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 2027 · Dates not yet confirmedHiraizumi · Iwate

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

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 features sacred rituals, food stalls, illuminated floats, and culminates in a grand procession and parade.

1–31 Jul 2027Kyoto

National Park

Yakushima Island

Subtropical island with ancient cedar forests and moss-covered landscapes that inspired Hayao Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke, designated Japan's first UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Yakushima · Kagoshima

Shrine

Shimogamo Shrine

Dating to the 6th century, this Kyoto shrine dedicated to Tamayori-hime and her father was worshipped as protection against misfortune and a guardian of the capital.

Kyoto

Historic Site

Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine

Japan's largest silver mine, Iwami Ginzan operated from 1526 to 1923 and produced one-third of the world's silver at its peak, achieving UNESCO World Heritage status in 2007.

Oda · Shimane

Temple

Rinnoji Temple

Rinnoji is a Tendai Buddhist temple in Nikko and part of 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

This site preserves Japan's largest Jomon settlement across 40 hectares, with a reconstructed six-pillared structure dating to around 2600 BC and UNESCO World Heritage status.

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

Temple

Chuson-ji Temple

The head Tendai temple founded in 850, significantly expanded in the 12th century and designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.

Hiraizumi · Iwate

Temple

Daigo-ji Temple

Over 1,100-year-old Buddhist temple complex and head temple of the Daigo branch of Shingon Buddhism, centered on an ancient natural spring.

Kyoto

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 2027 · Dates not yet confirmedHiraizumi · Iwate

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

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 features sacred rituals, food stalls, illuminated floats, and culminates in a grand procession and parade.

1–31 Jul 2027Kyoto

National Park

Yakushima Island

Subtropical island with ancient cedar forests and moss-covered landscapes that inspired Hayao Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke, designated Japan's first UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Yakushima · Kagoshima

Shrine

Shimogamo Shrine

Dating to the 6th century, this Kyoto shrine dedicated to Tamayori-hime and her father was worshipped as protection against misfortune and a guardian of the capital.

Kyoto

Historic Site

Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine

Japan's largest silver mine, Iwami Ginzan operated from 1526 to 1923 and produced one-third of the world's silver at its peak, achieving UNESCO World Heritage status in 2007.

Oda · Shimane

Temple

Rinnoji Temple

Rinnoji is a Tendai Buddhist temple in Nikko and part of 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

This site preserves Japan's largest Jomon settlement across 40 hectares, with a reconstructed six-pillared structure dating to around 2600 BC and UNESCO World Heritage status.

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

Temple

Chuson-ji Temple

The head Tendai temple founded in 850, significantly expanded in the 12th century and designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.

Hiraizumi · Iwate

Temple

Daigo-ji Temple

Over 1,100-year-old Buddhist temple complex and head temple of the Daigo branch of Shingon Buddhism, centered on an ancient natural spring.

Kyoto

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