Tsunami Profile
Watch out! Tsunami is coming!
I was born in Japan, lived most of my life in Los Angeles, CA, but am currently changing country of residence every 3 months within Europe.
Recent Reviews Tsunami
The Betlém Rock Sculptures near Kuks (T)
Tsunami Japan / USA / Europe - 23-Sep-24
My long time Czech friend Radim recently moved from Brno to a town near Nachod near the Plolish border, and upon visiting him from Wroclaw, Poland, I mentioned to him that I'm interested in visiting the TWHS of the Betlém Rock Sculptures.
So, on one Sunday afternoon in late August, we (Radim, his wife, a daughter, a baby son and me) drove from the Kudowa train station in Poland, where he picked me up, to the TWHS near Kuks.
Betlém means Bethlehem, and in the early 18th century the prominent Earl in this area Franz Anton Sporcka decided to create "a unique complex of religious scenes featuring old hermits and episodes from the life of Christ" with the help of a sculptor Matthias Bernhard Braun who was born in Austria but worked in Bohemia.
Read OnSurtsey
Tsunami Japan / USA / Europe - 24-Sep-24
I made my 2nd trip to Iceland this past summer. In the year 2000 when I first made it to Iceland, there was no WHS in Iceland, but the tour of the Golden Circle I took from Reykjavik covered the future WHS of the Thingvellir National Park (inscribed in 2004). But this time I decided to go back for snorkeling at the Silfra Rift at the Thingvellir National Park and also to tick off the Vatnajökull National Park (inscribed in 2019) in addition to Surtsey (inscribed in 2008).
Upon my attempt to "visit" Surtsey, the first thing I had to do was to make sure that I can see it in the proper lighting condition, so after originally scheduling this trip in November last year, I decided to move it to June this year, the month with the longest daylight.
Read OnLittle Cayman Marine Parks and Protected Areas (T)
Tsunami Japan / USA / Europe - 17-Oct-23
The Pentagon code-named their activities at the Gulf War in the early 1990s "Operation Desert Storm." I code-named my grand tour of the southern half of the USA in summer 1991 "Operation Caribbean Storm," as my ultimate destination of this trip was the Cayman Islands.
What a surprise ... 30 years after my operation Little Cayman is nominated for a WHS!
I visited the Cayman Islands mainly for scuba diving at Little Cayman. The Cayman Islands was (and still is probably) famous among divers for its underwater wall that goes straight down for two thousand meters. What it means is that the Islands are the tips of an steep underwater mountain range.
Read OnGreat Spa Towns of Europe
Tsunami Japan / USA / Europe - 23-Sep-23
Bad Ems
I spent a few hours in Bad Ems on a Friday afternoon in August.
The original Kurhaus, which is now Häcker's Grand Hotel (upper photo), is the most prominent feature of Bad Ems. It has a few drinking fountains on the ground floor, Römerquelle (lower left photo) in front of the hotel and the most importantly a 300-years-old ornate indoor swimming pool, the first swimming pool in Bad Ems. In comparison Ensana Nové Lázně Hotel that dominates the Kurpark in Mariánské Lázně has swimming pools from 1896. These swimming pools are accessible only if you stay at the hotels.
Read OnGreat Spa Towns of Europe
Tsunami Japan / USA / Europe - 05-Sep-23
Bad Kissingen
I had my bathing suit with me just in case, even though I was visiting Bad Kissingen only for 3 hours between trains around noon in late August.
The first thing you might want to know about Bad Kissingen is that it is located in the state of Bavaria, under whose auspices this town has developed.
From the train station I walked north and first came across Wandelhalle. The main feature of this structure is the 90 meter long space (See Hubert's left photo), part of which also dabbles as a concert hall. To the side of this space in Wandelhalle is Brunnenhalle, with Rakoczy Spring, a spa water drinking facility.
Read OnProfile Data
- Name
- Tsunami
- Country
- Japan / USA / Europe
- Ranking
- 76
- Most Impressive
- Glacier Bay, Mt. Athos, Masada, Skellig Michael
- Proposal
- Jingu, Ise, Japan; Izumo-taisha, Izumo, Japan; Kyoto Imperial Palace, Kyoto, Japan; Chion-In, Kyoto, Japan; Eihei-ji, Fukui, Japan; Kuon-ji, Yamanashi, Japan; Bodai-ji, Aomori, Japan; Bryce Canyon NP, Utah, USA; Arches NP, Utah, USA; The Wave, Arizona, USA; Coso Rock Art District, California, USA; Inyo National Forest (White Mountain area), California, USA; Telegraph Ave., Berkeley, California, USA; The Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia, Palestrina, Italy; Hisarya, Bulgaria
Recently Visited WHS
- Update 04.04.25
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10 Best Missing
34 Countries Complete
Albania . Andorra . Austria . Belarus . Belgium . Bulgaria . Croatia . Cyprus . Czechia . Dominican Republic . Estonia . Finland . Germany . Greece . Holy See . Hungary . Ireland . Italy . Latvia . Lithuania . Luxembourg . Malta . Moldova . Montenegro . North Macedonia . Norway . Poland . Romania . San Marino . Serbia . Slovakia . Slovenia . Sweden . Switzerland .Visited WHS
Reviewed WHS
- Surtsey
- Great Spa Towns of Europe
- Great Spa Towns of Europe
- Evaporitic Karst and Caves
- Vézère Valley
- Cathedral of St. James in Sibenik
- Wooden Tserkvas of the Carpathian Region
- Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France
- Pyrénées - Mont Perdu
- Isole Eolie
- Albi
- Odesa
- Primeval Beech Forests
- Verona
- Dacian Fortresses
- Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape
- Kyiv Cathedral and Lavra
- Roșia Montană
- Hal Saflieni Hypogeum
- Painted Churches in the Troödos Region
- Paphos
- Island of Patmos
- Daphni, Hosios Loukas and Nea Moni of Chios
- Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae
- Glacier parks
- Saint-Savin sur Gartempe
- Great Spa Towns of Europe
- Verla Groundwood and Board Mill
- Schokland
- Great Spa Towns of Europe
- Epidaurus
- Ivrea
- Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy
- Vicenza and the Palladian Villas
- Kotor
- Castel del Monte
- Heritage of Mercury
- Plitvice Lakes
- Stari Ras and Sopocani
- Novgorod
- Luther Memorials
- Stevns Klint
- Hedeby and Danevirke
- Primeval Beech Forests
- Tarnowskie Góry Lead-Silver-Zinc Mine
- Longobards in Italy
- Fujisan
- Mozu-Furuichi Kofun
- Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo
- Thracian tomb of Sveshtari
- Srebarna Nature Reserve
- Madara Rider
- Danube Delta
- Churches of Peace
- Brâncusi Monumental Ensemble of Târgu Jiu
- Champagne
- Reims
- Edinburgh
- Pirin National Park
- Thracian tomb of Kazanlak
- Monastery of Horezu
- Forth Bridge
- New Lanark
- Dacian Fortresses
- Paris, Banks of the Seine
- Val d'Orcia
- Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal
- Mount Athos
- Mining Cultural Landscape Erzgebirge
- Neolithic Flint Mines at Spiennes
- Nord-Pas de Calais Mining Basin
- The Four Lifts
- Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal
- Rjukan / Notodden
- Kalwaria Zebrzydowska
- Monte San Giorgio
- Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy
- Dutch Water Defence Lines
- Holasovice
- Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe
- Shirakami-Sanchi
- Shirakami-Sanchi
- Shirakami-Sanchi
- Fortifications of Vauban
- Fortifications of Vauban
Visited TWHS
- Alpine and pre-alpine meadow and marsh landscapes (T)
- Amalienborg and its district (T)
- Ancient Greek Theatres (T)
- Ancient Lavrion (T)
- Archaeological site of Ancient Messene (T)
- Astronomical Observatories of Ukraine (T)
- Asuka-Fujiwara : Archaeological sites of Japan's Ancient Capitals and Related Properties (T)
- Bagçesaray Palace of the Crimean Khans (T)
- Balaton Uplands Cultural Landscape (T)
- Bishop's Basilica and Late-Antique Mosaics of Philippopolis, Roman Province of Thrace (T)
- Brooklyn Bridge (T)
- California Current Conservation Complex (T)
- Cathédrale de Saint-Denis (T)
- Central Balkan National Park (T)
- Central Park (T)
- Centre ancien de Sarlat (T)
- Centre historique de la ville de Gorokhovets (T)
- Ceský ráj (Czech Paradise) Rock Cities (T)
- Cetinje Historic Core (T)
- Church of Panagia Aggeloktisti (T)
- Cité de Carcassonne et ses châteaux sentinelles de montagne (T)
- City of York: historic urban core (T)
- Civil Rights Movement Sites (T)
- Classical Karst (in Slovene language: Klasicni kras) (T)
- Coastal Cliffs (T)
- Complex of travertine waterfalls in Martin Brod - Una National Park (T)
- Cultural Landscape of Canyon in Kamenets-Podilsk (T)
- Dayton Aviation Sites (T)
- Diocletian's Palace and the Historical Nucleus of Split (extension) (T)
- Domaine de Fontainebleau : château, jardins, parc et forêt (T)
- Dreams in Stone - the palaces of King Ludwig II of Bavaria: Neuschwanstein, Linderhof and Herrenchiemsee (T)
- Early Chicago Skyscrapers (T)
- East Atlantic Flyway: England East Coast Wetlands (T)
- Ellis Island (T)
- Extension of the World Heritage Site "Historic Centre of Prague" with the important Monuments in its Vicinity (T)
- Fishpond Network in the Trebon Basin (T)
- Fortress of Spinalonga (T)
- Francke Foundation Buildings (T)
- Frontiers of the Roman Empire - The Danube Limes in Bulgaria (T)
- Frontiers of the Roman Empire – The Danube Limes (Serbia) (T)
- Fuzina Hills in Bohinj (T)
- Gdansk - Town of Memory and Freedom (T)
- Gorge of Samaria National Park (T)
- Großglockner High Alpine Road / Großglockner Hochalpenstraße (T)
- Hala Sultan Tekke and the Larnaka Salt Lake Complex (T)
- Hikone-Jo (castle) (T)
- Hiraizumi - Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land (extension) (T)
- Historic Centre of Tchernigov, 9th -13th centuries (T)
- Historical theatres of the Marche Region (T)
- Historical-Town Planning Ensemble Tvrda (Fort) in Osijek (T)
- Hoge Kempen Rural - Industrial Transition Landscape (T)
- Jerusalem (T)
- Knights Fortifications around the Harbours of Malta (T)
- Kyiv: Saint Sophia Cathedral with Related Monastic Buildings, St. Cyril's and St. Andrew's Churches, Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra (T)
- L’observatoire du pic du Midi de Bigorre, pionnier en haute montagne (T)
- La Camargue (T)
- Late Medieval Bastioned Fortifications in Greece (T)
- Le champ de bataille de Waterloo, la fin de l’épopée napoléonienne (T)
- Le Chateau-fort médieval d'Esztergom (T)
- Le noyau historique de la ville d'Alba Julia (T)
- Le noyau historique ou la 'Cuve' de Gand, et les deux abbayes qui sont à son origine (T)
- Le Palais de Justice de Bruxelles (T)
- Le palais de Princes Eveques de Liège (T)
- Le Panorama de la Bataille de Waterloo, exemple particulièrement significatif de « Phénomène de Panoramas » (T)
- Les Alpes de la Méditerranée (France) (T)
- Les Alpes de la Méditerranée (Italy) (T)
- Les Alpes de la Méditerranée (Monaco) (T)
- Les citadelles mosanes (T)
- Les passages de Bruxelles / Les Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert (T)
- Les Plages du Débarquement, Normandie, 1944 (T)
- Les témoignages matériels de la construction de l’État des Pyrénées : la Co-principauté d’Andorre (A) (T)
- Les villes antiques de la Narbonnaise et leur territoire: Nimes, Arles, Glanum, aqueducs, via Domitia (T)
- Les villes bastionnées des Pays-Bas du nord-ouest de l'Europe (T)
- Little Cayman Marine Parks and Protected Areas (T)
- Maltese Catacomb Complexes (T)
- Massif du Mont Blanc (T)
- Massif du Mont-Blanc (T)
- Mdina (Citta Vecchia) (T)
- Minoan Palatial Centres (T)
- Modernist Centre of Gdynia — the example of building an integrated community (T)
- Mountain-top Hotel and Television Transmitter Ještěd (T)
- Mousa, Old Scatness and Jarlshof: the Zenith of Iron Age Shetland (T)
- Natural and Cultural Landscape of Danube Region (T)
- Natural Reserves of Tatras Mountain (T)
- Noyau historique d'Antwerpen -Anvers- de l'Escaut aux anciens remparts de vers 1250 (T)
- Nuragic monuments of Sardinia (T)
- Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (T)
- Olympic Park Munich (T)
- Orheiul Vechi Archaeological Landscape (T)
- Parc national de Port-Cros (T)
- Pobiti Kamani Natural Monument (T)
- Primošten Vineyards (T)
- Rade de Marseille (T)
- Ripa Pannonica in Hungary (T)
- Rocks of Belogradchik (T)
- Rostov Kremlin (T)
- Rouen : ensemble urbain à pans de bois, cathédrale, église Saint-Ouen, église Saint Maclou (T)
- Royal Seats in Esztergom, Visegrád (T)
- Salento and the Barocco Leccese (T)
- Sarajevo - unique symbol of universal multiculture - continual open city (T)
- Sea of Galilee & its Ancient Sites (T)
- Serpent Mound (T)
- Sites mégalithiques de Carnac (T)
- Sites of Great Moravia: Slavonic Fortified Settlement at Mikulcice - Church of St.Margaret at Kopcani (T)
- Temples, Shrines and other structures of Ancient Kamakura (T)
- The Ancient Plovdiv (T)
- The ancient town of Nicopolis ad Istrum (T)
- The Augustow Canal (Kanal Augustowski) (T)
- The Bachkovo Monastery (T)
- The Betlém Rock Sculptures near Kuks (T)
- The broader region of Mount Olympus (T)
- The concept of the lenticular historical town core of Kosice City (T)
- The Cultural Landscape of Civita di Bagnoregio (T)
- The cultural landscape of the Benedictine settlements in medieval Italy (T)
- The Dunejec River Gorge in the Pieniny Mountains (T)
- The Galilee Journeys of Jesus & the Apostles (T)
- The Historic Centre of Sibiu and its Ensemble of Squares (T)
- The Historical Port City of Izmir (T)
- The historical surroundings of Crimean Khans' capital in Bakhchysarai (T)
- The Industrial Complexes at Ostrava (T)
- The Jewish Cemetery of Altona Königstrasse. Sephardic Sepulchral Culture of the 17th and 18th century between Europe and the Caribbean (T)
- The Laponian Area - Tysfjord, the fjord of Hellemobotn and Rago (T)
- The Lofoten islands (T)
- The Magoura cave with drawings from the bronze age. (T)
- The Maritime Heritage of Dragør Old Town and Harbour - A ‘skipper-town’ from the era of the great tall ships in the 18th and 19th centuries (T)
- The Murge of Altamura (T)
- The natural and architectural ensemble of Jajce (T)
- The old villages of Hollókõ and Rimetea and their surroundings (T)
- The Ringed Seal Archipelagos of Lake Saimaa (T)
- The Roussensky Lom National Park (T)
- The royal necropolis of the Thracian city of Seuthopolis – a serial site, extension of the Kazanlak Thracian tomb (T)
- The Spa at Luhacovice (T)
- The Tara National Park with the Drina River Canyon (T)
- The town of Melnik and the Rozhen Monastery (T)
- The Walk of Peace from the Alps to the Adriatic – Heritage of the First World War (T)
- Thingvellir National Park (T)
- Thomas Jefferson Buildings (T)
- Thracian Tomb with Wall Paintings beside Alexandrovo village (T)
- Torgau Castle Chapel (T)
- Trading Posts and Fortifications on Genoese Trade Routes from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea (T)
- Trakai Historical National Park (T)
- Transatlantic Cable Ensemble (T)
- Troodos, Mt.Olympus (T)
- Two neolithic dwellings with their interior and household furnishings and utensils completely preserved. (T)
- Via Francigena in Italy (T)
- VIKING MONUMENTS AND SITES / Thingvellir National Park (T)
- VIKING MONUMENTS AND SITES / Vestfold Ship Burials and Hyllestad Quernstone Quarries (T)
- Vratsa Karst Nature Reserve (T)
- Waters and seabed of Fiordland (Te Moana O Atawhenua) (T)
- White Sands National Monument (T)
- Zadar - Episcopal complex (T)
Reviewed TWHS
- The Betlém Rock Sculptures near Kuks (T)
- Little Cayman Marine Parks and Protected Areas (T)
- L’observatoire du pic du Midi de Bigorre (T)
- Historical theatres of the Marche (T)
- Rocks of Belogradchik (T)
- Kyiv: St. Cyril's and St. Andrew's Churches (T)
- Coastal Cliffs (T)
- Late Medieval Bastioned Fortifications in Greece (T)
- Rostov Kremlin (T)
- Les Plages du Débarquement, Normandie, 1944 (T)
- The Spa at Luhacovice (T)
- Centre historique de la ville de Gorokhovets (T)
- Heiligenkreuz Abbey (T)
- Großglockner High Alpine Road (T)
- Fishpond Network in the Trebon Basin (T)
- Benedictine settlements in medieval Italy (T)
- Vestfold Ship Burials and Hyllestad Quernstone Quarries (T)
- Asuka-Fujiwara (T)
- The Murge of Altamura (T)
- Historic Centre of Tchernigov (T)
- Ceský ráj (Czech Paradise) Rock Cities (T)
- Bagçesaray Palace of the Crimean Khans (T)
- The Historic Centre of Sibiu (T)
- Cultural Landscape of Canyon in Kamenets-Podilsk (T)