List of Special Places of Scenic Beauty, Special Historic Sites and Special Natural Monuments
Introduction To protect Japan's cultural heritage, the country's government selects through the Agency for Cultural Affairs important items and designates them as Cultural Properties under the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties. Designated items are classified in a number of categories, one of which is . This category includes historic locations such as shell mounds, ancient tombs, sites of palaces, sites of forts or castles, monumental dwelling houses and other sites of high historical or scientific value; gardens, bridges, gorges, mountains, and other places of great scenic beauty; and natural features such as animals, plants, and geological or mineral formations of high scientific value.The government further designates "significant" monuments classifying them in three categories: , , and . Items of particularly high significance receive higher classifications: , , and  respectively. As of October 24, 2023 there are 1,040 Natural Monuments, 1895 Historic Sites, 429 Places of Scenic Beauty, 75 Special Natural Monuments, 36 Special Places of Scenic Beauty and 63 Special Historic Sites.Since a single item can fall under more than one of these categories, the total number of sites is less than the sum of designations.
Criteria The Agency for Cultural Affairs designates monuments based on a number of criteria. A monument can be designated based on more than one of these criteria:===Places of Scenic Beauty and Special Places of Scenic Beauty===Location of Special Places of Scenic Beauty.# Parks and gardens# Bridges and embankments# Flowering trees, flowering grass, autumn colors, green trees and other places of dense growth# Places inhabited by birds and wild animals, fish/insects and others# Rocks, caves# Ravines, gorges, waterfalls, mountain streams, abysses# Lakes, marshes, wetlands, floating islands, springs# Sand dunes, spits, seasides, islands# Volcanoes, onsen# Mountains, hills, plateaus, plains, rivers# Viewpoints===Historic Sites and Special Historic Sites===# Shell mounds, settlement ruins, kofun, other historic ruins of this type# Ruins of fortified towns, castles, government administration offices, old battlefields and other historic ruins related to politics or government# Remains of shrines and temples, former compound grounds and other historic ruins related to religion# Schools, research institutions, cultural facilities and other historic ruins related to education, learning or culture# Medical care and welfare facilities, life related institution, other society and life related historic ruins# Transport and communication facilities, forest conservation and flood control facilities, manufacture facilities and other historic sites related to finance or manufacture activities# Graves and stone monuments with inscriptions# Former residences, gardens, ponds and other areas of particular historical significance# Ruins related to foreign countries or foreigners===Natural Monuments and Special Natural Monuments===# Animals## Well-known animals peculiar to Japan and their habitat## Animals which are not peculiar to Japan, but need to be preserved as well-known characteristic Japanese animals, and their habitat## Animals or animal groups peculiar to Japan within their natural environment## Domestic animals peculiar to Japan## Well-known imported animals presently in a wild state, with the exception of domestic animals; their habitat## Particularly valuable animal specimen# Plants, vegetation## Old trees of historic interest, gigantic trees, old trees, deformed trees, cultivated pulpwood, roadside trees, shrine forests## Representative primeval forests, rare forest flora## Representative alpine plants, special clusters of plants on rock ground## Representative clusters of waste land plants## Representative examples of coastal and sand ground vegetation## Representative examples of areas of peat forming plants## Clusters of plants growing in caves or grottoes## Rare water plants in garden ponds, onsen, lakes, marshes, streams, sea, etc. ; algae, moss, microbes, etc.## Remarkable occurrence of epiphytic plants on rocks, trees or shrubs## Remarkable plant growth on marginal land## Remarkable growth in the wild of crop plants## Wild habitat of rare or near extinct plants# Geological and mineralogical features## Rocks, mineral and fossil producing sites## Conformable and unconformable strata## Fold and thrust strata## Geological features caused by the work of living creatures## Phenomena related to earthquake dislocation and landmass motion## Caves, grottoes## Examples of rock organization## Onsen and their sediments## Erosion and weathering related phenomena## Fumaroles and other items related to volcanic activity## Ice and frost related phenomena## Particularly precious rock, mineral and fossil specimen# Representative territories rich in natural monuments to be protected (Natural Protected Areas)
Usage The table's columns (except for ''Remarks'' and ''Photo'') are sortable pressing the arrows symbols. The following gives an overview of what is included in the table and how the sorting works. * ''Name'': name of the monument as registered in the  Database of Cultural Properties* ''Special Place of Scenic Beauty'': criteria under which the monument has been designated or "-" if it is not a Special Place of Scenic Beauty* ''Special Historic Site'': criteria under which the monument has been designated or "-" if it is not a Special Historic Site* ''Special Natural Monument'': criteria under which the monument has been designated or "-" if it is not a Special Natural Monument* ''Remarks'': general remarks* ''Location'': "town-name prefecture-name" and geo coordinates of the monument if applicable::* sorts as "prefecture-name town-name"* ''Photo'': picture of the monument
Special Places of Scenic Beauty, Special Historic Sites, Special Natural Monuments  Name Special Place of Scenic Beauty Special Historic Site Special Natural Monument Remarks LocationPhoto  1  Iwate HiraizumiHiraizumi, Iwate   alt=A lake with stones in the water in front of wooded hills. 8, 11   One of the Three Views of JapanMiyagi variousShiogama, Shichigahama, Rifu, Matsushima, Higashimatsushima, Miyagi alt=Sea with small islets completely covered with trees. 1 2,8 Tokyo TokyoTokyo alt=Bird eye view of a park with grassland, trees and ponds surrounded by tall buildings and a big street. 1 8 Tokyo TokyoTokyo alt=Bird eye view of a wooded park surrounded by tall buildings and adjacent to a rail line. 1  Tokyo TokyoTokyo alt=A pond in a wooded park with a bridge and grassland. 6  4Toyama variousTateyama, Kurobe, Toyama alt=A deep mountain valley with a river and wooded slopes. 1   One of the Three Great Gardens of JapanIshikawa KanazawaKanazawa, Ishikawa alt=A stone lantern next to a tree in front of a pond. Beyond the lake there is a small wooden house built on poles above the water. 1   The ruins at the same site are a Special Historic Site.Fukui FukuiFukui, Fukui alt=Grass, stones and a forest. 5, 6  Yamanashi variousKōfu and Kai, Yamanashi alt=A wild river with lots of large stones in it running through a forest. 6  4Nagano MatsumotoMatsumoto, Nagano alt=A suspension bridge over a river with high snowcovered mountains in the back. 1  Kyoto KyotoKyoto, Kyoto alt=Shrubs cut in round shapes beyond raked gravel and large stones. 1 8 Kyoto KyotoKyoto, Kyoto alt=Trees and a raked sand garden next to traditional Japanese buildings. 1 8 Kyoto KyotoKyoto, Kyoto alt=Moss covered ground in front of trees and a golden pavilion in the distance. 1   Also a historic site (hist-crit. : 8)Kyoto KizugawaKizugawa, Kyoto 150px  1   Also a historic site (hist-crit. : 8)Kyoto KyotoKyoto, Kyoto alt=Moss covered ground among trees in front of a pond. 1   Also a historic site (hist-crit. : 8)Kyoto KyotoKyoto, Kyoto alt=Rock garden with raked gravel and large stones including one placed like a bridge. 1   Also a historic site (hist-crit. : 8)Kyoto KyotoKyoto, Kyoto alt=Rock garden with raked gravel and large standing stones in front of a small wall and green plants. 1 8 Kyoto KyotoKyoto, Kyoto 150px  3, 8, 11   One of the Three Views of JapanKyoto MiyazuMiyazu, Kyoto alt=A narrow strip of sand covered in woods separating two bodies of water which are likely the sea and a lake. 1   Also a historic site (hist-crit. : 8)Kyoto KyotoKyoto, Kyoto alt=Raked gravel in front of a pond and a wooded hill. 1  Kyoto KyotoKyoto, Kyoto alt=A pond with stones along the sides located in a garden with pine and other trees. 1, 10  Kyoto KyotoKyoto, Kyoto alt=A small waterfall with little water among trees. 1   Also a historic site (hist-crit: 8)Kyoto KyotoKyoto, Kyoto  1   Also a historic site (hist-crit: 8)Kyoto KyotoKyoto, Kyoto alt=A rectangular plot of raked gravel with islands of larger stone. The plot is bordered on two sides by a low wall. 1   Reconstruction of an 8th-century Imperial Palace Garden with ponds and pebble shoreNara NaraNara, Nara 150px  1 2, 8  The ruins at the same site are a Special Historic Site.Nara NaraNara, Nara  1   One of the Three Great Gardens of JapanOkayama OkayamaOkayama, Okayama alt=Garden with dried grassland, plants, woods and a large pond with islands. 8 2,3  Includes one of the Three Views of JapanHiroshima HatsukaichiHatsukaichi, Hiroshima alt=Sea and wooded hills. There is a red pagoda on land and a red gate standing in the water. 3,5,6  Hiroshima AkiotaAkiōta, Hiroshima alt=A river with two small waterfalls in a wooded mountain landscape. 1  Kagawa TakamatsuTakamatsu, Kagawa alt=A pond with a bridge and islands in a park setting surrounded by wood and in front of a hill. 3,9  Saga KaratsuKaratsu, Saga alt=A forest stretching along the coastline. 1, 3, 9, 10  Nagasaki ShimabaraShimabara, Nagasaki alt=Volcano with smoking rocky top and lower parts without vegetation. 1  Okinawa NahaNaha, Okinawa alt=A pond crossed by a stone causeway with a bridge. There is a low wooden house beyond the pond. 6, 7   Also a Natural Monument (4)various variousTowadako, Aomori and Kosaka, Akita alt=A lake bordered by wooded slopes.alt=A stream through a green forest. 5,6   Also a Natural Monument (3.1)various variousKumanogawa, Wakayama, Kiwa, Mie and Totsukawa, Nara 150px  10  various variousYamanashi, Shizuoka alt=Perfectly shaped volcano with the upper half covered in snow. 2  Star fort of the Republic of EzoHokkaido HakodateHakodate, Hokkaidō alt=Bird eye view on a star shaped fortress with surrounding water filled moat. 1  Jōmon period archaeological siteAomori AomoriAomori, Aomori alt=A long very basic wooden house with thatched roof. Behind the house there is a wooden three-storied structure with open floors supported by large pillars. 3 Iwate HiraizumiHiraizumi, Iwate alt=A building with pyramid shaped roof at the end of a flight of stairs. 3 Iwate HiraizumiHiraizumi, Iwate alt=Very small remains of foundations. 3 Iwate HiraizumiHiraizumi, Iwate   2, 3 Miyagi TagajoTagajō, Miyagi alt=A low stone platform in a meadow. 1 Akita KazunoKazuno, Akita alt=A circle on the ground made of stones. 4  Former school of the Mito Clan, founded in 1841 by Tokugawa NariakiIbaraki MitoMito, Ibaraki alt=A wooden house with white walls and a gabled roof. 3 Ibaraki IshiokaIshioka, Ibarakialt=Site of the Lecture Hall of Hitachi Provincial Temple   3 Ibaraki IshiokaIshioka, Ibaraki   3  Stone reliefs of Buddhist deities in a caveTochigi UtsunomiyaUtsunomiya, Tochigi   6 2.1 Three roads totalling Tochigi NikkoNikkō, Imaichi and Kanuma, Tochigi alt=Tall cedar trees next to a modern road.alt=A stone stele with square cross section surrounded by a stone fence. 3, 7   high stone stele from 726Gunma TakasakiTakasaki, Gunma alt=Rubbed copy showing Chinese characters. 1, 7 Gunma TakasakiTakasaki, Gunma alt=Rubbed copy showing Chinese characters. 2, 7 Gunma TakasakiTakasaki, Gunma alt=Rubbed copy showing Chinese characters. 2 Tokyo TokyoTokyo alt=Stone foundations. 1  Mid to late Jōmon period shell mound. Largest shell heap in Japan.Chiba Chiba Wakaba-kuWakaba Ward, Chiba, Chiba, Chiba alt=Heap of various sized whiteish shells. 2, 3, 6, 7, 8  The gardens at the same site are a Special Place of Scenic Beauty.Fukui FukuiFukui, Fukui alt=Small Chinese style wooden gate in a wall of rough stones. 1  Jōmon period archaeological siteNagano ChinoChino, Nagano   3 Shizuoka IwataIwata, Shizuoka   6  Set up by Tokugawa IeyasuShizuoka AraiArai, Shizuoka alt=A wide wooden building with a large roof beyond a wooden fence. 1  Late Yayoi archaeological siteShizuoka ShizuokaShizuoka, Shizuoka alt=Simple thatched hut with the thatching going all the way to the ground. 2 Aichi NagoyaNagoya, Aichi alt=Remains of stone foundations in front of a Japanese castle. 8 Mie MatsusakaMatsusaka, Mie alt=Interior of a Japanese house with tatami floor and sliding doors. 2 Shiga variousAzuchi and Higashiōmi, Shiga 150px   2 Shiga HikoneHikone, Shiga alt=Tenshu. 2 Osaka OsakaOsaka, Osaka alt=Osaka Castle. 3 Osaka HirakataHirakata, Osaka alt=A low earthen platform. 2 Hyogo HimejiHimeji, Hyōgo alt=View from a high building over wooded lands with many structures. 1 Nara AsukaAsuka, Nara alt=Wooded hillock and a small stone wall. 1 Nara AsukaAsuka, Nara alt=Wooden entrance to a little hill. 3 Nara SakuraiSakurai, Nara alt=Modern stele with Japanese characters next to a raised platform. 1 Nara AsukaAsuka, Nara alt=Two huge and a couple of smaller rocks. 1 Nara KoryoKōryō, Nara 150px   2  Palace of the Fujiwara capitalNara KashiharaKashihara, Nara alt=Fujiwara　Palace Ruins   1 Nara SakuraiSakurai, Nara alt=Entrance to an underground structure built of rough stones. 2  Palace of the Heijō capital; the gardens at the same site are a Special Place of Scenic BeautyNara NaraNara, Nara alt=Birds eye view of a palace with several large structures surrounded by a rectangular corridor. 3  Yakushi-ji of the Fujiwara capitalNara KashiharaKashihara, Nara   1 Wakayama WakayamaWakayama, Wakayama alt=A gravel path and hillocks. 3 Tottori TohakuTōhaku, Tottori   4 Okayama BizenBizen, Okayama alt=A fenced mound beyond a thick forest.alt=Two short stone columns placed about two meters apart in the ground.alt=Small hut with thatched pyramid shaped roof amongst trees.alt=Stone foundations and a wooded hill. 4, 8  Chazan Kan (1748–1827) was a Confucian scholar.Hiroshima FukuyamaFukuyama, Hiroshima   3  Temple 80 of the Shikoku pilgrimageKagawa HiraizumiTakamatsu, Kagawa alt=Large stones set in the ground in front of temple buildings. 1 Fukuoka KeisenKeisen, Fukuoka alt=A mound with a gate covered by grass. 2  Low embankment built in 664 by the Dazaifu (大宰府), the imperial office governing Kyūshū, against an invasion from Tang dynasty China and KoreaFukuoka variousDazaifu, Kasuga and Ōnojō, Fukuoka 150px   2  Ruins of the governmental office with jurisdiction over KyūshūFukuoka DazaifuDazaifu, Fukuoka alt=Modern stele in front of a park-like area. 2, 3  Asuka period castleFukuoka variousDazaifu, Umi and Ōnojō, Fukuoka alt=Wall of unhewn stones. 1  Yayoi period archaeological siteSaga YoshinogariYoshinogari, Saga alt=Two simple houses with thatched roofs almost going down to the ground. 2 Saga variousChinzei, Yobuko and Genkai, Saga alt=Hill with remains of stone foundations. In the distant background there is the see. 2  Asuka period mountain castleNagasaki TsushimaTsushima, Nagasaki   1 Nagasaki IkiIki, Nagasaki   2 Kumamoto KumamotoKumamoto, Kumamoto150px   3 Oita UsukiUsuki, Ōita 150px   1 Miyazaki SaitoSaito, Miyazaki alt=Grass covered hillock with an entrance. 2 variousChikushino, Fukuoka and Kiyama, Sagaalt=    2.3Hokkaido SamaniSamani, Hokkaidō    2.12, 2.8Hokkaido AkanAkan, Hokkaidō alt=Large green balls of a plant under water. 3.10Hokkaido SobetsuSōbetsu, Hokkaidō alt=Rocky mountain colored red among green landscape. 4Hokkaido variousKamikawa, Higashikawa, Biei and Shintoku, Hokkaidō alt=Flat valley or caldera with patches of snow. 2.2Hokkaido KitahiroshimaKitahiroshima, Hokkaidō alt=Lake in a forest. 1.2 Whooper swansAomori HiranaiAsadokoro, Hiranai, Aomori 150px    3.8Iwate KitakamiKitakami, Iwate 150px    3.1 15–20 million years oldIwate IchinoheIchinohe, Iwate 150px    3.5, 3.10Iwate NishineNishine, Iwate 150px    2.3Iwate variousHanamaki, Tōno and Kawai, Iwate    3.8Miyagi OsakiŌsaki, Miyagi    3.1, 3.8 Hokutolite is a type of radioactive baryte.Akita SembokuSemboku, Akita 150px    2.1Yamagata TsuruokaTsuruoka, Yamagata alt=A stone mountain path through a forest of very large cedar trees. 2.1 More than 1000 years old, and perimeter larger than , largest zelkova tree in JapanYamagata HigashineHigashine, Yamagata    2.12 A species of butterwort endemic to Nikkō National ParkTochigi NikkoNikkō, Tochigi alt=A small plant with light green leaves and blue whitish flowers growing on a tree trunk. 3.2, 3.7, 3.10Gunma TsumagoiTsumagoi, Gunma   1  A large group of kofun comprising Maruhakayama Kofun, Futagoyama Kofun, Teppōyama Kofun, , Nakanoyama Kofun, Kawarazuka Kofun, Okunoyama Kofun, Atagoyama Kofun and Inariyama Kofun whose artifacts have been designated as National Treasure of Japan.Saitama GyodaGyōda, Saitama    2.1Saitama KasukabeKasukabe, Saitama    3.1, 3.5Saitama KamikawaKamikawa, Saitama    2.4Saitama SaitamaSaitama, Saitama alt=Tajimagahara Primula sieboldii primrose habitat    1.3Chiba KamogawaKamogawa, Chiba 150px    2.1 Single tree,  circumference; species is native to Ōshima and Izu PeninsulaTokyo OshimaŌshima, Tokyo 150px    1.3Toyama variousToyama and Uozu, Toyama 150px    3.1, 3.5 Tree trunks of a cedar forest partially buried about 2000 years ago; largest has a circumference of c. Toyama Uozu ShakadoShakadō, Uozu, Toyama 150px    3.11Toyama ToyamaToyama, Toyama 150px    3.8Ishikawa HakusanHakusan, Ishikawa    3.6, 3.10Yamanashi NarusawaNarusawa, Yamanashi 150px    3.8Nagano MatsumotoMatsumoto, Nagano    3.5Gifu MotosuMotosu, Gifu 150px    2.1 Circumference Gifu GujoGujō, Gifu 150px    2.1 Oldest tree of the mountain sakura, crown  (EW) and  (NS)Shizuoka FujinomiyaFujinomiya, Shizuoka    3.10Shizuoka FujinomiyaFujinomiya, Shizuoka alt=Pond with a stone inside and a red bridge crossing it. 1.2Shiga MaibaraMaibara, Shiga    2.2 Part of the World Heritage Site "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara"Nara NaraNara, Nara 150px    2.2Tottori DaisenDaisen, Tottori    3.6, 3.10Shimane MatsueMatsue, Shimane 150px    3.1, 3.3, 3.6, 3.9 Karst topographyYamaguchi MineMine, Yamaguchi alt=Landscape of brown hills with many scattered rocks. 3.6, 3.9 At  second longest cave in JapanYamaguchi MineMine, Yamaguchi alt=The Hyakumaizara in Akiyoshi cave. 1.2 Hooded cranesYamaguchi variousShūnan and Kudamatsu, Yamaguchi    2.1Tokushima HigashimiyoshiHigashimiyoshi, Tokushima    2.1  high,  circumference at ground levelKagawa TonoshoTonoshō, Kagawa    3.9Ehime KumakogenKumakōgen, Ehime    1.2Kochi KochiKōchi, Kōchi 150px    2.1 Two stems, each about  circumferenceKochi OtoyoŌtoyo, Kōchi    2.1Fukuoka variousAsakura and Kama, Fukuoka 150px    2.2, 2.10Fukuoka variousShingū and Hisayama, Fukuoka 150px    2.1, 2.12Kumamoto KikukaKikuka, Kumamoto    2.2Miyazaki MiyazakiAoshima, Miyazaki, Miyazaki 150px    2.10Miyazaki KushimaKushima,  Miyazaki 150px    2.12 Mitrastema yamamotoiMiyazaki MiyazakiMiyazaki,  Miyazaki    2.2 Includes with the Jōmon Sugi, the oldest specimen of Cryptomeria japonicaKagoshima YakushimaYakushima,  Kagoshima 150px    2.1 Height: , circumference: Kagoshima KamoKamō,  Kagoshima 150px    2.10Kagoshima KagoshimaKagoshima,  Kagoshima 150px    2.10Kagoshima variousYamagawa, Bonotsu, Sata and Uchinoura, Kagoshima 150px    1.2 Hooded cranesKagoshima IzumiIzumi, Kagoshima150px    2.2, 2.10Kagoshima ShibushiShibushi, Kagoshima 150px    2.3various variousAsahi and Kurobe in Toyama; Hakuba in Nagano; Itoigawa in Niigata 150px    4various variousYunotani, Niigata; Katashina, Gunma; Hinoemata, Fukushima alt=View from a mountain on a wide valley with light green areas bordered by dark green forest. 1.2various variousOgasawara Islands (Tokyo) and Okinawa alt=A mainly white bird with some black feathers at the wings and some rust color around the neck and the back of the neck. 1.1Kagoshima variousTokunoshima and Amami Ōshima, Kagoshima alt=A stuffed rabbit. 1.1 Endemic to one island (Iriomote)Okinawa IriomoteIriomote, Okinawa alt=A stuffed cat. 1.2 At up to  length, the second largest salamander in the worldvarious Iriomote11 prefectures, among others: Gifu, Mie, Hyōgo, Hiroshima, Shimane, Tottori, Ōita alt=A red-brownish salamander with black spots under water. 1.1 found on all main Japanese islands except for Hokkaidōvarious various29 prefectures including Aomori alt=Two lying goat-antelopes with black rumps and white heads. 1.2various variousvarious alt=A stuffed otter. 1.1Okinawa variousOkinawa alt=O-kanmuriwashi. 1.2various variousHyōgo and Fukui alt=A black and white stork with red legs and a black beak. 1.2Hokkaido variousHokkaidō alt=A black and white crane with a red crown. 1.2various variousNiigata and Ishikawa alt=A stuffed white ibis with red legs and face and a black beak. 1.1 Endemic to Okinawa IslandOkinawa Okinawa IslandOkinawa Island, Okinawa 150px    1.1 Endemic to the Bonin IslandsTokyo Bonin IslandsBonin Islands, Tokyo    1.2various variousToyama, Nagano, Niigata, Yamanashi, Shizuoka, Gifu alt=Two grouses with white lower part and brown upper part. 1.4Kochi NankokuNankoku, Kōchi
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