The World Heritage Convention (The 1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage) was adopted in 1972 by the General Conference of UNESCO, and has been concluded by 196 countries at present (2024. 10). Japan also accepted this convention in 1992, and has contributed to the establishment of a system of international cooperation and support, based on the recognition that it is important to protect cultural and natural heritage from such threats as damage and destruction and to preserve them as the world heritage of all humankind.
Sites are inscribed on the World Heritage List through a process in which nominated properties from each country are examined by the World Heritage Committee, which consists of 21 countries. As of August 2024, 1223 properties have been inscribed on the list, of which 952 are cultural sites, 231 are natural sites, and 40 are mixed sites. Among them are 26 World Heritage properties in Japan, including 21 cultural sites and 5 natural sites.