World Heritage Japan

About this book

All 27 sites / all 241 component parts / 401 photographs

Every one of Japan's 27 World Heritage sites — in one complete guide.

From the white walls of Himeji Castle to the ancient cedar forests of Yakushima, from Kyoto's seventeen World Heritage temples and shrines to the burial mounds of Osaka and the subtropical islands of Amami, this guide covers all 27 of Japan's UNESCO World Heritage properties — and every one of their 241 officially listed component parts.

Each chapter gives you the full story: why the site was inscribed, its history, architecture and significance, the criteria it met, and the essential facts at a glance — inscription year, prefectures, nearest station and coordinates. Serial properties are never collapsed into a vague paragraph: every component, from famous icons to hidden gems like the Iwami Ginzan silver mine and the Jomon settlements of the north, is introduced individually.

Whether you are planning a journey across Japan or travelling from your armchair, this is the most complete single-volume English guide to the places where Japan's history still stands.

Inside: 27 chapters organised north to south · all 241 component parts · original introductions and summaries · 401 licensed photographs with full credits · a practical guide to visiting responsibly.

Written and created in Japan by Japanese author Aki Wakamatsu. Published by Takikawa TOKOTOKO Kids LLC, a Japanese publisher in Hokkaido, Japan. Authentic Japanese content, carefully made in Japan — not mass-produced.