Japan The World Heritage sites located in Japan are very diverse. There are 14 cultural and 4 natural heritage sites in Japan.14. - presentation

Japan is a unique country with a unique culture and a huge number of architectural and natural attractions that are of interest not only to the subjects of the Emperor of the Land of the Rising Sun and the whole world. the UNESCO World Heritage Convention in 1992 , Japan opened up additional opportunities for preserving significant sites and attracting tourists. It’s no secret that the inclusion of a particular structure, complex of buildings or natural location on the UNESCO World Heritage List makes this place famous and attractive to millions of people.

To date (2020), 21 names in Japan have been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List:

• 17 cultural heritage sites;
• 4 natural heritage sites.

UNESCO sites in Japan on the map

UNESCO sites in Japan

There are 23 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Japan. They provide an opportunity to learn about the culture, ancient architecture, lifestyle and beliefs of the Japanese.

Of the 23 World Heritage Sites in Japan.

Yakushima Island

Yakushima is a Japanese island 60 km south of Kyushu Island, part of Kagoshima Prefecture. The rich fauna, including deer and monkeys, picturesque mountains and waterfalls, and thermal springs, attract more than 300 thousand tourists a year to the island. In 1993, the island was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as a unique example of a well-preserved tropical forest.

Himeji Castle

Himeji Castle is one of the oldest surviving castles in Japan. The castle complex includes 83 buildings, almost all of them are built of wood. In 1993 it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Monuments of the historical part of the city of Nara

Nara, the administrative center of Nara Prefecture, is famous for its history. Since ancient times, the city has preserved a large number of temples and buildings that have the status of national treasures of Japan. Nara has many old temples that attract tourists and pilgrims. There are sacred deer walking around temples and parks; you can feed them. The deer's favorite delicacy is sembei (rice flour cake). Horyuji Temple, the oldest wooden structure in the world, is also located here. In 1993, Horyuji Temple and in 1998, Nara Park were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Peace Memorial in Hiroshima

The Genbaku Dome was the Eastern Center of the Hiroshima Chamber of Commerce and Industry before World War II. As a result of the atomic bombing of 1945, it was severely damaged, but survived. All people who were in the building at the time of the explosion died. Next to the Atomic Dome is the Peace Memorial Park, which was practically at the epicenter of the explosion. The park contains a Memorial Museum, several monuments and a cenotaph - a collective tombstone for those killed by the atomic bomb.

Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island

Itsukushima Shrine is a Shinto shrine on Miyajima Island in Hiroshima Prefecture. The ritual gate or torii of Itsukushima Shrine is one of Japan's most popular attractions. The torii is made from camphor wood and is 16 meters high. Miyajima Island is considered the most scenic spot in Japan, along with Matsushima in Miyagi Prefecture and Amanohashidate in Kyoto Prefecture. Since 1996 it has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Historical villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama

Gokayama (Toyama Prefecture) and Shirakawa-go (Gifu Prefecture) are historical villages located in a remote mountainous region of the island of Honshu. Traditional houses in this area are characterized by steep thatched roofs. The villages are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as an outstanding example of a traditional way of life.

Historical monuments in the old part of Kyoto and in the cities of Uji and Otsu

Cultural Monuments of Ancient Kyoto includes 17 separate sites in three cities of Japan: Kyoto and Uzdi. Thirteen of them are Buddhist temples, three are Shinto shrines and one is a castle. Of the buildings, 38 have the status of “National Treasure”, 160 - “Important object of cultural heritage”, 8 gardens - “Masterpiece of landscape gardening art” and 4 gardens - “Architectural and park complex of high artistic value”. The site was included in the World Heritage List in 1994.

Shirakami Mountains

Shirakami-Sanchi is a mountain reserve where forests (mainly beech trees) with an area of ​​1300 sq. km are preserved in the north of the Japanese island of Honshu. Fishing and hunting in protected forests is possible only with special permission from the authorities. 169.7 sq. km. declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Shiretoko Peninsula National Park

Shiretoko is a peninsula in the east of the island of Hokkaido, where pristine wildlife is perfectly preserved in the Shiretoko National Park. The peninsula is home to a variety of wild animals, including brown bear and foxes. The site was included in the World Heritage List in 2005.

Silver Mine Iwami Ginzan

Iwami Ginzan is a complex of silver mines in the southwest of Honshu Island (Shimane Prefecture). Silver mines began to be developed in 1526 and by the beginning of the 17th century they were producing 38 tons annually (approximately a third of world production). Currently, the territory of the mines is covered with forest. In 2007, UNESCO added not only the mines to the World Heritage List, but also the nearby piers through which silver was transported to Korea and China.

Shrines and temples of Nikko

Nikko is the oldest religious center in Japan. Located 140 km from north to Tokyo. The main attraction of Nikko is the Toshogu Shinto Shrine - the resting place of the great commander and statesman Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa. The site was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999.

Gusuku and other architectural monuments of the Ryukyu Kingdom (Okinawa)

Gusuku are medieval castles of the feudal lords of the Ryukyu kingdom, the ruins of which are scattered across the island of Okinawa. The castles were destroyed by American air raids in World War II. In 2000, the ruins of Okinawan Gusuku were recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sacred places and pilgrim paths in the mountains of the Kii Peninsula

Kumano Kodo is a pilgrimage trail on the Kii Peninsula that leads to the "Three Sacred Mountains of Kumano". These sacred mountains are located in Wakayama Prefecture. Kumano Kodo includes five trails that were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004.

Hiraizumi

Hiraizumi temples, gardens and archaeological sites depicting the Buddhist Pure Land. Hiraizumi consists of five parts, including the sacred mountain Kinkei san. Temple buildings, Buddhist complexes and tombs of all three northern Fujiwaras, which are considered the most richly decorated buildings in the world. The facilities are located in Iwate Prefecture, Hiraizumi Town. On June 25, 2011, the Buddhist complex “Pure Land” was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji is a sacred place and a source of artistic inspiration. Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan (3776 meters). Mount Fuji unites 33 cultural and historical monuments on its territory and is the subject of traditional Japanese beliefs. It is located on the island of Honshu, 100 km from Tokyo. Mount Fuji is surrounded by Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park on the island of Honshu. In 2013, Japan's Mount Fuji was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Silk factory in Tomioka town

The Silk Factory, a state-owned industrial silk production facility in the city of Tomioka, was built in 1872 and subsequently served as a model for silk factories throughout the country. Located 100 km northwest of the capital of Japan. In 2014 it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Ogasawara Island

The Bonin Islands or Ogasawara Islands are a national park consisting of more than 40 islands located between the Mariana Islands and Japan. At a distance of about 1930 km. south of Tokyo and part of Tokyo Prefecture. The only way to reach the island is a weekly 25.5 hour ferry ride from Tokyo or Nagoya. The islands attract tourists due to their remoteness and a wide range of marine activities: swimming with dolphins, sea kayaking, snorkeling and diving. The Ogasawara Islands have never been connected to the Japanese mainland. The islands have many unique plants and animals that can only be found here. In 2011, the Ogasawara Islands were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Monuments of the Meiji Industrial Revolution: factories, shipyards and coal mines

The object consists of eleven elements, most of which are located in southwest Japan. This ensemble is evidence of the rapid industrial revolution of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which occurred thanks to the active development of ferrous metallurgy, shipbuilding and coal mining. Monuments of the Industrial Revolution reflect the desire of feudal Japan, starting in the mid-19th century, to adopt technologies from Europe and America and adapt them to the needs and social structure of the country. The Industrial Revolution of the Meiji era is considered the first successful example of the adoption of Western industrial technologies by other cultures. They were added to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2015.

National Museum of Western Art La Corbusier's architectural legacy : an outstanding contribution to modernism.

The National Museum of Western Art (国立西洋美術館) is an art museum in Japan, in the Taito Ward of Tokyo. It exhibits works of art from Europe and North America from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. The National Museum of Western Art is the largest of its kind in Asia.

Sacred Island of Okinoshima and associated sites in the Munakata region

Okinoshima (沖ノ島) is an island in the Sea of ​​Japan, owned by Japan and part of the city of Munakata, Fukuoka Prefecture. Located in the Korea Strait between the Japanese islands of Oshima and Tsushima. The total area is 0.97 km². The island's population consists of one person, the caretaker of the temple. Only male pilgrims (no more than 200 people once a year) are allowed on the island after a purification ceremony. This happens on a certain day of the year, usually May 27, the day of remembrance of the sailors who died in the Battle of Tsushima during the Russo-Japanese War. On July 9, 2021, the sacred island was listed as a World Heritage Site.

Monuments of “hidden Christianity” in Nagasaki and Amakusa.

Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region is a UNESCO World Heritage Site consisting of 12 sites (churches and monuments) in Nagasaki related to the history of Christianity in Japan. Behind each of Nagasaki's churches is the story of the revival of Christianity after a long period of official persecution. Included as a UNESCO heritage site in 2021.

Group of ancient mounds of Mozu-Furuichi in Osaka Prefecture

The 49 burial mounds were built from the late 4th to the late 5th centuries, located in the Mozu area of ​​Sakai and the Furuichi area of ​​Habikino and Fujiidera. The group includes the world's largest keyhole-shaped mound, Daisen-kofun, at 486 meters, which is believed to be the burial place of Emperor Nintoku, and Konda Gobyoyama-kofun, at 425 meters, which is believed to be the burial site of Emperor Ojin. The group of mounds demonstrates traditional burial culture and provides insight into the socio-political system of Japanese society during the Kofun period of the 3rd and 4th centuries.

Yakushima Island

Himeji Castle

Nara

Peace Memorial in Hiroshima

Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island

Historical villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama

Historical monuments in the old part of Kyoto and in the cities of Uji and Otsu

Shirakami Mountains

Shiretoko National Park

Silver Mine Iwami Ginzan

Shrines and temples of Nikko

Gusuku and other architectural monuments of the Ryukyu Kingdom (Okinawa)

Sacred places and pilgrim paths in the mountains of the Kii Peninsula

Hiraizumi – temples, gardens and archaeological sites depicting the Buddhist Pure Land

Mount Fuji

Silk factory in Tomioka town

Ogasawara Island

Historical villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama

In the inaccessible mountainous regions of the island of Honshu there are two villages - Sirikawa-go and Gokayama - which until recently, during heavy snowfall and heavy snow cover, could be cut off from the rest of the country for a long time. Residents of the settlements did not have to rely on government help and were forced to survive and conduct economic activities, relying solely on their own talents and skills. The main occupation in Shirikawa-go and Gokayama was raising silkworms , for which the upper floors of houses were adapted for the needs of “production”. The unique geographical features and occupation of the local population led to the emergence of a unique school of architecture - “gassho-zukuri”. Buildings made in this style are distinguished not only by their originality and functionality, but also fit organically into the landscape. It is because of this that the villages of Sirikawa-go and Gokayama were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as “an outstanding example of a traditional way of life, perfectly adapted to the environment and local social and economic conditions.”

Preliminary list[edit]

The preliminary list consists of sites that have previously been nominated but have not yet been included in the list.

Himeji Castle

Himeji Castle or “White Heron Castle” is an image of an ideal medieval defensive structure of the Land of the Rising Sun, which served as a prototype for many similar buildings in the future.
From a military point of view, it was thought out to the smallest detail - even the gardens surrounding Himeji Castle were a kind of first line of defense. They were spiral-shaped labyrinths with many dead ends, in which, according to the engineers' plans, enemy troops were to get lost and disorganized. A good overview and firing radius from the castle walls could well thin out the personnel of the assaulters, making the attempt to capture the fortress fail in the very bud. In 1927, Himeji Castle was declared a National Treasure of Japan, and in 1993 it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Shiretoko National Park

One of the most sparsely populated places in Japan with beautifully preserved almost untouched wildlife is the Shiretoko Peninsula , located in Hokkaido. The national park of the same name, formed in 1964 on its territory, made it possible to preserve one of the most unique places in the world. According to UNESCO experts, who decided to include this territory on the World Heritage List, the Shiretoko Peninsula is one of the richest ecosystems in the world, built on a fairly close interaction of marine and terrestrial flora and fauna. There are more than 300 species of alpine plants alone on an area of ​​just 71,100 hectares. Among the significant representatives of the fauna, it is worth noting brown bears , deer and fish eagle owls .
In addition, the Shiretoko Peninsula is the southernmost region in the northern hemisphere where drifting ice can be observed

Heritage is not natural, but cultural

Under the 1972 UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, inscribed sites are awarded "World Heritage Site Status" as having enduring cultural and/or natural value.

Mount Fuji was initially a candidate for natural heritage status, but due to deteriorating environmental conditions due to illegal waste disposal in the Fuji area and other environmental factors, it was forced to change its candidate status and claim part of the cultural heritage. A total of 25 objects were nominated for Fuji status, including the remains of ritual objects at the top, as well as 5 lakes of Fuji. The official name of the mountain on the World Heritage List is “Fuji – Object of Worship and Source of Artistic Inspiration.”

In April 2013, the International Council for the Preservation of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) recommended Fuji for status, but proposed to exclude from the list of areas included in the Fuji site the Miho no Matsubara pine grove, located on the opposite coast of Suruga Bay in 45 km from the mountain. However, in the end, the Japanese side managed to convince the council of the cultural value of the grove, and it also became part of the Fuji cultural site. However, ICOMOS rejected the application for participation in the competition for the site “Temples and other historical monuments of ancient Kamakura” (Kanagawa Prefecture).

Yakushima Island

Japan is not only modern cities, advanced technologies and high population density, but also unique nature. If in the north of the island of Hokkaido you can observe drifting ice and fauna characteristic of most of Russia, then just 60 km south of Kyushu there is a unique tropical forest that has been preserved throughout most of the island of Yakushima. It was the virgin forests and well-preserved diversity of flora and fauna that helped raise the island's status to global significance - in 1993 it became part of the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The site attracts more than 300,000 tourists annually, with a permanent island population of just over 13,000 people. They are attracted by thermal springs, tropical waterfalls and, of course, colonies of monkeys, which have chosen these places even before the first man appeared here.

Fujiyama

Fuji is not only an active, weakly active volcano, but also an inexhaustible source of creativity in Japanese art. Moreover, Fujiyama is a sacred mountain for the Japanese - there are many religious Shinto buildings located here, and the volcano itself is credited with divine properties.
It is so popular in Japan that many iconic companies have names derived from the famous toponym - Fujifilm, Fuji Television, Fuji Heavy Industries and others. Today, Fuji is one of the most important points of attraction for tourists from all over the world and the most important association with the island state. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013. Despite its national importance, it is privately owned by the Shinto Great Shrine, Hongu Sengen . The deed of gift for this territory was received by the monks back in 1609 from the hands of the shogun Tokugawa Hidetada . The right to private property has never been challenged and is respected by the Japanese government and society to this day!

Hashima is a ghost island. What secrets does Japan hide?

Hashima or Hashima, once the most populous island in the world, is today completely empty. People left here as soon as the coal mines closed. However, scandals continue to this day, including those related to the Mitsubishi company and the Japanese government: it turned out that not only happy Japanese worked in the mines - slave labor of Koreans was increasingly used here. None of the slaves received any compensation. And the island itself is now included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The inconvenient part of the story was simply “forgotten”

Last year, a new information center dedicated to industrial sites of the Meiji Restoration period was inaugurated in the capital of Japan, Tokyo. Among these attractions is Hashima Island (it was called Gunkanjima before it was renamed), which means “cruiser” in Japanese. Actually, the island received its name for the close external resemblance of the buildings located on it to this type of ship.

The new information center, however, caused a negative reaction from Japan’s neighbor, South Korea. Seoul felt that the history of Hashima Island was unreliably reflected, and the Koreans have serious reasons for such claims. The fact is that the Japanese do not like to remember once again how they once used slave labor on the island.

After the opening of the Japanese center, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea recalled that back in 2015, Tokyo officially promised to honor the memory of “victims of forced labor,” as former forced slave owners modestly call them. But, since once again the fate of the Korean slaves was modestly kept silent, Seoul threatened to send a demand to UNESCO to remove Hashima from the List of World Heritage Sites.

Slave Island

Actually, the very recognition of 23 Japanese industrial sites (they were created from 1850 to 1910) as UNESCO World Heritage Sites is quite understandable. In the Far East, it was Japan that was the first country in which the industrial revolution at one time successfully started. Another thing is that these monuments have an extremely dark past. As you know, from 1910 to 1945, South Korea was a Japanese colony and the Japanese distinguished themselves by their cruel attitude towards their conquered neighbors. Among other oppressions, there is this fact: during the Second World War, the Japanese decided to use Koreans as forced labor on the islands, where they had to work hard, literally exhaustingly, in the most unbearable jobs.

...Until 1810, Hashima Island (then, remember, still called Gunkanjima) was an unremarkable outcropping of rocks in the Pacific Ocean. Birds nested here and occasionally fishermen on boats caught in bad weather stopped to rest. But at the beginning of the 19th century, everything changed - then solid deposits of coal, a valuable resource, were discovered on the island. It was decided to extract the mineral.

The large Japanese company Mitsubishi took over the production. For the first decades, miner workers were hired, and they had to work - without exaggeration - by the sweat of their brow. The fact is that most of the mines were under water (up to 600 meters below sea level!) - mining coal in such conditions is very difficult.

Simultaneously with the development of coal mines, other infrastructure, including industrial, also developed. Over time, factories producing products for the Japanese defense industry also opened on Hashima. And by the 30s of the twentieth century, the island was rightfully considered one of the largest industrial sites in Japan.

And so, during the Second World War, Japanese industrialists came up with a “brilliant” idea: why pay their compatriots for labor if you can use free labor?.. And from 1943 to 1945, for forced labor in underwater coal mines under the leadership of the Mitsubishi Corporation on Hashima They brought in an endless stream of Koreans who were forced to work.

Since the coal mines were located directly under the seabed, slaves descended into the depths through narrow passages on special elevators. The passages in the mines themselves were so narrow and low that the slaves had to work without being able to straighten their backs. It was possible to stand up to full height only in more or less spacious rooms for unloading mined coal, where the unfortunate Koreans had to drag what they had mined on carts. At the same time, the convicts were exposed to every minute risk: poisonous gases accumulated in the underground tunnels, which they had to breathe, and collapses and associated tragedies often occurred.

According to the recollections of surviving eyewitnesses, several people died in the mines every month and this was considered the norm by “employers”. The bodies of the victims were not buried - they were cremated and taken to a small island near Hashima.

I was one of two boys forced into a truck in my village and taken to a government facility where several thousand other Koreans aged 14 to 20 were rounded up. After spending the night at the inn, we were transported by truck to the nearest town, then taken by train to the port in Busan, and then taken by ship to Shimonoseki. About 300 of us, including me, were sent to Hashima... We Koreans were forced into buildings on the edge of the island. Seven or eight of us were placed together in a tiny room, giving each of us no more than a few feet of space. The buildings were made of reinforced concrete and whitewashed on the outside, but the interior decoration was disgusting and was falling off in pieces. We were given work clothes that looked like rice sacks and were forced to work the morning after we arrived. We were constantly watched and protected by Japanese guards, some of the guards were armed with swords,

– recalled one of the surviving former slaves, Su Zhang Wu, in 1983. According to him, many of the slaves, unable to withstand the hellish conditions, preferred to end their torment in a terrible way - suicide. Let us add that free workers also went missing - nothing is still known about the fate of many convicts. It is also unknown exactly how many convicts died here, but it is clear that the number of lives lost is thousands.

Sunset of Hashima

The use of slave labor ended only after Japan lost in World War II and the Koreans received freedom from their would-be feudal lord. And soon coal mines were no longer needed.

In the late 1960s, oil replaced coal, which was left out of Japanese energy programs. Mines across the country simply began to be closed as unprofitable and unnecessary. Mitsubishi had no intention of maintaining coal mines on Hashima, and in 1974 the company officially announced the closure of the island mines. That same year, the last person who lived there left the island, since only those who worked in those very mines lived here.

For many years, the ghost town, abandoned by everyone, was empty due to the Japanese government ban on visiting it. Violation of this ban by foreigners entailed deportation from the country, and locals were threatened with 30 days of arrest. The authorities explained this by saying that they wanted to scare away black diggers from the island, who were allegedly hunting for artifacts from an abandoned site.

Relatively recently, the strict rules were somewhat relaxed - a small tourist route was opened on the island. However, tourists can only walk along the outskirts of Hashima; most areas of the ghost town on the island remain closed.

Sightseers visiting the island. Photo: / Globallookpress

In 2008, there was a surge of interest in the ominous Hashima - it was then that the question arose of including the island on the UNESCO World Heritage List (included in 2015). Then the South Korean government once again reminded the world of how reluctant Japan was to admit that it used slave labor in hard labor in its coal mines. Actually, this officially happened only after pressure was put on the Tokyo UNESCO Committee. However, this does not make it any easier for former slaves and their families: no compensation is provided for them from the Japanese government or Mitsubishi.

The passions surrounding Hashima continue to this day. The other day, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee announced that it would have to once again “call on” Japan to fulfill the already mentioned promise to honor the memory of “victims of forced labor.” This issue will be discussed at the 44th annual session of the committee from July 21 to 23.

Global disasters - the world is on fire

How much do we know about global global catastrophes that have become a lesson for humanity? Learning from other people's mistakes is difficult, but necessary. Otherwise we simply will not survive. Tsargrad proposes to work on mistakes within the framework of a special project that describes events in different parts of the world, usually united by one chain of reasons - the greed and cynicism of the perpetrators.

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Silk factory in Tomioka

Gunma Province is home to Japan's oldest silk weaving plant , which opened in 1872 and operated until 1987. Of particular interest as a well-preserved to the early industrial revolution The enterprise is also of great economic importance for Japan - thanks to its capacity, the Land of the Rising Sun in a short period was able to become the largest silk exporter in the world , supplying products mainly to the markets of France and Italy. Inclusion in the list of historical monuments of Japan, and subsequently in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, allowed the factory to survive to this day as an outstanding example of a technological ensemble.

Peace Memorial in Hiroshima

The most visited place in Hiroshima is the dilapidated three-story building of the former Exhibition Center of the city's Chamber of Commerce and Industry or " Genbaku Domu ". It was designed and built by the Czech architect Jan Letzel in 1915 in a style very atypical for Japanese cities, characteristic of European urban development at that time. In 1945, Hiroshima was subjected to an American atomic bomb, as a result of which the city was completely destroyed, and tens of thousands of civilians burned in a nuclear fire or from radiation sickness over the next few years. But in some unknown way, the building was able to partially survive, despite the fact that it was located only 160 meters from the epicenter of the explosion. After the end of World War II, the Japanese authorities did not restore the structure, but strengthened its remaining walls, preventing further destruction. Gembaku Domu building became a peace memorial, reminiscent of the horrors of war and thousands of senseless victims and human suffering.
In 1996, despite active protests from the Chinese and American authorities, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List as a symbol of the horrific consequences of the use of atomic weapons . Visiting the attraction is included in the compulsory school curriculum in Japan.

World Heritage Sites[edit]

Silver Mines Iwami Ginzan

The Silver Mines near the village of Omori is Japan's most controversial UNESCO World Heritage Site because it was included despite a negative expert opinion on its significance.
However, today these are not just requested mines, but a 400-hectare natural and architectural reserve in a relatively sparsely populated region of the island of Honshu next to dense forest and the Chugoku Mountains. The Iwami Ginzan silver mines trace their history back to 1526, when deposits of the precious metal were discovered and intensive mining began. The maximum peak of production was reached at the beginning of the 17th century, when 38 tons of silver were mined annually. These were impressive volumes for that era, accounting for approximately a third of world production. The Iwami Ginzan mines were of strategic importance for Japan, which was emphasized by the large number of fortifications along the perimeter. Coins of the famous Tokugawa shogunate were minted from this silver.

By 1823, the mine began to dry up, and in 1923 it was finally closed and abandoned.

Threats to Japan's World Heritage Sites

Himeji-jo Castle remained intact from the 17th to the 19th centuries thanks to the regular renovation work that took place there. The only loss of buildings occurred when the national government took over the site and at one point replaced some of the Western bailey and samurai houses with military buildings, although these military buildings were removed in 1945. The government has worked to keep the integrity of the site and the authenticity very much intact, the only modern elements being the reinforced concrete foundation rafts that were added to protect the building from earthquakes.

The Buddhist monuments of the Horyu-ji area are in a good state of preservation, as conservation work at the site has been ongoing since 1895, and at the same time, a high level of authenticity of the site has been maintained. The integrity of the property as a whole and it is under reliable protection without facing real threats. The Yakushima site today occupies about 21% of the land on the island and enjoys widespread political and public support for preserving the integrity of the property. The main concern for the site is the impact tourism may have on the area, although patrols are carried out to monitor them and facilities for tourists have been improved to make them more environmentally friendly.

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• Attractions
• Places

Itsukushima Shinto Shrine

The Itsukushima Shinto shrine was built in the 6th century on the island of the same name in Hiroshima Prefecture.
Throughout its history, it was repeatedly destroyed and recreated according to ancient sketches and drawings. The most famous structure of the sanctuary is a huge 16-meter torii gate, standing directly in the water in a small bay, protected from external winds and strong waves. In their current form, they have come to us since 1875, when they were restored according to historical sketches known since 1168. Since ancient times, it has been prohibited to die and be born on the island of Itsukushima. This rule was observed relatively recently - all those entering are examined and very elderly people, as well as women in the last stages of pregnancy and exhausted people are sent back to the main islands of the Japanese archipelago. In addition, you cannot bring dogs onto the island, as they can scare away the birds and destroy the natural harmony that has developed in the sacred place between the world of people and birds!

Ogasawara Islands

The Ogasarawa Islands (or Bonin Islands ) are a unique place called “paradise on Earth” by the Japanese.
A group of 30 small, mostly uninhabited islands, they preserve a unique ecosystem that is valuable to the entire world. Over an area of ​​just 104 km2, more than 140 plant species grow, 73 of which can only be found here. In addition, the Bonin Islands are home to unique insects, such as the Ogasawara dragonfly, which are also endemic to the region. The coastal waters are famous for their clarity and attract divers from all over the world with coral reefs and a variety of colorful marine fauna. The Ogasarawa Islands are of particular importance for whales, which annually swim to the surrounding waters to reproduce. Biologists informally call Bonina a “kindergarten for whales.” And tourists are attracted to this region by the opportunity to swim with real ocean dolphins, who love to frolic in the coastal waters to the delight of children and their parents!

Kumano-kodo

Kumano-kodo is an extensive network of pilgrimage trails, known since 907 . Since 1090 Kumano-kodo, the emperors of Japan have repeatedly made pilgrimages to three important Shinto shrines near the ancient capital of Japan - the city of Nara:

• Kumano-Hongu-taisha Shrine
• Kumano Hayatama Taisha Shrine
• Kumano-Nachi-taisha Shrine

Pilgrimage trails pass through picturesque regions of the country, roll over densely forested Mountains, run along rivers, go down to the ocean and even partially run along the coast. Along their entire length you can find numerous stones with ancient inscriptions, graves of important people, Buddhist and Shinto monasteries and countless memorial sites. In 2004, the 5 main trails of Kumano Kodo were listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The longest pilgrimage route is 160 km long!

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Himeji Castle UNESCO World Heritage Site No. 661 White Heron Castle (Himeji) is one of the oldest surviving castles in Japan, and the most popular among tourists.
In 1993 it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. In total, the castle complex includes 83 buildings, almost all of them are built of wood. Construction of the castle at the foot of Mount Hime (Hyogo Prefecture, Harima region) began in the mid-14th century (Muromachi period). “It received its name for its special precision of form and elegance, reminiscent of a beautiful snow-white bird” [1] (cf. Raven’s Castle). Himeji served as a revered model for countless castles in subsequent generations. Its high stone foundation, carefully whitewashed walls, loopholes, and embrasures have firmly entered the arsenal of Japanese architecture techniques. The original castle, built in 1333-46, passed from one samurai clan to another more than once, especially during the civil war of 1467-77. By the end of the 16th century, when it fell into the hands of the military leader Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the castle was pretty battered by civil strife and required major repairs. It was between 1601 and 1609 that almost all of its current structures appeared, above which the seven-tiered main tower rose to a height of 45 meters. The renovation of the castle started by the Toyotomi family was completed by 1618 and led to the appearance of a whole bunch of auxiliary towers, as well as to the redevelopment of the surrounding area. The extensive gardens around the castle are laid out in a spiral labyrinth with many dead ends, in order to force attackers to wander in circles for hours while being shot at from the keep. This ingenious idea was never tested in battle, since after the completion of construction, relatively peaceful times began in this part of Japan. Over the next two centuries, the town of Himeji grew under the shadow of the castle. In 1871, the White Heron Castle was seized from the owners and went under the hammer for 23 yen. At the end of World War II, the surroundings of the castle suffered from American air raids, but the castle itself remained unharmed. Many films were filmed on the castle grounds. In one of the first Bond films, You Only Live Twice, he appeared as a secret ninja school where rocket weapons were being developed. Akira Kurosawa filmed such masterpieces here as Shadow of the Warrior and Ran. In 2003, the historical film “The Last Samurai” with Tom Cruise in the title role was filmed in Himeji.

Nara (city) UNESCO World Heritage Site No. 870 Nara is a city in Japan, the capital of Nara Prefecture, famous for its history. Numerous temples, shrines and structures have remained in the city since ancient times. The population in 2003 was 364,869 people, the city covers an area of ​​211.60 km. It stretches for 22 km from north to south and 34 km from east to west. Nara was the capital of Japan during the Nara Period from 710 to 784. The city was modeled after the Chinese capital of Chang'an (Tang period). Nara has a large number of old temples that attract tourists and pilgrims from Japan and all over the world. It is believed that the first mythical emperor of Japan, Jimmu, descended from heaven and arrived in Nara riding a deer. The sacred deer in Nara are considered to be the descendants of that deer. Nowadays there are deer walking around temples and in parks, which are fed by tourists, and food for them is sold everywhere. Nikko UNESCO World Heritage Site No. 913 Nikko (lit. "sunlight") is one of the oldest religious and pilgrimage centers in Japan. Nikko is also a national park with scenic mountain views, trout-rich Lake Chuzenji and views of the 100-meter Kegon Falls. (I have already posted information about it) Itsukushima UNESCO World Heritage Site No. 776 Itsukushima is an island in the Inland Sea of ​​Japan, belonging to Hiroshima Prefecture. On the island since the 6th century. n. e. The largest Shinto shrine is located, and it itself is considered so sacred that for centuries no commoner has set foot on it. Until now, burials of neither people nor animals are allowed here. The shrine on Itsukushima has been rebuilt several times, but generally follows the direction set under Taira Kiyomori ca. 1168 The shrine's ritual gates (torii), which are flooded at every high tide, become an unofficial symbol of Japan. The current gate, 16 meters high, was built from camphor wood in 1875. Not far from the main temple there is an ancient stage for performances in the Noh genre. ITSUKUSHIMA is one of the oldest Shinto shrines, located on the island of Miyajima (Shrine Island) in the Inland Sea of ​​Japan (Seto Naikai) near the city of Hiroshima. Itsukushima Shrine has a 14-century history. In its current form it was created in the 12th century. through the efforts of the Taira clan, when one of its military leaders was deified here. Itsukushima is dedicated to the three daughters of one of the main deities of the Shinto pantheon - Susanoo. All of them are considered patroness of sailors. The main structure of the temple, raised on stilts, stands on the very shore, and during high tide it seems to float on the surface of the sea. Its numerous halls are connected by bridge galleries that lead to an open area where ritual dances are performed. The bright red gate - torii - is located far out to sea. Together with the “floating” temple, they make an unforgettable impression. From the low mountains approaching the sea itself, a wonderful view opens not only of the temple reflected in the water, but also of the endless distances and islands of the Inland Sea. Shirakami Mountains UNESCO World Heritage Site No. 663 Shirakami-Sanchi (lit. “mountain lands of the white god”, English Shirakami-Sanchi) is a mountain reserve uniting virgin deciduous (mainly beech) forests in the north of the Japanese island of Honshu with an area of ​​1300 square meters. km., of which 169.7 sq. km. declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Fishing and hunting in these protected forests is only possible with special permission from the authorities. Yaku UNESCO World Heritage Site No. 662 Yaku (Yakushima) is a Japanese island, 60 km south of Kyushu Island, part of Kagoshima Prefecture. It is an irregular pentagon with an area of ​​503 km2. The highest point is 1935 m above sea level. Most of the island is covered by tropical forest. The sugi tree (yaku-sugi, Cryptomeria japonica) is widespread. The rich fauna including deer and monkeys, picturesque mountains and waterfalls, and thermal springs attract up to 300 thousand tourists a year to the island. In 1993, the island was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as a unique example of a well-preserved tropical forest of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama UNESCO World Heritage Site No. 734 The historical villages of Gokayama (Toyama Prefecture) and Shirakawa-go (Gifu Prefecture) are located in a remote mountainous region of the island Honshu, which was cut off from the rest of Japan for long periods of time in the winter. A special school of architecture - “gasso” - developed here. Traditional houses in this area are characterized by steep thatched roofs. The main occupation of the local residents was silkworm breeding, so the upper floors of the houses were skillfully adapted for the needs of silkworming. The villages are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as "an outstanding example of a traditional way of life, perfectly adapted to the environment and local social and economic conditions." Kumano-kodo UNESCO World Heritage Site No. 1142 Kumano-kodo is a network of pilgrimage trails on the Kii Peninsula leading to the “Three Sacred Mountains of Kumano” - the Shinto shrines of Kumano Hongu-taisha, Kumano Hayatama-taisha and Kumano Nachi-taisha. Three sacred mountains are located in Wakayama Prefecture in close proximity to the Kumanogawa River. Kumano Kodo includes the following five main trails, which in 2004 received UNESCO World Heritage status. Small Trail, Kohechi: Koya-san - Three Sacred Mountains of Kumano, 70 km Middle Trail, Nakahechi: Tanabe - Three Sacred Mountains of Kumano Big Trail, Oohechi: Tanabe - Kushimoto - Three Sacred Mountains of Kumano, 120 km along the ocean coast Trail from Ise, Isechi : Ise-jingu - Three Sacred Mountains of Kumano, 160 km Highway from Omine Isechi: Yoshino - Three Sacred Mountains of Kumano, 140 km Kumano-kodo also includes small and connecting roads, including the Osaka - Tanabe highway. The roads pass through steep mountains overgrown with dense forest, descend to the Totsukawa and Kumanogawa rivers, approach the ocean and also go along the ocean coast. Even in ancient times, the roads were well cleared and paved in places with cobblestones or stone slabs, and stone steps were made on steep ascents. Along the roads there are numerous inscribed stones, holy tombs, Buddhist monasteries, Shinto shrines and memorial sites. The first mention of the Kumano-kodo trails in the Nihonshoki chronicles dates back to 907. Since 1090, the emperors of Japan have repeatedly made pilgrimages to Shinto shrines. Particularly extensive pilgrimages across the Kumano trails developed during the Edo period, when large numbers of people headed to Kumano and Ise. In the 20th century, the government took over the roads and put them in order; now many tourists travel along them. Hiroshima Memorial UNESCO World Heritage Site No. 775 Peace Park is a vast memorial park in the center of the Japanese city of Hiroshima, dedicated to the memory of the atomic bombings of 1945. Among the large number of monuments, a statue in memory of Sadako Sasaki stands out, which inspired Rasul Gamzatov’s theme of the poem “Cranes”, and the so-called “Atomic Dome” - the ruins of an exhibition center built according to the design of the Czech Jan Letzel in 1914-15. Despite the objections of the Chinese and American authorities, the Hiroshima Memorial was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996. Buddhist Monuments in Horyuji UNESCO World Heritage Site No. 660 There are 48 Buddhist monuments in Horyuji, Nara Prefecture. Some date back to the end of the 7th - beginning of the 8th centuries, considered one of the oldest wooden buildings in the world that have survived to this day. These masterpieces of wooden architecture are significant to art history because they illustrate the penetration of Chinese Buddhist architecture and planning into Japanese culture. The monuments are also important for the history of religion, since their construction coincided with the arrival of Buddhism to Japan from China through the Korean Peninsula. Gusuku Castles and related monuments of the ancient kingdom of the Ryukyu Islands UNESCO World Heritage Site No. 972 500 years of Ryukyu history (12th-17th centuries) are represented by this group of revered sites and monuments. Castle ruins located on elevated sites reflect the social structure of the period. Sacred places that have survived to this day represent silent testimony to a rare ancient form of religion. Wide economic and cultural contacts of the Ryukyu Islands served as the basis for the development of a unique culture.

Shiretoko National Park on the island of Hokkaido UNESCO World Heritage Site No. 1193 The Shiretoko Peninsula is located in the northeast of Hokkaido, the northernmost of the Japanese islands. The heritage site, which covers the area from the center of the peninsula to its tip (Cape Shiretoko), as well as the adjacent water area, vividly illustrates the interaction of land and sea ecosystems. Very high bioproductivity has been recorded here. The Shiretoko area is the southernmost place in the Northern Hemisphere where coastal ice forms in winter. The marine and terrestrial flora and fauna include endangered and endemic species, for example, the eagle owl, as well as a local species of violet, Viola kitamiana. Shiretoko is of global importance as a habitat for rare species of sea and migratory birds, salmonids, a number of species of marine mammals (including Steller sea lion), as well as some cetaceans. Iwami Ginzan UNESCO World Heritage Site No. 1246 Iwami Ginzan is a well-preserved silver mine complex in the southwest of Honshu (Shimane Prefecture). Silver mines began to be developed in 1526 and by the beginning of the 17th century. produced approx. 38 tons of silver annually (approximately a third of world production). The coins of the Tokugawa shogunate were minted from this silver. High quality was ensured by the use of advanced Korean technologies. To protect the mines, fortifications were built on the tops of the hills. Currently, the mine area is covered with forest. In 2007, UNESCO inscribed not only the mines, but also the nearby wharves through which silver was transported to Korea and China, on the World Heritage List, although the expert opinion regarding the global significance of the site was negative. Historical monuments of ancient Kyoto - the city of Uji and Otsu UNESCO World Heritage Site No. 688

https://www.diary.ru/~Yamato-Nippon-Japan

Shirakami Mountains

The Shirakami Mountains are the only place in East Asia where virgin beech forests remain .
It was this untouched nature that served as the main reason for the inclusion of the nature reserve in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993, as “an outstanding example of ongoing ecological or biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems and plant and animal communities.” The area of ​​the protected zone is more than 1300 km2. The dense forests, consisting not only of beech, but also pine, maple and cedar, are home to large mammals - wild boars, black bears , antelopes and martens. The Shirakami Mountains are also home to 87 species of birds, among which the black woodpecker and golden eagle . Despite the specially protected status, you can hunt in the mountains. However, this requires special permission from the local prefectural authorities.

UNESCO World Heritage List: criteria and subjects. Reference

The main goal of the Convention is to attract international instruments for the identification, protection and comprehensive support of globally outstanding cultural monuments and natural sites.

To strengthen the effectiveness of the Convention, the World Heritage Committee and Fund were established in 1976, and two years later the first cultural and natural sites were inscribed on the World Heritage List.

World Heritage Site status provides the following benefits:

1. Additional guarantees of the safety and integrity of unique natural complexes.
2. Increases the prestige of territories and the institutions that manage them.
3. Contributes to the popularization of objects included in the List and the development of alternative types of environmental management (primarily eco-tourism).
4. Provides priority in attracting financial resources to support world cultural and natural heritage sites, primarily from the World Heritage Fund.
5. Contributes to the organization of monitoring and control over the state of conservation of natural objects.

As of April 2009, there are 878 properties on the World Heritage List (including 679 cultural, 174 natural and 25 mixed) from 145 countries. The Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage has been ratified by 186 states.

In order to make known and protect objects that are unique in their kind, and also because of the desire for objectivity, evaluation criteria have been drawn up. Initially, there were only criteria for cultural heritage sites - this list consisted of six points. Then four natural criteria appeared to restore balance. Finally, in 2005, both groups of criteria were brought together, and now every World Heritage site has at least one of them in its description.

Cultural criteria:

1. The object represents a masterpiece of human creative genius
2. The object testifies to the significant mutual influence of human values ​​in a given period of time or in a certain cultural space, in architecture or technology, in monumental art, in city planning or landscape creation.
3. The object is unique, or at least exceptional, to a cultural tradition or civilization that still exists or has disappeared.
4. The property is an outstanding example of a structure, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape that illustrates a significant period of human history.
5. The site is an outstanding example of a human traditional structure, with a traditional use of land or sea, being an example of culture (or cultures) or human interaction with the environment, especially when it becomes vulnerable due to the strong influence of irreversible changes.
6. The object is directly or materially connected with events or existing traditions, with ideas, beliefs, with artistic or literary works and is of exceptional global importance (in the opinion of the UNESCO committee, this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with some other criterion or criteria).

Natural criteria:

1. The property is a natural phenomenon or space of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance.
2. The object is an outstanding example of the main stages of the history of the earth, including a monument of the past, a symbol of ongoing geological processes in the development of relief, or a symbol of geomorphic or physiographic features.
3. The property is an outstanding example of ongoing ecological or biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems and plant and animal communities.
4. The property contains the most important or significant natural habitat for the conservation of biological diversity, including endangered species of exceptional global scientific and conservation value.

As of April 2009, Russia is represented on the World Heritage List by the following sites:

1) Moscow Kremlin and Red Square (cultural criteria: 1, 2, 4, 6; year included in the List: 1990).

2) The historical center of St. Petersburg and related groups of monuments (cultural criteria: 1, 2, 4, 6; year of inclusion in the List: 1990).

3) Kizhi Pogost (cultural criteria: 1, 4, 5; year included in the List: 1990). 4) Historical monuments of Veliky Novgorod and its environs (cultural criteria: 2, 4, 6; year included in the List: 1992).

5) Historical and cultural complex of the Solovetsky Islands (cultural criteria: 4; year included in the List: 1992).

6) White stone monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal (cultural criteria: 1,2, 4; year included in the List: 1992).

7) Architectural ensemble of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra in the city of Sergiev Posad (cultural criteria: 2, 4; year included in the List: 1993).

Church of the Ascension in Kolomenskoye, Moscow (cultural criteria: 2; year included in the List: 1994).

9) Virgin forests of Komi (natural criteria: 7, 9; year included in the List: 1995).

10) Volcanoes of Kamchatka (natural criteria: 7, 8, 9, 10; year of inclusion in the List: 1996, 2001).

11) Lake Baikal (natural criteria: 7, 8, 9, 10; year included in the List: 1996).

12) “Golden Mountains of Altai” (natural criteria: x; year included in the List: 1998).

13) Western Caucasus (natural criteria: 9, 10; year of inclusion in the List: 1999).

14) Historical and architectural complex of the Kazan Kremlin (cultural criteria: 2, 3, 4; year included in the List: 2000).

15) Curonian Spit (transboundary object; cultural criteria: 5; year of inclusion in the List: 2000).

16) Ensemble of the Ferapontov Monastery (cultural criteria: 1, 4; year included in the List: 2000).

17) Central Sikhote-Alin (natural criteria: 10; year included in the List: 2001).

18) Ubsunur Basin (transboundary object; natural criteria: 9, 10; year of inclusion in the List: 2003).

19) Citadel, Old Town and fortifications of Derbent (cultural criteria: iii, iv; year included in the List: 2003).

20) Ensemble of the Novodevichy Convent, Moscow (cultural criteria: 1, 4, 6; year included in the List: 2004).

21) Natural complex of the Wrangel Island Nature Reserve (natural criteria: 9, 10; year included in the List: 2004).

22) Historical center of Yaroslavl (cultural criteria: 2, 6; year included in the List: 2005).

23) Struve geodetic arc (transboundary object; cultural criteria: 2, 4, 6; year included in the List: 2005).