Japan had the first World Heritage sites in 1993 when UNESCO registered Buddhist monuments in the Horyuji Temple area, Himeji Castle, Yakushima Island and the Shirakami-Sanchi beech tree forest.
Since then the country has added more sites and now boasts the 19 shown on the right.
Natural World Heritage sites show magnificent views of four seasons while cultural World Heritage sites remind people of the deep, unique history of Japan.