Overview
- ICOMOS, UNESCO's advisory body, recommended inscription of the Asuka–Fujiwara palace complex on June 5, advancing the nomination to the World Heritage Committee for a final decision.
- The nomination covers 19 component assets across Nara Prefecture's Asuka Village, Kashihara City and Sakurai City, including palace sites, government office remains, temple ruins and kofun burial mounds.
- ICOMOS judged the scope and conservation measures largely appropriate but urged Japan to formally designate the full Fujiwara Palace area as a historic site and to keep researching and conserving murals removed from kofun such as Takamatsuzuka and Kitora.
- Local officials, guides and Nara Governor Yamashita expressed relief and welcome for the recommendation and said they expect more research and tourism that will require strengthened local preservation efforts.
- The UNESCO World Heritage Committee will make the formal decision at its July 19–29, 2026 session in Busan and an inscription would raise Japan's World Heritage sites to 27 while posing public-interpretation challenges because many assets are buried archaeological remains.