Japan's World Heritage Sites presents the exquisite temples, shrines,
gardens, castles and natural wonders found throughout Japan which have
now been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This new edition has more
convenient size and includes many newly-designated UNESCO sites
including:
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Christian Sites in Nagasaki that tell the extraordinary story of
Japan's Christians who continued to practice their faith in secret
under penalty of death during Japan's feudal era
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Meiji Industrial Sites which tell of the nation's rapid modernization
during the Meiji period
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The Munakata Shrine to seafaring deities on a forbidding island
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The Tomioka Silk Mill which became a leader in Japan's export drive
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The National Museum of Western Art, an architectural gem designed by
Le Corbusier
Japan expert John Dougill personally traveled to each of these sites to
research this book. He tells how his journey led him from the sub-Arctic
island of Hokkaido to the sub-tropical islands of the Okinawan
archipelago and beyond. Tag along as he describes each place in loving
detail and talks about its special historical and cultural features,
including:
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Mount Fuji, Japan's tallest and most sacred volcano. Located on
Honshu Island near Tokyo, Mt. Fuji is considered the sacred center of
Japan.
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Himeji Castle, a monument from Japan's long feudal history. Also
known as Egret Castle, because it looks like a bird taking off in
flight.
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Horu-ji Temple, the world's oldest surviving wooden structure--a
center of Buddhist learning that still serves as a seminary and
monastery
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The Hiroshima Peace Memorial or Atomic-Bomb Dome--one of the few
structures to partially survive the atomic blast in 1945
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The Ogasawara Islands, a remote archipelago of over 30 islands
including Iwo Jima, that is home to rare wildlife and spectacular
scenery.
Readers will learn how Japan became involved with the World Heritage
Sites program back in 1993, the importance of these designations, and
their popularity in Japan and abroad today. Whether you are planning to
travel to Japan or just enjoy learning more about this history of this
unique land, Japan's World Heritage Sites is sure to inspire
