UNESCO Panel Recommends Asuka-Fujiwara Sites for World Heritage List

A UNESCO advisory panel recommended adding the Asuka-Fujiwara archaeological sites in western Japan to the World Cultural Heritage list, UNESCO said Saturday. The UNESCO World Heritage Committee is expected to adopt the recommendation at its meeting in Busan, South Korea, from July 19 to 29. Inscription recommendations by the International Council on Monuments and Sites are usually adopted.

The Asuka-Fujiwara sites consist of 19 archaeological sites from the 6th to 8th centuries, including the ruins of the Asuka and Fujiwara palaces and the Takamatsuzuka tomb. The sites are located in Nara Prefecture. ICOMOS determined that the scope of the constituent assets and conservation methods meet the evaluation criteria.

The panel encouraged continued consideration of designating the entire Fujiwara palace ruins as a historic site and further study of mural preservation.

If listed, the sites would bring Japan's number of World Cultural Heritage designations to 22 and its total World Heritage designations to 27. The Sado Island Gold Mines were added to the cultural heritage list in 2024. The sites were placed on UNESCO's tentative list in 2007.

Local government officials submitted draft recommendations to Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs four times since 2020. The government submitted a formal recommendation to UNESCO in January 2025, followed by an ICOMOS on-site survey in September 2025.