The World Heritage Sites in Japan - Season 4 / Year 2025

Mt. Fuji is Japan's tallest and most famous peak. As an active volcano, it has also inspired awe and terror. Mt. Fuji has also inspired artists, including Katsushika Hokusai, as seen in his famous "The Great Wave off Kanagawa." Many 19th-century prints of Mt. Fuji contributed to Europe's japonisme trend. Explore the beauty of a mountain that inspires both artists and faith.

An astonishing 49 burial mounds of various shapes and sizes are scattered across Osaka. These 1,600-year-old mounds are the resting places of past rulers and elites. Research reveals new discoveries.

Christianity came to Japan in 1549 via Portuguese missionaries. It spread swiftly, especially in Nagasaki and Amakusa. But concerns about foreign influence led to it being outlawed and viciously suppressed. Japanese Christians went into hiding, and despite having no priests or churches, kept their faith alive for 250 years. Explore the ruins where some made their last stand, as well as the beautiful Oura Cathedral.

15,000 years ago, Jomon people lived in settlements while hunting and gathering nature's bounty. These sites show the lifestyle they led for 10,000 years, avoiding conflict and coexisting with nature.

The brilliant white Himeji Castle is a rare example of a wood castle built without a single nail. With solid battle defenses and beauty preserved by craftsmen, it's a masterpiece of function and form.

Appearing to float on the sea, Itsukushima Shrine is built in harmony with nature, changing appearance with the tide. A symbol of beauty and beliefs, its clever construction protects it from the sea.