Shiretoko

Shiretoko is the name of both a national park and a peninsula, situated on the northeastern edge of Hokkaido. It is considered one of the most remote regions of the country, with the closest town (Rausu) situated 1.5 miles away by road and the closest train station about 20 miles away in the town of Shari.

The name "Shiretoko" comes from an Ainu (indigenous population of northern Japan) phrase which means "where the earth protrudes". The peninsula is well-known for a number of different reasons: Firstly, it is home to Mount Rausu, the northeasternmost volcano in Japan. Secondly, there are a number of forests, some subalpine and some temperate, which dot the landscape across the peninsula. These range from Mongolian oak to Sakhalin fir. There is a well-known hot spring, Kamuiwakka Falls, within the confines of the national park. The phrase "kamui wakka" means "water of the gods" in Ainu. Finally, the largest brown bear population in Japan can be found on the Shiretoko Peninsula.

In 2005, Shiretoko was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with the Kuril Islands of Russia in a joint "World Heritage Peace Park". Shiretoko, as noted by UNESCO, is the southernmost point above the equator where sea ice naturally forms.

Shari and Rausu Towns, Hokkaido Prefecture

Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan

Seventeen heritage sites from the Jomon era (14000-300 BCE) became World Heritage Sites in 2021, the newest additions to the Japan list so far. These sites, covering the earliest parts of Japanese history, are scattered across Hokkaido, Akita, Aomori, and Iwate Prefectures. The earthenware that was excavated from the Odai Yamamoto I Site in Sotogahama, Aomori Prefecture, dates from 14500 BCE.

The Sannai Maruyama Site in Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture (pictured) is one of the most extensive collections of Jomon-era architecture and is considered a Place of Scenic Beauty by the Japanese government. The buildings that were excavated here would have dated from approximately 2500 BCE. There are also a number of stone circles on the list, such as the famous Oyu Stone Circles located in Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture. The Kamegaoka Stone Age Site in Tsugaru City, Aomori Prefecture, is known for its dogu, which are believed to be depictions of Jomon-era "mother goddesses". To learn even more about the Jomon era, you can visit the Hakodate Jomon Culture Center which boasts 1,200 artifacts from this time in Japanese history. It is located at 551-1 Usujiri-cho, Hakodate City, Hokkaido Prefecture.

Chitose, Date, Hakodate, and Toyako in Hokkaido Prefecture; Kita-Akita and Kazuno in Akita Prefecture; Aomori, Hachinohe, Hirosaki, Shichinohe, Sotogahama, and Tsugaru in Aomori Prefecture; and Ichinohe in Iwate Prefecture

Shirakami-Sanchi

Shirakami-Sanchi is protected by UNESCO due to its biodiversity. There have been homegrown and international efforts to preserve the Japanese beech tree, and Shirakami-Sanchi is the last virgin forest comprised of the Japanese beech left in the world. At one time nearly all of northern Japan was covered by this particular tree; now most of the trees covering this part of Japan are of the Japanese cedar variety. Over 500 square miles of forest are protected by UNESCO, and as such, permission is required before you can venture into the heart of the region. More than just forests, Shirakami-Sanchi is also well-known for the Anmon no taki (Shadow Gate Falls), which comprise their own Natural Park inside the confines of the World Heritage Site, and the area is well-known as a breeding site for such animals as the Japanese macaque.

Ajigasawa, Fukaura, and Nishimeya Towns in Aomori Prefecture and Fujisato Town in Akita Prefecture

Hiraizumi – Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land

Hiraizumi was the epicenter of the Northern Fujiwara dynasty in the twelfth century, when Fujiwara no Kiyohira made the town its capital. Perhaps the most notable of the five buildings that comprise this particular World Heritage listing titled "Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land" is the Buddhist temple Chuson-ji (pictured), the only intact building structure of the properties listed. Much of the temple was built by the Fujiwara clan in the twelfth century and the Konjiki-do building on the grounds are where the mummified remains of Fujiwara no Kiyohira and his family are interred. Motsu-ji, Kanjizaio-in Ato, and Muryoko-in Ato were other twelfth century temples that now exist as various ruins. Kanjizaio-in Ato is designated by the Japanese government as a Place of Scenic Beauty, and the other two ruin sites are deemed Special Historic Sites. Mount Kinkei, also included in the World Heritage listing, is a historically significant site in that it was where Buddhist burials took place in the town during the Fujiwara time period.

Hiraizumi Town, Iwate Prefecture

Shrines and Temples of Nikko

The 103 properties listed under "Shrines and Temples of Nikko" comprises much of the historical center of Nikko City in Tochigi Prefecture. The vast majority of the listings pertain to three structures, two of which are Shinto shrines and one is a Buddhist temple. The Shinto shrine complexes, Futarasan Shrine and Tosho-gu, make up 65 of the listed structures, while the Buddhist temple Rinno-ji boasts 38 of the structures listed by UNESCO. The mountain slopes that envelop the city, already in the confines of Nikko National Park, are also protected by UNESCO.

These religious buildings date from the early Tokugawa/Edo period of the early and mid-seventeenth century. The first religious buildings in Nikko were built on the grounds of the temple Rinno-ji in the eighth century. Some of the art, sculptures, and other artifacts present in modern-day Rinno-ji date from those original eighth-century buildings. With the help of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, the Shinto shrines became integral to the shogunate's early generations, as they would routinely lead processions from the capital Edo (what we now know as Tokyo) to the shrines in Nikko. The roads leading up to historic Nikko are lined with iconic cedar trees.

Of particular note in Nikko are the main hall buildings (called "honden"), the worship halls ("haiden"), the front gates ("omotemon"), and second gates ("yomeimon"). The yomeimon and the five-story pagoda at Tosho-gu are very popular sights, as is the building where the remains of Tokugawa Ieyasu are interred. Tokugawa Iemitsu, the third shogun and grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu, is interred at Rinno-ji.

Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture

National Museum of Western Art

The National Museum of Western Art in the Ueno Zoo museum complex, located in Tokyo's Taito ward, is one of 17 sites worldwide listed by UNESCO under the heading "The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement". The main building of the museum (pictured) was designed by Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, the French architect best known as "Le Corbusier". Considered one of his best-known building designs, critics at the time claimed that Le Corbusier's vision "rivaled" the artists who had paintings inside the museum.

The museum was opened to the public in 1959 and is largely comprised of the art collection of Kojiro Matsukata, a Japanese businessman who got into collecting Western art while living abroad in London in the early 20th century. Over 4,500 works of art are displayed across four different areas of the museum, with artworks ranging in age from the 14th century to the present day. Half of the museum is dedicated to paintings, with half of those from the nineteenth century and later. The other half of the museum features drawings and prints. Such iconic pieces as Claude Monet's Water Lilies and Auguste Rodin's sculpture The Thinker can call the National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo their permanent home.

7-7 Ueno Imperial Grant Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo Metropolis

Ogasawara Islands

The 30 or so Ogasawara Islands, administered by the Tokyo Metropolis, are in fact quite removed from Tokyo: in order to get to the islands, the only way in is by ferry, which takes you from Tokyo to Chichijima in the Ogasawaras in 25-and-a-half hours. (Ferry and accommodation costs to Chichijima, should you choose to visit there, need to be procured by you, separate from your Tripmasters booking. Ferries leave Tokyo's Takeshiba Port daily and cost anywhere between ¥25,000 and ¥55,000, or about $200-$500.)

The Ogasawara Islands' two largest islands, and the ones with the largest number of settlers, are Chichijima and Hahajima (literally "Father Island" and "Mother Island"). The Ogasawara Islands are protected by UNESCO due to the high number of endangered species that live here, such as the Bonin Flying Fox (a bat), the Ogasawara snake-eyed skink (a lizard), and 195 bird species. Over 400 different types of plant life are native to the Ogasawara Islands as well.

Ogasawara Village, Chichijima, Tokyo Metropolis (620 miles south of Tokyo)

Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji, Japan's highest point with the summit topping out at 12,388 feet above sea level, was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013. An active volcano with a near-perfect cone, it has been notably quiet as of late, with the last eruption occurring in 1708. Mount Fuji is one of Japan's most recognizable landmarks, and can be seen everywhere from print and television advertisements to the back of the ¥1,000 note.

In the proclamation, UNESCO said, "The awe that Fujisan's majestic form and intermittent volcanic activity has inspired was transformed into religious practices that linked Shintoism and Buddhism, people and nature." UNESCO went on to add, "[Fujisan] inspired artists in the early 19th century to produce images that transcended cultures, allowed the mountain to be known around the world, and had a profound influence on the development on Western art."

By the ninth century, it was well-documented that the Japanese considered Mount Fuji to be one of its most sacred mountains. Climbing the mountain was considered a ritual and a privilege, and women and foreigners were not allowed to climb it until the 19th century. Today hundreds of thousands of people climb Mount Fuji each year.

Well-known in Asian culture by the time of the Tokugawa shogunate, it became more popular via artist reproductions as more and more people could get clear views of it from the Tokaido road. The ukiyo-e (woodblock print) artist Katsushika Hokusai popularized the image of Mount Fuji around the world in the 19th century in such works as "Fine Wind, Clear Morning".

If you want to hike Mount Fuji, it is recommended to do it between May and September, as it is too cold in the upper elevations outside of those times. If you just want to have the tour bus experience, various routes bring you to the fifth stations dotting the mountain, all situated between 7500 and 8000 feet above sea level. Anything after that needs to be walked. It is also not possible to camp higher than the fifth stations.

Fuji City, Fujinomiya City, Gotemba City, and Oyama Town in Shizuoka Prefecture; Fujiyoshida City and Narusawa Village in Yamanashi Prefecture

Tomioka Silk Mill

Tomioka Silk Mill is located in Tomioka City, Gunma Prefecture, and is Japan's first modern silk factory. It was commissioned by Emperor Meiji who had wished for Japan to become more competitive on the world stage with regard to its exports. Japan was already a high producer of the world's silk, but budding industries in Europe overproduced silk and caused the prices to plummet. Japan wanted to become self-sufficient in silk production, but did not have the means or knowhow to build a silk mill themselves.

The Meiji government had already worked with the Italians on a prototype silk mill in Maebashi, also in Gunma Prefecture, but they wanted to build something in the area on a larger scale. They enlisted the help of the French consulate and a French architect who was working in the silk industry in Yokohama at the time. Within the time span of about two years, the French-Japanese construction was completed and the first day of operations for the mill at Tomioka was November 4, 1872. The size of the mill was twice the capacity of the largest mills in France and Germany; this was done by design in order for Japan to recapture its former dominance in the industry. The French left Tomioka in 1875 and afterward the ownership of the mill was left to Mitsui & Co., a Japanese corporation which was once one of the largest in the world.

The silk mill changed ownership from Mitsui to Hara General Partnership Company in 1902, and again to Katakura Spinning Co., Ltd. in 1938. However, many factors slowed business at Tomioka. These included the rise in popularity of synthetic fabrics, the decline of the kimono as everyday wear, and cheaper Chinese silk flooding the market as a result of Japan normalizing diplomacy with China in the early 1970s. The last silk reels were produced at Tomioka on February 26, 1987. Believing the buildings to be important historically, the Katakura Spinning Co. continued to pay for maintenance on all the buildings comprising the old mill even though they would no longer be used. Today, three of the buildings are considered National Treasures by the Japanese government, and the silk mill and related buildings were added to the List of UNESCO World Heritage in 2014.

Tomioka City, Gunma Prefecture

Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama

The Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama are located in three modern-day villages in the Chubu region: Ogimachi, Ainokura and Suganuma, all located in Gifu and Toyama Prefectures. The villages are located in a small valley surrounded by tall mountains, such as Mount Haku, considered one of the three holiest mountains in Japan. As a result of the villages' location in the valley, detached from the outside, rural life continued for much longer than in the rest of the country. Modern amenities such as electricity and running water were not introduced to the villages until the 1950s. It was considered to be one of the last areas of Japan where daily life was completely traditional.

Ogimachi is the largest of the three villages, and about 600 people still live there today. Over 100 buildings in the village are historically protected, including nearly five dozen "gassho"-style houses, so named because of the steep thatched roofs which are meant to mimic praying hands. The houses and roofs were built this way because the valley receives a lot of snowfall each winter, and the construction allows for the snow to fall off the roof quicker and not to accumulate. The buildings in Ainokura (pop. 90) date all the way to the 17th century, and despite some infrastructure improvements in the 1950s, many of the buildings present to the beholder much the same way they would have looked hundreds of years ago. Suganuma, known for its mulberry trees and silkworm production, is the smallest of the three villages, with only 40 people living there today. The Gokayama Folklore Museum is located in Suganuma.

Shirakawa Village, Gifu Prefecture; and Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture

Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto

The story of Kyoto and why we still have so many cultural monuments from this dynamic city today is very complex. In 794, the Imperial Family moved the capital to Heian-kyo, the site of modern-day Kyoto. Seventeen different buildings across three different cities (Kyoto and Uji in Kyoto Prefecture and Otsu in Shiga Prefecture) are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage register, which comprise a number of Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines which date from the 6th to 16th centuries, and the Edo-period Nijo Castle. All in all, the 17 sites clock in at over 2,600 acres.

So why do we still have these buildings? Kyoto was considered the crown jewel of Japanese culture, and it still is today. During World War II, the United States considered Kyoto as the first atomic bomb target, so it was spared by the carpet bombing that occurred in other cities such as Tokyo. (That distinction would later go to Hiroshima; you can read more about Hiroshima later in this list.) Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson would go on to personally veto the idea of dropping a nuclear bomb on Kyoto as he had taken his wife to Kyoto on their honeymoon and felt the buildings were too culturally unique and beautiful to be destroyed. So Kyoto got out of the war with nearly all of its buildings accounted for.

The historic monuments of ancient Kyoto include:

-Kamigamo and Shimogamo Shrine, two of the oldest shrines in Shintoism, which were built in the early Heian period (6th and 7th centuries CE) and are meant to protect Kyoto from bad influences.
-To-ji Temple, dating from 796, is one of only three Buddhist temples to be built in Kyoto during the first generations of the new capital. It is also the only one of the three to still be standing today.
-The imperial temple of Kiyomizu-dera, first built at the beginning of the 9th century; the current 17th-century buildings were constructed using absolutely no nails.
-Daigo-ji, home to 12 Japanese National Treasures.
-Ninna-ji, where the main priest was descended from the Imperial Family from the 9th century to the time of Meiji (late 19th century).
-Byodo-in, a lavish villa which became a Buddhist temple in the 11th century.
-Ryoan-ji, a temple which was also a former villa, it is famous for its unique Zen garden.
-Saiho-ji, with its world-renowned moss garden featuring over 120 distinct types of moss.
-Kinkaku-ji, the iconic "Temple of the Golden Pavilion", flawlessly rebuilt after a 1950 fire.
-Nijo Castle, the Imperial residence in Kyoto for the Tokugawa shogunate from 1626 to 1867.

Kyoto and Uji Cities in Kyoto Prefecture and Otsu City in Shiga Prefecture

Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara

From 710 to 794 CE, the capital of Imperial Japan was located in Heijo-kyo, now known as Nara, the capital of Nara Prefecture. Eight sites dating from the Nara period in Japanese history are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Three buildings predate the Nara period but were reconstructed in the city: Gango-ji, Kofuku-ji, and Yakushi-ji Buddhist temples.

Todai-ji (the Eastern Great Temple, pictured) is Nara's most popular attraction. The "Daibutsuden" (great hall) features the world's largest wooden statue of Buddha, and the great hall was the world's largest wooden building for nearly three centuries, holding the record from 1709 to 1998.

The Kasuga Grand Shrine was built by the Fujiwara clan and is well-known for its numerous stone and bronze lanterns. Nearby is a primeval forest, about 600 acres in size, which has been free of logging since the ninth century CE. Toshodai-ji has a great hall that is considered one of the best examples of religious architecture during the Nara period. Heijo Palace was the Imperial residence for the rulers of Nara; it has been faithfully reconstructed thanks to excavations which began in 1959.

Nara City, Nara Prefecture

Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area

Horyu-ji Buddhist temple in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, is notable in that its kondo (main hall) is the oldest wooden building in the world, dating from approximately 700 CE. The first temple was commissioned by Prince Shotoku and completed in the year 607, but a fire in 670 destroyed the entire complex. Many of the current buildings and artifacts date from the sixth, seventh and eighth centuries, and Horyu-ji is home to one of the largest concentrations of early Buddhist art in the world, with works commissioned from as far away as China and India. Some of these original items are also on display at the Tokyo National Museum. Of note on the property include the main hall, the five-story pagoda, the miniature Tamamushi Shrine, and the "Hall of Dreams" which was where Prince Shotoku's palace was built in the early 7th century. Hokki-ji, also in Ikaruga, is best-known for its three-story pagoda which dates from the eighth century and is the oldest pagoda still standing in Japan.

Ikaruga Town, Nara Prefecture

Mozu-Furuichi Kofungun, Ancient Tumulus Clusters

Kofun are megalithic tombs and burial mounds which date from the historical period of the same name (corresponding to approximately 250-550 CE). Out of the over 160,000 kofungun that dot Japan, many in the Kansai region incorporated moats and a parcel of land shaped like a keyhole. Daisen Kofun (pictured) in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture is the largest of these kofun. Commissioned by Emperor Nintoku, Daisen Kofun had built 100 tombs at its peak circa 500 CE. Daisen is part of the 23 Mozu kofungun which are clustered together in modern-day Sakai. In addition, there are 26 kofungun in the Furuichi cluster, located in what is now Habikino and Fujiidera cities in Osaka Prefecture. The Furuichi cluster includes many tombs believing to belong to members of the Imperial Family.

Mozu Kofungun: Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture
Furuichi Kofungun: Habikino City and Fujiidera City, Osaka Prefecture

Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range

The Kii Mountain Range on the Kii Peninsula is known for its Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, literary traditions, and beautiful cherry blossoms that bloom each March. The reason why the Kii Mountains were so inspirational to countless Japanese writers, poets and authors is that the rivers, waterfalls, forests, and rolling hills were just so alluring that they had to put inspiration to paper and write what they felt. Yoshino Town in Nara Prefecture was indeed that picture-perfect town, with such iconic sights as Ominesan-ji Buddhist temple, Yoshino Mikumari Shrine, and of course Mount Yoshino.

The Kumano Sanzan temples and shrines in Mie and Wakayama Prefectures are very popular with religious adherents and tourists, who both travel on the Kumano pilgrimage road. Seiganto-ji (pictured) is considered the most important pilgrimage site in Kansai for Buddhists. Mount Koya, a temple complex in Wakayama Prefecture, is the birthplace of Shingon Buddhism's Koyasan sect. Founded by a monk in the ninth century, Koya Town, surrounding the mountain, has become one of Japan's top cities for religious education and instruction.

Yoshino Town and Tenkawa Village, Nara Prefecture; Shingu City in Mie Prefecture; Tanabe City and Nachikatsuura Town in Wakayama Prefecture; and Katsuragi, Koya, and Kudoyama Towns in Wakayama Prefecture

Himeji Castle

Himeji Castle is one of Japan's most recognizable landmarks, and is considered the best example of Japanese feudal-era castle architecture. Originally dating from 1333, Himeji Castle has existed in its current form since a 1609 renovation, one of few castles in Japan that can make that claim. It is the largest castle in Japan, boasting 83 rooms, and is the most popular castle in the country with tourists. It is nicknamed "the White Heron" as the castle's graceful design and blinding white color is said to resemble a bird taking flight when viewing it from afar.

Ikeda Terumasa, the son-in-law of Tokugawa Ieyasu, received the castle as a gift in 1601, and built it into the sprawling and elaborate grounds you see today. Nearly 10,000 people were stationed at the castle at the shogunate's peak. Himeji Castle has survived numerous catastrophes, including the bombing of World War II and the 1995 Kobe earthquake. Over 40 million people have visited Himeji Castle since 1964, when the castle complex was remodeled to the tune of tens of millions of dollars.

Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture

Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape

Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine was Japan's first-ever silver mine, operating from 1526 until 1923. The mine's peak was in the early 1600s when it was producing a fifth of Japan's entire silver output. The Tokugawa shogunate thought the mine was so crucial to the economy that it was taken by force during the 1600 Battle of Sekigahara, and defended with a castle (Yamabuki Castle) built on the property; eventually three castles were built. At its peak, it rivaled the production of the mines of Potosí in the Viceroyalty of Peru in the New World.

Iwami Ginzan qualified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because the effects of deforestation were limited in the area around the mine, and the adjoining village, Omori Ginzan, retained enough of its historic characteristics to aid in the application to be included in the register. The adjoining village has been preserved by the Japanese government since 1969. Protected sites include Omori Ginzan village, the mining area itself (over 600 pits and shafts), the magistrate's office, the sites of the three castles, a Buddhist temple, service ports, and a nobleman's house.

Omori Ginzan Village, Oda City, Shimane Prefecture

Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome)

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial sits on the site of the "Genbaku Dome", which in 1945 was the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, a popular site for conferences and expositions and also a place where art and education exhibits could be shown. The word "genbaku" in Japanese means "atomic bomb", and the building was the only large one left standing after the United States dropped a bomb on the city, striking the area along the banks of the Motoyasu River at 8:15 a.m. on August 6, 1945. The building looks the same way it did after the horrors of August 1945.

It is estimated that 140,000 people died of effects from the first atomic blast in Hiroshima. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park was built around the Genbaku Dome and was opened to the public in 1954. Each August 6, there is a Peace Memorial Ceremony held to acknowledge the lives lost due to nuclear war and to pledge never to let it happen again.

1-10 Otemachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture

Itsukushima Shrine

Itsukushima Shrine is one of the most beautiful places in Japan, and has factored into Japanese history for over 1500 years. In the early seventh century, Empress Suiko built the first shrine on this island in the Inland Sea, with Taira no Kiyomori coming along to build most of the buildings we know today in the 12th century. Itsukushima Shrine is known not just for its history, but also for its stunning views. In the spring, cherry blossoms are in bloom, and maple leaves turn bright red in autumn. If you arrive during low tide, it is possible to walk all the way out to the vermilion torii gate just off shore (pictured). Itsukushima Shrine is situated right next to Daiganji Temple, one of the most important in the Benzaiten sect of Buddhism. Of particular note at Itsukushima Shrine is the beautiful bright-red five-tiered pagoda, which dates from the early 15th century. Daisho-in Temple, where you can watch the fall foliage, sits on Mount Misen, the most revered mountain on the island.

Itsukushima (Miyajima) Island, Hatsukachi City, Hiroshima Prefecture

Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region

Okinoshima, an island off the coast of Kyushu, is considered to be the home of the kami (spirits) of the Munakata goddesses. The Munakata clan ruled the island and believed that the spirits of the three goddesses that inhabited the island were daughters of the legendary Shinto sun-goddess Amaterasu. Munakata Taisha (pictured) is a series of complexes consisting of three shrines built for each of the daughters, called Okitsu-gu, Nakatsu-gu, and Hetsu-gu. The first is located on Okinoshima itself, while the second is on Oshima Island and the third is on the Kyushu mainland. Six National Treasures are located in the three shrines. The shrines date from the 17th century but the land on which the first shrine was built on was considered a sacred site since the Asuka period (7th century CE).

Munakata City, Fukuoka Prefecture

Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining

The Meiji period (1868-1912) completely revolutionized industry and business in Japan. Using the West as a model, Japan Westernized its economy, becoming one of the world's largest economic powers in the process. The groundwork was already begun during the end of the Tokugawa shogunate; as Japan reopened after a long isolation, the Tokugawa clan wanted to continue to assert their military might. Projects such as the Nirayama Reverbatory Furnace in Izunokuni City, Shizuoka Prefecture (second picture), took shape based on Dutch designs (the Dutch were one of Japan's few trading partners during isolation) and built mortars and cannons for the Imperial military.

All of the sites were built between the 1850s and 1912 and are notable in that they were the backbone of Japanese heavy industry, which was still very much in its infancy. Ruins of a shipyard and iron smelting works can be found in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and additional ruins can be found in Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture (the Shuseikan warship factory, third picture); Kamaishi City in Iwate Prefecture (iron smelting); Saga City in Saga Prefecture (the Mietsu Naval Dock); the Mitsubishi docks in Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture; and the Miike coal mines in Omuta, Fukuoka Prefecture (first picture).

Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture; Izunokuni City, Shizuoka Prefecture; Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture; Omuta City, Fukuoka Prefecture; Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture; Saga City, Saga Prefecture; Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture

Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region

Christianity was first introduced to Japan in the 16th century by a Jesuit missionary, Francis Xavier, who lived in Nagasaki. During the Tokugawa shogunate in the early 17th century, Christianity was outlawed as the ruling family was not happy with how many converts the new religion had received in Kyushu. For over 200 years, until the reopening of Japan in the 1850s, Christianity was practiced quietly behind closed doors, if at all. Starting in the 1860s, a number of hidden Christians emerged and began to rebuild churches and other Christian worship sites. Twelve "hidden Christian sites" are recognized by UNESCO, including the ruins of Hara Castle, where rebellious peasants could not overcome the shogun's siege, and the Basilica of the Twenty-Six Holy Martyrs of Japan, also called Oura Cathedral (pictured). Completed in 1864, it is the oldest church in Japan.

Nagasaki Prefecture and Kumamoto Prefecture

Yakushima

Yakushima Island, situated about 70 miles south of Kagoshima City, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Biosphere Reserve. Settled since the 7th century, and once a victim of deforestation, Yakushima is well-known today for its lush greenery, including one of the largest subtropical evergreen forests in the world. Much of the island was replanted when beautification and conservation initiatives were introduced by the Japanese government in the 1960s. The fauna of Yakushima is also varied, ranging from Yakushima macaques to dozens of pigeon and robin species. Fun fact about Yakushima: It is the wettest place in the country, with an average annual rainfall of 183 inches. 33 inches falls on average during the month of June alone, so definitely pack a poncho or an umbrella! The island is connected by car ferry and hydrofoil to Kagoshima City. Should you wish to visit Yakushima, you will book boat tickets on your own; hydrofoil tickets cost about ¥10,000 round-trip and you will arrive on Yakushima less than three hours after you leave Kagoshima City.

Yakushima Town, Yakushima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture

Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island

This UNESCO World Heritage listing consists of all or portions of four islands: Amami-Oshima and Tokunoshima in the Amami Islands, the northern part of Okinawa Island in the Okinawa Islands, and Iriomote Island in the Yaeyama Islands. These islands are very biodiverse and include a large number of endemic species such as a breed of rabbit that is only native to Amami-Oshima, a cat native to Iriomote Island, and a rail bird native to north Okinawa. About 10% of plants and 20% of insects on these islands can only be found here. Within the confines of UNESCO protection, there are already three National Parks open to the public and protected by Japan: Amami Gunto National Park (including Tokunoshima), Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park, and Yanbaru National Park on the northern tip of Okinawa. UNESCO approved the islands as its own World Heritage Site with its 2021 meeting.

Ryukyu Islands, Kagoshima Prefecture and Okinawa Prefecture

Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu

The Gusuku period of Ryukyuan history (1187-1314) coincides with a strong push for fortification which typically included stone walls. This accelerated during the Sanzan period, which started in 1314 and continued until 1429. During this time, Okinawa was divided into three kingdoms, each having built their own castle. The sites that are recognized by UNESCO were originally built between the 12th and 17th centuries. One castle, Shuri Castle (pictured), is a 20th-century recreation, while the rest of the castle sites are archaeological ruins. Also included in the listing is the Tamaudun mausoleum, one of the three sacred burial spots of the Ryukyu Kingdom, as well as the Shikina-en garden and the Sefa-utaki sacred spot where it was believed that Amamikyu, Shinto goddess of creation, appeared for the first time, thus creating Okinawa.

Naha City, Nakijin Village, Yomitan Village, Uruma City, Nakagusuku Village, and Nanjo City, Okinawa Prefecture