Ancient Japanese capitals to join World Heritage list

The United Nations’ cultural agency has decided to list Japan’s “Ancient Capitals of Asuka and Fujiwara” as a World Heritage site. The UNESCO World Heritage Committee made the decision on Sunday at a session in Busan, South Korea.

Japan nominated 19 archaeological sites in the western prefecture of Nara. They date from the sixth to eighth centuries and include the remains of an imperial court and a burial mound called Takamatsuzuka Tomb, which features richly colored wall paintings. The sites are centered on the village of Asuka and extend into the cities of Kashihara and Sakurai.

This will be Japan’s 27th entry on UNESCO’s list of important cultural and natural sites.