 hectares, with a reconstructed six-pillared structure from around 2600 BC; a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Aomori

Historic Site

Heijo Palace Ruins

Imperial residence and administrative center during the Nara period (710-794), designed after Chinese models and reconstructed from excavations.

Nara

Temple

Motsu-ji

Buddhist temple from the 12th century, renowned for its gold-leaf decorated hall and picturesque pond garden in the finest Heian-era style.

Hiraizumi · Iwate

Shrine

Nikko Tosho-gu

Shinto shrine established 1617 to enshrine Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun who ended the Sengoku period and founded 260 years of Edo peace.

Nikko · Tochigi

Temple

Ginkaku-ji

Zen temple from the late 15th century with a garden of sand and stone featuring a pond, inspired by but never covered with silver like Kinkaku-ji.

Kyoto

Shrine

Kamigamo Shrine

One of Japan's oldest Shinto shrines, dedicated to the thunder deity and honored since 794 when Kyoto became the imperial capital.

Kyoto

Castle

Himeji Castle

Iconic castle with brilliant white exterior, designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Treasure, fully restored to its original appearance in 2015.

Himeji · Hyogo

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