TheWorld Heritagein Japan

日本の

世界遺産

日本の

世界遺産

TheWorld Heritagein Japan

The World Heritage in JapanLocated in the far east and surrounded on

four sides by the sea, Japan is blessed with a rich nature, which shows a great variety throughout the seasons. In its long history, Japan has adopted culture from foreign countries, especially from the Continent, as well as developing its own culture rooted in the sensibility nurtured by the colors of nature.

Cultural Properties in Japan are preserved and utilized under the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties, as well as the cultural properties protection ordinance of each local government, in order to contribute to the advancement of national and world culture. In this way, each tangible and intangible heritage is protected under appropriate protection measures to each category. In order to protect the rich nature and biological diversity of our

land, the Nature Conservation Law and the Natural Parks Law have been enacted.

In addition, cultural properties and nature are getting more accessible to people, through local activities of volunteers and NPO’s, and the interest in conservation activities is growing.

In line with UNESCO’s wishes, we will pass on this wonderful heritage to future generations and to share it with people all over the world.

The World HeritageConvention

The World Heritage Convention (The Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage) was adopted in 1972 by UNESCO, and has been concluded by 188 countries at present (2011. 8). Japan also accepted this convention in 1992, and has contributed to the establishment of a system of international cooperation and support, based on the recognition that it is important to protect cultural and natural heritage from such threats as damage and destruction and to preserve them as the world heritage of all humankind.

Sites are inscribed on the World Heritage list through a process in which recommended properties from each country are examined by the World Heritage Committee, which consists of 21 countries. As of June 2011, 936 properties have been inscribed on the list, of which 725 are Cultural Heritage, 183 are Natural Heritage, and 28 are Mixed properties. Among them are 16 World Heritage properties in Japan, including 12 Cultural Heritage sites and 4 Natural Heritage sites.

1

2

3

4

5

6

78 9

10

11

12

16

15

13

14

Cultural HeritageNatural Heritage

Okinawa island

Ogasawara islands

Yakushima island

Nansei (Southwest) islands

Map ofWorld Heritage

in Japan

Criteria for the assessment of outstanding universal value(Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention II.D)

77.TheCommittee considers a property as having outstandinguniversal value（see paragraphs 49-53） if the propertymeetsoneormoreofthefollowingcriteria.Nominatedpropertiesshalltherefore:

（i） representamasterpieceofhumancreativegenius;（ii） exhibitan important interchangeofhumanvalues,overaspan

of timeorwithinaculturalareaof theworld,ondevelopmentsinarchitectureortechnology,monumentalarts,town-planningorlandscapedesign;

（iii） bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a culturaltradition or to a civilization which is living or which hasdisappeared;

（iv） be an outstanding example of a type of building, architecturalor technological ensemble or landscapewhich illustrates（a）significantstage（s）inhumanhistory;

（v） be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement,land-use, or sea-usewhich is representative of a culture（orcultures）,orhumaninteractionwiththeenvironmentespeciallywhenithasbecomevulnerableundertheimpactof irreversiblechange;

（vi） bedirectlyortangiblyassociatedwitheventsorlivingtraditions,with ideas, orwith beliefs,with artistic and literaryworks ofoutstanding universal significance.（TheCommittee considersthatthiscriterionshouldpreferablybeusedinconjunctionwithothercriteria）;

（vii）contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptionalnaturalbeautyandaestheticimportance;

（viii）be outstanding examples representingmajor stages of earth'shistory, including the record of life, significant on-goinggeological processes in th develpment of landforms, orsignificantgeomorphicorphysiographicfeatures;

（ix） be outstanding examples representing significant on-goingecological and biological processes in the evolution anddevelopment of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal andmarineecosystemsandcommunitiesofplantsandanimals;

（x） contain themost important and significant natural habitatsfor in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including thosecontaining threatened species of outstanding universal valuefromthepointofviewofscienceorconservation.

78.To be deemed of outstanding universal value, a propertymustalsomeet the conditions of integrity and/or authenticity andmust haveanadequateprotectionandmanagement system toensureitssafeguarding.

Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area

Property: 15 ha Buffer Zone: 571 haLocation: NARA Prefecture Inscribed: 1993 Criteria:（i）（ii）（iv）（vi）

Therearearound48Buddhistmonumentsin theHoryu-ji area, inNaraPrefecture.Several date from the late 7th or early8th century, making them some ofthe oldest survivingwooden buildingsin theworld. Thesemasterpieces ofwooden architecture are important notonly for the history of art, since theyillustrate the adaptation of ChineseBuddhist architecture and layout toJapaneseculture,butalsoforthehistoryof religion, since their constructioncoinceded with the introduction ofBuddhismtoJapanfromChinabywayoftheKoreanpeninsula.

Himeji-joProperty: 108 ha Buffer Zone: 143 haLocation: HYOGO Prefecture Inscribed: 1993 Criteria:（i）（iv）

Himeji-jo is the finest surviving exampleof early17th-century Japanese castlearchitecture, comprising 83 buildingswith highly developed systems ofdefence and ingenious protectiondevices dating from the beginning oftheShogun period. It is amasterpieceof construction in wood, combiningfunctionwith aesthetic appeal, both inits elegant appearance unified by thewhiteplasteredearthenwallsandinthesubtletyoftherelationshipsbetweenthebuildingmasses and themultiple rooflayers.

YakushimaProperty: 10,747 haLocation: KAGOSHIMA Prefecture Inscribed: 1993 Criteria:（vii）（ix）

Located in the interior of YakushimaIsland, at the meeting-point of thepalaearctic and oriental biotic regions,Yakushima exhibits a rich flora, withsome1,900 species and subspecies,including ancient specimens of the sugi（Japanese cedar）. It also contains aremnant of awarm-temperate ancientforestthatisuniqueinthisregion.

Shirakami-SanchiProperty: 10,139 haLocation: AOMORI Prefecture AKITA

PrefectureInscribed: 1993Criteria:（ix）

Situated in themountains of northernHonshu, this trackless site includes thelastvirginremainsof thecool-temperateforestofSiebold'sbeechtreesthatoncecovered the hills andmountain slopesof northern Japan. The black bear, theserow and87 species of birds can befoundinthisforest.

Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto

[Kyoto, Uji and Ohtsu Cities]Property: 1,056 ha Buffer Zone: 3,579 haLocation: KYOTO Prefecture SHIGA

PrefectureInscribed: 1994Criteria:（ii）（iv）

Built in A.D.794 on themodel of thecapitals of ancientChina,Kyotowasthe imperial capital of Japan from itsfoundation until themiddle of the19thcentury. As the center of Japanesecultureformorethan1,000years,Kyotoillustrates the development of Japanesewoodenarchitecture,particularlyreligiousarchitecture, and the art of Japanesegardens,whichhasinfluencedlandscapegardeningtheworldover.

Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara

Property: 617 ha Buffer Zone: 1,963 haLocation: NARA PrefectureInscribed: 1998Criteria:（ii）（iii）（iv）（vi）

Nara was the capital of Japan from710 to 784. During this period theframework of national governmentwasconsolidated andNara enjoyed greatprosperity,emergingasthefountainheadof Japanese culture. The city's historicmonuments-Buddhist temples, Shintoshrines and the excavated remains ofthegreatImperialPalace-Provideavividpicture of life in the Japanese capitalin the8thcentury,aperiodofprofoundpoliticalandculturalchange.

Shrines and Temples of Nikko

Property: 51 ha Buffer Zone: 373 haLocation: TOCHIGI PrefectureInscribed: 1999Criteria:（i）（iv）（vi）

The shrines and temples of Nikko,togetherwith their natural surroundings,have for centuries been a sacred siteknownforitsarchitecturalanddecorativemasterpieces.Theyarecloselyassociatedwith the history of the TokugawaShoguns. Ancientmountain worship,Buddhism,Shintoism andworship arecombined, that is responsible for theuniquereligiousspace.

Gusuku Sites and related properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu

Property: 55 ha Buffer Zone: 560 haLocation: OKINAWA PrefectureInscribed: 2000Criteria:（ii）（iii）（vi）

Five hundred years ofRyukyuanhistory（12th-17th century）are represented bythis group of sites andmonuments. Theruinsofthecastles,onimposingelevatedsites, are evidence for the socialstructureovermuchofthatperiod,whilethesacredsitesprovidemute testimonytotheraresurvivalofanancientformofreligion into themodern age. Thewide-ranging economic and cultural contactsof theRyukyu Islands over that periodgaverisetoauniqueculture.

Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range

Property: 495 ha Buffer Zone: 11,370 haLocation: MIE Prefecture NARA

Prefecture WAKAYAMA Prefecture

Inscribed: 2004Criteria:（ii）（iii）（iv）（vi）

Set in the dense forests of the KiiMountains overlooking the PacificOcean, three sacred sites-Yoshinoand Omine, Kumano Sanzan, andKoyasan-linked by pilgrimage routesto the ancient capital cities ofNaraandKyoto, reflect the fusion ofShinto,rooted in the ancient tradition of natureworship in Japan, andBuddhism. Thesites（495.3-ha）and their surroundingforestlandscapereflectapersistentandextraordinarilywell-documented traditionofsacredmountainsover1,200years.

16 Sites in Japan World Heritage List

1 2 3 4

9 10 11 12

Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto

[Kyoto, Uji and Ohtsu Cities]Property: 1,056 ha Buffer Zone: 3,579 haLocation: KYOTO Prefecture SHIGA

PrefectureInscribed: 1994Criteria:（ii）（iv）

Built in A.D.794 on themodel of thecapitals of ancientChina,Kyotowasthe imperial capital of Japan from itsfoundation until themiddle of the19thcentury. As the center of Japanesecultureformorethan1,000years,Kyotoillustrates the development of Japanesewoodenarchitecture,particularlyreligiousarchitecture, and the art of Japanesegardens,whichhasinfluencedlandscapegardeningtheworldover.

Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama

Property: 68 ha Buffer Zone: 4,335 haLocation: GIFU Prefecture TOYAMA

PrefectureInscribed: 1995Criteria:（iv）（v）

Located in amountainous region thatwascutofffromtherestoftheworldforalongperiodoftime,thesevillageswiththeirGassho-style houses subsisted onthecultivationofmulberry treesand therearing of silkworms. The large houseswiththeirsteeplypitchedthatchedroofsare the only examples of their kind inJapan.Despite economic upheavals,the villages ofOgimachi, Ainokura andSuganuma are outstanding examples ofatraditionalwayoflifeperfectlyadaptedto theenvironment andpeople's socialandeconomiccircumstances.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial [Genbaku Dome]

Property: 0.39 ha Buffer Zone: 43 haLocation: HIROSHIMA PrefectureInscribed: 1996Criteria:（vi）

The Hi r o sh ima Peace Memor ia l（GenbakuDome）wastheonlystructureleft standing in the areawhere the firstatomic bomb exploded on 6 August1945. Through the efforts of manypeople, including those of the city ofHiroshima, it has been preserved inthe same state as immedeately afterthe bombing.Not only is it a stark andpowerfulsymbolof themostdestructiveforceevercreatedbyhumankind,italsoexpressesthehopeforworldpeaceandthe ultimate elimination of all nuclearweapons.

Itsukushima Shinto Shrine

Property: 431 ha Buffer Zone: 2,634 haLocation: HIROSHIMA PrefectureInscribed: 1996Criteria:（i）（ii）（iv）（vi）

The island of Itsukushima, in theSetoinland sea, has been a holy place ofShintoism since the earliest times. Thefirst shrine buildingsherewere probablyerected in the6th century. The presentshrine dates from the13th century andthe harmoniously arranged buildingsreveal great artistic and technical skill.The shrine plays on the contrasts incolourandformbetweenmountainsandseaandillustratestheJapaneseconceptofscenicbeauty,whichcombinesnatureandhumancreativity.

Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range

Property: 495 ha Buffer Zone: 11,370 haLocation: MIE Prefecture NARA

Prefecture WAKAYAMA Prefecture

Inscribed: 2004Criteria:（ii）（iii）（iv）（vi）

Set in the dense forests of the KiiMountains overlooking the PacificOcean, three sacred sites-Yoshinoand Omine, Kumano Sanzan, andKoyasan-linked by pilgrimage routesto the ancient capital cities ofNaraandKyoto, reflect the fusion ofShinto,rooted in the ancient tradition of natureworship in Japan, andBuddhism. Thesites（495.3-ha）and their surroundingforestlandscapereflectapersistentandextraordinarilywell-documented traditionofsacredmountainsover1,200years.

ShiretokoProperty: 34,000 ha Buffer Zone: 37,100 haLocation: HOKKAIDO PrefectureInscribed: 2005Criteria:（ix）（x）

ShiretokoPeninsula is located in the seaof Okhotsk. Due to topographical andgeographical conditions, the sea ofOkhotskis themostsouthern（lowestlatitude）oceanin theworld as a seasonal sea ice area.Influenced by the formation of the seasonalseaice,Shiretokoisanoutstandingexampleof an integrated ecosystem displayingthe interrelationship between a terrestrialecosystem and a cont iguous mar ineecosystem. Also, the site contains a diverse fauna andflora because of the complex topographyand the differences inweather conditionsbetween the east andwest sides of thepeninsula. It is an important breeding orwintering site for globally threatened birdspeciessuchasBlakiston'sfish-owl.

The Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape

Property: 442 ha Buffer Zone: 3,221 haLocation: SHIMANE PrefectureInscribed: 2007Criteria:（ii）（iii）（v）

The property exhibits universaloutstandingvalueasthesiteofthesilvermine that produced a large amount ofsilver in the16th and17th centuries,triggered themass production of goldand silver in Japan through the spreadof itsmining techniques to otherminesthroughoutJapan,andexertedsignificantinfluence upon the history of theexchangeofgoodsandcommunicationsamongcivilizations,notonlybetweenthenations ofEast Asia but also betweenEast andWest, reaching as far asEurope.

16 Sites in Japan World Heritage List

5 6 7 8

13 14 Ogasawara IslandsProperty: 7,939 haLocation: TOKYO MetropolisInscribed: 2011Criteria:（ix）

Ogasawara Islands, despite their smallarea, show a high rate of existence ofendemic species identified only in thisarea, and providing precious evidenceof adaptive radiation in the processof evolution, particularly in snails andvascularplants.

Hiraizumi Temples, Gardens and Archeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure land

Property: 187 ha Buffer Zone: 5,998 haLocation: IWATE PrefectureInscribed: 2011Criteria:（ii）（vi）“Hiraizumi”isastrikingcaseofcreationandaimed to realize the special expression ofBuddhaksetra（Pure Land） in the realworldbased on JapaneseBuddhism , thought ofpure land grown from it in particular,whichhad been endowedwith unique Japanesecharacteristics fusedwith ancient Japanesethought of nature worship, from the 6thcenturywhenBuddhismwasintroducedfromChinaandtheKoreanPeninsula to the12thcentury. “Hiraizumi” is a prominent representationof important human interaction in the senseof values as to design concept and designdrafting of architecture and horticulture inEastAsiaaswellasshowingimportantstepsofhumanhistoryinthesefields.

15 16

Agency for Cultural AffairsTEL 03-5253-4111

Agency for Cultural AffairsTEL 03-5253-4111