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. 

Visited Sites Tsunami

Load map Toggle Missing/Visited

Legend

  • Cultural
  • Natural
  • Mixed

Recent Reviews Tsunami


Little 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," because 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 tops of an steep underwater mountain range. 

Read On

Great Spa Towns of Europe

Tsunami Japan / USA / Europe - 23-Sep-23

Great Spa Towns of Europe

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 On

Great Spa Towns of Europe

Tsunami Japan / USA / Europe - 05-Sep-23

Great Spa Towns of Europe

Bad Kissingen

I had my bathing suit with me, 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 On

Evaporitic Karst and Caves

Tsunami Japan / USA / Europe - 04-Aug-23

Evaporitic Karst and Caves

Evaporite karst and caves of Emilia Romagna Region: Messinian Gypsum of Bologna

It was rather difficult to grasp the OUV of this nomination, so I thought there was no better way to recognize it than taking a tour of one of the caves.

The Spipola Cave is one of the two main caves in the core zone of this section of the TWHS.  After my two failed attempts to take the tour in June and September 2022, I finally managed to take it in the Sunday morning on May 28, 2023. It was the last day of my 18 days trip through the UK, France and Italy, and indeed I had a flight from Bologna back to Wroclaw, Poland, in that afternoon.

Read On

Vézère Valley

Tsunami Japan / USA / Europe - 14-Jun-23

Vézère Valley

I was back in the Bordeaux area to visit the Cordouan Lighthouse and decided to swing by the Vezere Valley for the third time. The first time was for Lascoux in 2004 and the second time was for Font-de-Gaume in 2009. My initial motivation to go back was to visit the National Museum of Prehistory, as it was closed on the day I visited Font-de-Gaume in 2009.
 
But then, by staying overnight in Les Eyzies, I managed to visit three more components of this august WHS: Abri de Cro-Magnon, Les Combarelles, and La Madeleine. 

Read On

Profile Data

Name
Tsunami
Country
Japan / USA / Europe
Most Impressive
Glacier Bay, Mt. Athos, Masada, Skellig Michael
Proposal
Jingu, Ise, 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; Waves, 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 05.04.24
  1. Great Spa Towns of Europe
  2. Great Spa Towns of Europe
  3. Evaporitic Karst and Caves
  4. Vézère Valley
  5. Cathedral of St. James in Sibenik
  6. Wooden Tserkvas of the Carpathian Region
  7. Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France
  8. Pyrénées - Mont Perdu
  9. Isole Eolie
  10. Albi
  11. Odesa
  12. Primeval Beech Forests
  13. Verona
  14. Dacian Fortresses
  15. Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape
  16. Kyiv Cathedral and Lavra
  17. Roșia Montană
  18. Hal Saflieni Hypogeum
  19. Painted Churches in the Troödos Region
  20. Paphos
  21. Island of Patmos
  22. Daphni, Hosios Loukas and Nea Moni of Chios
  23. Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae
  24. Glacier parks
  25. Saint-Savin sur Gartempe
  26. Great Spa Towns of Europe
  27. Verla Groundwood and Board Mill
  28. Schokland
  29. Great Spa Towns of Europe
  30. Epidaurus
  31. Ivrea
  32. Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy
  33. Vicenza and the Palladian Villas
  34. Kotor
  35. Castel del Monte
  36. Heritage of Mercury
  37. Plitvice Lakes
  38. Stari Ras and Sopocani
  39. Novgorod
  40. Luther Memorials
  41. Stevns Klint
  42. Hedeby and Danevirke
  43. Primeval Beech Forests
  44. Tarnowskie Góry Lead-Silver-Zinc Mine
  45. Longobards in Italy
  46. Fujisan
  47. Mozu-Furuichi Kofungun
  48. Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo
  49. Thracian tomb of Sveshtari
  50. Srebarna Nature Reserve
  51. Madara Rider
  52. Danube Delta
  53. Churches of Peace
  54. Champagne
  55. Reims
  56. Edinburgh
  57. Pirin National Park
  58. Thracian tomb of Kazanlak
  59. Monastery of Horezu
  60. Forth Bridge
  61. New Lanark
  62. Dacian Fortresses
  63. Paris, Banks of the Seine
  64. Val d'Orcia
  65. Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal
  66. Mount Athos
  67. Mining Cultural Landscape Erzgebirge
  68. Neolithic Flint Mines at Spiennes
  69. Nord-Pas de Calais Mining Basin
  70. The Four Lifts
  71. Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal
  72. Rjukan / Notodden
  73. Kalwaria Zebrzydowska
  74. Monte San Giorgio
  75. Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy
  76. Dutch Water Defence Lines
  77. Holasovice
  78. Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe
  79. Shirakami-Sanchi
  80. Shirakami-Sanchi
  81. Shirakami-Sanchi
  82. Fortifications of Vauban
  83. Fortifications of Vauban
  1. Alpine and pre-alpine meadow and marsh landscapes (T)
  2. Amalienborg and its district (T)
  3. Ancient Greek Theatres (T)
  4. Ancient Lavrion (T)
  5. Archaeological site of Ancient Messene (T)
  6. Astronomical Observatories of Ukraine (T)
  7. Asuka-Fujiwara : Archaeological sites of Japan's Ancient Capitals and Related Properties (T)
  8. Bagçesaray Palace of the Crimean Khans (T)
  9. Balaton Uplands Cultural Landscape (T)
  10. Bishop's Basilica and Late-Antique Mosaics of Philippopolis, Roman Province of Thrace (T)
  11. Brooklyn Bridge (T)
  12. California Current Conservation Complex (T)
  13. Cathédrale de Saint-Denis (T)
  14. Central Balkan National Park (T)
  15. Central Park (T)
  16. Centre ancien de Sarlat (T)
  17. Centre historique de la ville de Gorokhovets (T)
  18. Ceský ráj (Czech Paradise) Rock Cities (T)
  19. Cetinje Historic Core (T)
  20. Church of Panagia Aggeloktisti (T)
  21. Cité de Carcassonne et ses châteaux sentinelles de montagne (T)
  22. City of York: historic urban core (T)
  23. Classical Karst (in Slovene language: Klasicni kras) (T)
  24. Coastal Cliffs (T)
  25. Complex of travertine waterfalls in Martin Brod - Una National Park (T)
  26. Cultural Landscape of Canyon in Kamenets-Podilsk (T)
  27. Cultural Landscape of Innsbruck-Nordkette/Karwendel (T)
  28. Diocletian's Palace and the Historical Nucleus of Split (extension) (T)
  29. Domaine de Fontainebleau : château, jardins, parc et forêt (T)
  30. Dreams in Stone - the palaces of King Ludwig II of Bavaria: Neuschwanstein, Linderhof and Herrenchiemsee (T)
  31. Early Chicago Skyscrapers (T)
  32. East Atlantic Flyway: England East Coast Wetlands (T)
  33. Ellis Island (T)
  34. Extension of the World Heritage Site "Historic Centre of Prague" with the important Monuments in its Vicinity (T)
  35. Fishpond Network in the Trebon Basin (T)
  36. Flow Country (T)
  37. Francke Foundation Buildings (T)
  38. Frontiers of the Roman Empire - Dacia (T)
  39. Frontiers of the Roman Empire - The Danube Limes in Bulgaria (T)
  40. Frontiers of the Roman Empire – The Danube Limes (Serbia) (T)
  41. Fuzina Hills in Bohinj (T)
  42. Gdansk - Town of Memory and Freedom (T)
  43. Großglockner High Alpine Road / Großglockner Hochalpenstraße (T)
  44. Hala Sultan Tekke and the Larnaka Salt Lake Complex (T)
  45. Heiligenkreuz Abbey (T)
  46. Hikone-Jo (castle) (T)
  47. Hiraizumi - Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land (extension) (T)
  48. Historic Centre of Tchernigov, 9th -13th centuries (T)
  49. Historical theatres of the Marche Region (T)
  50. Historical-Town Planning Ensemble Tvrda (Fort) in Osijek (T)
  51. Hoge Kempen Rural - Industrial Transition Landscape (T)
  52. Jerusalem (T)
  53. Knights Fortifications around the Harbours of Malta (T)
  54. Kyiv: Saint Sophia Cathedral with Related Monastic Buildings, St. Cyril's and St. Andrew's Churches, Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra (T)
  55. L'ensemble monumental de Tirgu Jiu (T)
  56. L’observatoire du pic du Midi de Bigorre, pionnier en haute montagne (T)
  57. La Camargue (T)
  58. Late Medieval Bastioned Fortifications in Greece (T)
  59. Le champ de bataille de Waterloo, la fin de l’épopée napoléonienne (T)
  60. Le Chateau-fort médieval d'Esztergom (T)
  61. Le noyau historique de la ville d'Alba Julia (T)
  62. Le noyau historique ou la 'Cuve' de Gand, et les deux abbayes qui sont à son origine (T)
  63. Le Palais de Justice de Bruxelles (T)
  64. Le palais de Princes Eveques de Liège (T)
  65. Le Panorama de la Bataille de Waterloo, exemple particulièrement significatif de « Phénomène de Panoramas » (T)
  66. Les Alpes de la Méditerranée (France) (T)
  67. Les Alpes de la Méditerranée (Italy) (T)
  68. Les Alpes de la Méditerranée (Monaco) (T)
  69. Les citadelles mosanes (T)
  70. Les passages de Bruxelles / Les Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert (T)
  71. Les Plages du Débarquement, Normandie, 1944 (T)
  72. Les témoignages matériels de la construction de l’État des Pyrénées : la Co-principauté d’Andorre (A) (T)
  73. Les villes antiques de la Narbonnaise et leur territoire: Nimes, Arles, Glanum, aqueducs, via Domitia (T)
  74. Les villes bastionnées des Pays-Bas du nord-ouest de l'Europe (T)
  75. Little Cayman Marine Parks and Protected Areas (T)
  76. Maltese Catacomb Complexes (T)
  77. Massif du Mont Blanc (T)
  78. Massif du Mont-Blanc (T)
  79. Mdina (Citta Vecchia) (T)
  80. Minoan Palatial Centres (T)
  81. Modernist Centre of Gdynia — the example of building an integrated community (T)
  82. Moravian Church Settlements (Germany) (T)
  83. Moravian Church Settlements (UK) (T)
  84. Mountain-top Hotel and Television Transmitter Ještěd (T)
  85. Mousa, Old Scatness and Jarlshof: the Zenith of Iron Age Shetland (T)
  86. National Park Hohe Tauern (T)
  87. Natural and Cultural Landscape of Danube Region (T)
  88. Natural Reserves of Tatras Mountain (T)
  89. Noyau historique d'Antwerpen -Anvers- de l'Escaut aux anciens remparts de vers 1250 (T)
  90. Nuragic monuments of Sardinia (T)
  91. Orheiul Vechi Archaeological Landscape (T)
  92. Paper Mill in Duszniki-Zdrój (T)
  93. Parc national de Port-Cros (T)
  94. Pobiti Kamani Natural Monument (T)
  95. Primošten Vineyards (T)
  96. Rade de Marseille (T)
  97. Residence Ensemble Schwerin - Cultural Landscape of Romantic Historicism (T)
  98. Ripa Pannonica in Hungary (T)
  99. Rocks of Belogradchik (T)
  100. Rostov Kremlin (T)
  101. Rouen : ensemble urbain à pans de bois, cathédrale, église Saint-Ouen, église Saint Maclou (T)
  102. Royal Seats in Esztergom, Visegrád (T)
  103. Salento and the Barocco Leccese (T)
  104. Sarajevo - unique symbol of universal multiculture - continual open city (T)
  105. Sea of Galilee & its Ancient Sites (T)
  106. Sites of Great Moravia: Slavonic Fortified Settlement at Mikulcice - Church of St.Margaret at Kopcani (T)
  107. Temples, Shrines and other structures of Ancient Kamakura (T)
  108. The Ancient Plovdiv (T)
  109. The ancient town of Nicopolis ad Istrum (T)
  110. The Augustow Canal (Kanal Augustowski) (T)
  111. The Bachkovo Monastery (T)
  112. The broader region of Mount Olympus (T)
  113. The concept of the lenticular historical town core of Kosice City (T)
  114. The Cultural Landscape of Civita di Bagnoregio (T)
  115. The cultural landscape of the Benedictine settlements in medieval Italy (T)
  116. The Dunejec River Gorge in the Pieniny Mountains (T)
  117. The Galilee Journeys of Jesus & the Apostles (T)
  118. The Historic Centre of Sibiu and its Ensemble of Squares (T)
  119. The historical surroundings of Crimean Khans' capital in Bakhchysarai (T)
  120. The Industrial Complexes at Ostrava (T)
  121. The Jewish Cemetery of Altona Königstrasse. Sephardic Sepulchral Culture of the 17th and 18th century between Europe and the Caribbean (T)
  122. The Laponian Area - Tysfjord, the fjord of Hellemobotn and Rago (T)
  123. The Lofoten islands (T)
  124. The Magoura cave with drawings from the bronze age. (T)
  125. 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)
  126. The Murge of Altamura (T)
  127. The natural and architectural ensemble of Jajce (T)
  128. The old villages of Hollókõ and Rimetea and their surroundings (T)
  129. The Ringed Seal Archipelagos of Lake Saimaa (T)
  130. The Roussensky Lom National Park (T)
  131. The royal necropolis of the Thracian city of Seuthopolis – a serial site, extension of the Kazanlak Thracian tomb (T)
  132. The Spa at Luhacovice (T)
  133. The Tara National Park with the Drina River Canyon (T)
  134. The town of Melnik and the Rozhen Monastery (T)
  135. The Walk of Peace from the Alps to the Adriatic – Heritage of the First World War (T)
  136. Thingvellir National Park (T)
  137. Thomas Jefferson Buildings (T)
  138. Thracian Tomb with Wall Paintings beside Alexandrovo village (T)
  139. Torgau Castle Chapel (T)
  140. Trakai Historical National Park (T)
  141. Transatlantic Cable Ensemble (T)
  142. Troodos, Mt.Olympus (T)
  143. Two neolithic dwellings with their interior and household furnishings and utensils completely preserved. (T)
  144. Via Appia 'Regina Viarum' (T)
  145. Via Francigena in Italy (T)
  146. VIKING MONUMENTS AND SITES / Thingvellir National Park (T)
  147. VIKING MONUMENTS AND SITES / Vestfold Ship Burials and Hyllestad Quernstone Quarries (T)
  148. Vratsa Karst Nature Reserve (T)
  149. Waters and seabed of Fiordland (Te Moana O Atawhenua) (T)
  150. White Sands National Monument (T)
  151. Zadar - Episcopal complex (T)

Top 50 Missing Sites

  1. Chernobyl
  2. Mecca, Kaaba
  3. Minoan palaces of Crete
  4. Naica Cave: Cave of the Crystals
  5. Palaces of Yalta
  6. Silk Roads
  7. The Soviet Architecture of Moscow