Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range

Japan's tallest free-standing mountain, revered since ancient times as a subject of faith and art. Registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 2013, it symbolizes Japan and attracts roughly 300,000 climbers annually.

A collection of temples and shrines including Kinkaku-ji, Kiyomizu-dera, and Ryoan-ji, encompassing the UNESCO World Heritage 'Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.' They embody the aesthetic and historical essence of Japan's thousand-year imperial capital.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site that bears witness to the devastation of the 1945 atomic bombing. The Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Park serve as enduring symbols advocating for nuclear disarmament and lasting world peace, drawing visitors from around the globe each year.

Known affectionately as the 'White Heron Castle,' Himeji Castle was one of Japan's first UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites. Combining an elegant white-plastered exterior with sophisticated defensive architecture, it is regarded as the finest surviving example of Japanese castle construction. After major restoration in 2015, it attracts around two million visitors annually.

A shrine built over the sea on Miyajima island in the Seto Inland Sea, iconic for its great torii gate standing in the water at high tide. Registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 1996, it has been celebrated since ancient times as one of Japan's Three Most Scenic Views.

A vast urban park home to approximately 1,200 wild deer roaming freely. The deer have been protected since ancient times as divine messengers of Kasuga Grand Shrine, and feeding them 'deer crackers' is a beloved tourist experience. Adjacent to World Heritage sites including Todai-ji and Kofuku-ji, it is the heart of Nara tourism.