A western Japan city has begun offering overnight stays at Fukuyama Castle, a site dating back 400 years, as regional economies seek ways to attract wealthy visitors amid the country’s tourism boom.

The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), an advisory body to UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee, has supported Japan’s nomination strategy that emphasizes the castle’s role ...

Himeji Castle, which was registered as Japan's first World Heritage site, is seen in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, in 2023. (Mainichi/Nobuya Muramoto) The Mainichi Shimbun answers some common ...