The UNESCO World Heritage Committee voted on Saturday to inscribe the Asuka-Fujiwara palace and capital ruins in Nara Prefecture on its cultural heritage list, bringing Japan's total number of World Heritage sites to 27. The decision was taken during the committee's ongoing session in Busan, South Korea.
The property comprises 19 archaeological sites scattered across the villages and cities of Asuka, Kashihara, and Sakurai, dating from the late sixth to early eighth centuries. Key components include the Asuka Palace ruins, the Fujiwara Palace ruins, and the celebrated Kitora and Takamatsuzuka burial mounds. The site was placed on UNESCO's tentative list in 2007 and formally nominated by the Japanese government in 2025, following a recommendation for inscription by UNESCO's advisory body in June.
Education Minister Yohei Matsumoto pledged continued commitment to preserving and promoting the sites. Japan's tentative list still includes Hikone Castle, Kamakura, and an extension of the Hiraizumi property.