Theme guide
History & heritage
Japan's past isn't only in Kyoto and Nara. Prehistoric villages, samurai towns and old mines are spread across every prefecture, including 27 World Heritage sites.
- Places to visit
- 738
- Protected site
- 593
Old post towns, merchant streets, ancient burial mounds and mines tell the story of each region, often far from the big cities.
Japan has 27 World Heritage sites: 22 cultural and 5 natural. They include the Mozu-Furuichi burial mounds near Osaka, the Jomon prehistoric sites of Hokkaido and northern Tohoku, and the gold mines of Sado Island.
Good to know
- Old towns are at their best early in the morning or late in the afternoon, before and after the day-trip crowds.
- Make a full day of one town with its castle and shrines and temples.
Where to find the most
Places to start with
Up to three places per prefecture, nationally protected sites first.
Region
141 places match
- HokkaidoProtected siteKiusu Earthwork Burial Circlesキウス周堤墓群A historic site in Hokkaido, Japan.
- HokkaidoProtected sitePirika Siteピリカ遺跡A historic site in Hokkaido, Japan.
- HokkaidoProtected siteHarutori Park春採公園A park in Hokkaido, Japan.
- AomoriProtected siteKabushima Shrine蕪嶋神社A Shinto shrine in Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
- AomoriProtected siteTangotai Kofun Cluster丹後平古墳群An ancient burial mound in Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
- AomoriProtected siteTosaminato Port Site十三湊A historic site in Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
- IwateProtected siteHitaka Shrine日高神社A Shinto shrine in Iwate Prefecture, Japan.In Oshu
- IwateProtected siteEzuriko Kofun Cluster江釣子古墳群An ancient burial mound in Iwate Prefecture, Japan.
- IwateProtected siteTsunozuka Kofun角塚古墳An ancient burial mound in Iwate Prefecture, Japan.In Oshu
- MiyagiProtected siteTagajo Stele多賀城碑A historic site in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.
- MiyagiProtected siteMiyazawa Site宮沢遺跡A historic site in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.
- MiyagiProtected siteSanno-Gakoi Site山王囲遺跡A historic site in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.
- AkitaProtected siteJizoden Site地蔵田遺跡A historic site in Akita Prefecture, Japan.In Akita
- AkitaProtected siteOyu Stone Circles大湯環状列石A historic site in Akita Prefecture, Japan.
- AkitaProtected siteOtoriiyama ruins大鳥井山遺跡A historic site in Akita Prefecture, Japan.
- YamagataProtected siteKoyamazaki Site小山崎遺跡A historic site in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.
- YamagataProtected siteHodashi no Keyaki文下のケヤキA notable old tree in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.In Tsuruoka
- YamagataProtected siteHaguro-san Five-storied Pagoda羽黒山五重塔A pagoda in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.In Tsuruoka
- FukushimaProtected siteShimotoriwata Memorial Stele下鳥渡供養石塔A historic site in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.In Fukushima city
- FukushimaProtected siteKamegamori-Chinjumori Kofun亀ヶ森・鎮守森古墳An ancient burial mound in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.
- FukushimaProtected siteWadai Site和台遺跡A historic site in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.In Fukushima city
- IbarakiProtected siteKamitakatsu Shell Mound上高津貝塚A historic site in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.
- IbarakiProtected siteDaiho-hachimangu大宝八幡宮A Shinto shrine in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.
- IbarakiProtected siteJugoro Cave Tombs十五郎穴A natural sight in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.
Questions travellers ask
How many World Heritage sites does Japan have?
27: 22 cultural and 5 natural, according to Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs.
Other themes
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.