World Heritage

In 1992, Japan accepted the World Heritage Convention (Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage) that was adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO in 1972 (came into force in 1975). It was 1993 that the first inscription of Japanese properties on the World Heritage List. As of July 2021, 1,154 sites have been inscribed on the list,of which 897 are caltural sites, 218 are natural sites, and 39 are mixed sites. Among them are 25 World Heritage sites in Japan, including 20 cultural sites and 5 natural sites.

List of World Heritage sites in Japan

Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region

Remains of Villages on Nozaki Island
© Nagasaki Prefecture

Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group: Mounded Tombs of Ancient Japan

Nintoku-tenno-ryo Kofun © Sakai City

Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan

Sannai Maruyama Site
Source: JOMON ARCHIVES

Data and References

In nomination:

Sado Island Gold Mines

Sado Island Gold Mines was the world’s leading gold producer in the 17th century, both in terms of quantity and quality.
While other mines around the world were being mechanised, the miners of Sado Island produced the purest gold in the world in large quantities through unmechanised handicraft methods. Also, unique cultural practices and beliefs were developed around mining, and the culture still lives on in the local community. Sado Island Gold Mines is an important cultural heritage to be passed on to future generations.