Hot Springs

This information is taken from “Hello Japan”, the 2007 version of a Japanese and English guidebook, printed by Yokoso! Japan.

Japan is a chain of volcanic islands, home to about 10% of the world’s active volcanos. As a result, it is blessed with beautiful and diverse lanscapes and an abundance of hot springs. There are over 2,800 hot springs nationwide. They are used to heal illnesses, improve health, or for a good rest.

Arima Hot Spring (Hyogo): One of Japan’s three ancient spa regions, with 7 spring sources.

Beppu Hot Springs (Oita): No. 1 spa region in Japan both in the number of spring sources and the amount of discharge. There are 8 springs areas in town.

Dogo Hot Springs (Ehime): One of Japan’s three ancient spa regions, boasting also a communal bath over 100 years old.

Hakone Hot Springs (Kanagawa): There are nearly 20 hot springs covering from the foot to midway up the Hakone volcano.

Kusatu Hot Springs (Gunma): Natural spring with No.1 discharge amount in Japan. It is an acid spring known since ancient times as a healing spa.

Noboribetsu Hot Springs (Hokkaido): Nicknamed the “hot spring department store” for its great variety of hot springs.

Nyuto Hot Springs (Akita): A spa resort with 7 inns hidden away surrounded by beech forests.

Shirahama Hot Springs (Wakayama): One of Japan’s three ancient spa regions, with 5 hot spring areas dotting along the coast.

The World Heritage of Japan

This information is taken from “Hello Japan”, the 2007 version of a Japanese and English guidebook, printed by Yokoso! Japan.

There are a total number of 13 World Heritage sites in Japan registered with the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) World Heritage Convention. The list consists of 3 natural and 10 cultural heritage sites (as of June 2007). These unique natural and cultural assets of Japan cultivated over its long history are introduced below.

1. Buddhist Monuments in the Horyuji Temple Area

Location: Ikaruga-cho, Ikoma-gun, Nara

Built in the 7th century, the Horyuji Temple houses a main hall and a five-storied pagoda that are said to be the oldest existing wooden structures in the world.

2. Himeji Castle

Location: Himeji City, Hyogo

The castle tower and fortress in Himeji Castle were built in 1601 from a large group of wooden structures, and symbolize the “Wood Culture” of Japan.

3. Historic Monuments of Ancient Capital Kyoto

Location: Kyoto City, Uji City, Kyoto and Otsu City, Shiga

Heiankyo (794 AD) and its neighbouring regions generated refined culture and has passed down a collection of many cultural treasures over the centuries. These include 17 shrines and temples that have been inscribed as world heritage sites.

4. Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama

Location: Shirakawa-mura, Ono-gun, Gifu and Nanto City, Toyama

Large dwellings with thatched roofs are found in three farming villages in this region of heavy snow, creating a unique look and atmosphere.

5. Hiroshima Peace Memorial

Location: Hiroshima City, Hiroshima

The Genbaku Dome, stripped to its present form due to the atomic bomb at the end of World War II, is a peace memorial that continues to plead for the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons and the importance of everlasting peace.

6. Itsukushima Shinto Shrine

Location: Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima

This shrine pavilion rising above the sea is connected by massive corridors and was built in the 12th century. This heritage site is relevant for anyone who wish to familiarize themselves with Japan’s spiritual culture.

7. Historic Monuments of Ancient Capital Nara

Location: Nara City, Nara

The foundation of Japanese society and culture was created in the ancient Japanese capital of Heijokyo through interactions with China and Korea in the Nara period (710-792 AD). Eight cultural properties are inscribed as world heritage sites.

8. Shrines and Temples of Nikko

Location: Nikko City, Tochigi

Produced by artists who represented the 17th century art world, the buildings of Nikko were arranged to blend in with the surrounding large cedar trees. This group of religious structures is a representative landmark of Japan.

9. Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu

Location: Naha City and others, Okinawa

The Ryukyu Kingdom (now Okinawa prefecture) of the latter 14th century to the end of the 18th century formed a unique regional culture, especially centered in areas now marked by castle ruins (Gusuku).

10. The Sacred Sites and Pilgrimmage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range

Location: Nachikatsuura-cho, Higashimuro-gun and others, Wakayama

Surrounded by dense forests, the three sacred sites “Yoshino/Omine”, “Kumano Sanzan”, and “Koyasan”, as well as the roads leading to these have been considered places of ascetic training since ancient times.

11. Yakushima Island

Location: Kamiyaku-cho, Yaku-cho, Kumage-gun, Kagoshima

Yakushima is an island shaped almost perfectly as a circle, with a perimeter of about 130km. There are approximately 40 indigenous plants that are found only on this island, including the Jomon cedar which is said to be 7,200 years old.

12. Shirakami-Sanchi Mountains

Location: Aomori and Akita

Shirakami-Sanchi is a mountain zone stretching from northwestern Akita to southwestern Aomori, with a large primitive natural beech forest of global scale.

13. Shiretoko

Location: Shari-cho,Rausu-cho, Menashi-gun, Hokkaido

Situated at the east end of Hokkaido, an ecosystem linkage of precious natural enivronment thrives in the land and sea regions along the Shiretoko peninsula facing the Okhotsk Sea.