GIS implementations and projects in Japan include, but are not limited to, visualization of historical cities, applying web3D-GIS technology, development of digital heritage inventories, spatial database construction, risk assessment for cultural property in case of natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis, cultural heritage monitoring, use of open source webGIS technology, public and voluntary participation GIS.

GIS implementation in Japanese archaeology begun to be active since early 2000s. At the beginning of GIS implementation in Japanese Archaeology, it had been expected that GIS would have been used for such as 3D visualization, information management associated with geographic location, spatial analysis/simulation and general survey using GPS. Among them, especially, spatial analysis/simulation had been focused, and such as viewshed analysis, cost allocation analysis using Tobler's theory, trend surface analysis and other basic analysis based on clasic ideas including Hodder's theories had been attempted by pioneers.

Around in middle of 2000's, in addition to these attemptions, standardization of archaeological information had begun to aware, and some groups had have  aimed to make information standards based on Doublin Core or CIDOC CRM, and others had tried to apply ISO/TC211. From this time, GIS had begun to be regarded as a general tool, and GIS users had become increasing in Japanese archaeology as well as other academic fields.

Current situation: a) implementation level: intermediate (regional), local, b) GIS technology included within the national information infrastructure, c) GIS applications publicly available, d) main fields of application: heritage management, archaeology, historic monuments conservation, risk management.

(contributions from Yu Fujimoto)

References

Fujimoto Y., 2009. Information Standards for Cultural Heritage with the ISO 191XX Series, Proceedings of the XXII International CIPA Symposium, 11-15 October 2009, Kyoto, Japan, www.cipaheritagedocumentation.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Fujimoto-Information-Standards-for-Cultural-Heritage-with-the-ISO-191XX-Series.pdf

Fujimoto, Y., Horiuchi, Y., 2011. Using Standards as a Bridge between Traditional Research and Technologies in Protecting Cultural Assets, Proceedings of the XXIII International CIPA Symposium, 12-16 September 2011, Prague, Czech Republic, https://www.cipaheritagedocumentation.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Fujimoto-Horiuchi-Using-standards-as-a-bridge-between-traditional-research-AND-Technologies-in-protecting-cultural-assets.pdf

Fukui W., Uozu T., 2009. Culture Landscape and GIS Database Construction on the Stone Culture in Takasago City, Japan, Proceedings of the XXII International CIPA Symposium, 11-15 October 2009, Kyoto, Japan, www.cipaheritagedocumentation.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Fukui-Uozu-Culture-Landscape-and-GIS-Database-Construction-on-the-Stone-Culture-in-Takasago-City-Japan.pdf

Futagami Y., Morii M., Kumamoto T., 2009. Construction and Integration of GIS Databases for Risk Assessment of Nationally Designated Cultural Properties due to earthquakes and Typhoons in Japan, Proceedings of the XXII International CIPA Symposium, 11-15 October 2009, Kyoto, Japan, http://www.cipaheritagedocumentation.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Futagami-e.a.-Construction-and-Integration-of-GIS-Databases-for-Risk-Assessment-of-Nationally-Designated-Cultural-Properties-Due-to-Earthquakes-and-Ty.pdf

Iizuka T., Matsumoto A., Seto T., Yano K., 2009. GIS-Based Monitoring Systems for Kyo-Machiya in Kyoto City, Proceedings of the XXII International CIPA Symposium, 11-15 October 2009, Kyoto, Japan, www.cipaheritagedocumentation.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Iizuka-e.a.-GIS-based-Monitoring-Systems-for-Kyo-machiya-in-Kyoto-City.pdf

Kirimura T., Yano K., Kawaguchi H., 2009. Applicability of 3D GIS to the View Preservation Policy of Kyoto City, Proceedings of the XXII International CIPA Symposium, 11-15 October 2009, Kyoto, Japan, www.cipaheritagedocumentation.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Kirimura-e.a.-Applicability-of-3D-GIS-to-the-View-Preservation-Policy-of-Kyoto-City.pdf

Komura R., Minamikawa Y., 2009. Development of System Providing Local Area Information Using Open Source WebGIS Technology, Proceedings of the XXII International CIPA Symposium, 11-15 October 2009, Kyoto, Japan, www.cipaheritagedocumentation.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Komura-Minamikawa-Development-of-System-Providing-Local-Area-Information-Using-Open-Source-WebGIS-Technology.pdf

Kondo, Y., Uozu, T., Seino, Y., Ako, T., Goda, Y., Fujimoto, Y., Yamaguchi, H., 2013. Voluntary Activities and Online Education for Digital Heritage Inventory Development after the Great East Japan earthquake, Int. Arch. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Spatial Inf. Sci., XL-5/W2, 391-396, doi.org/10.5194/isprsarchives-XL-5-W2-391-2013

Seto T., Matsumoto A., Iizuka T., Yano K., 2009. Public Participation GIS of Historical Landscapes: A Case Study of “Kyo-Machiya Community – Building Survey” in Kyoto City, Proceedings of the XXII International CIPA Symposium, 11-15 October 2009, Kyoto, Japan, www.cipaheritagedocumentation.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Seto-e.a.-Public-Participation-GIS-of-Historical-Landscapes_A-Case-Study-of-Kyo-machiya-Community-building-Survey-in-Kyoto-City.pdf

Shibazaki M., Isoda Y., Tsukamoto A., Kosaka Y., Hasegawa K., Nakata S., Tanaka S., 2009. Modelling, Viewing and Simulating Kyoto Street Models Created from GIS Data, Proceedings of the XXII International CIPA Symposium, 11-15 October 2009, Kyoto, Japan, www.cipaheritagedocumentation.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Shibazaki-e.a.-Modeling-Viewing-and-Simulating-Kyoto-Street-Models-Created-from-GIS-Data.pdf

Takase, Y., Yano, K., Nakaya, T., Ysoda Y., Kawasumi T., Matsuoka K., Tanaka S., Kawahara N., Inoue M., Tsukamoto A., Kirimura T., Kawahara D., Sho N., Shimiya K., Sona A., Shiroki. M., 2006. Visualization of Historical City Kyoto by Applying VR and Web3D-GIS Technologies, in M. Ioannides, D. Arnold, F. Niccolucci, K. Mania (Eds.), The 7th International Symposium on Virtual Reality, Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, VAST 2006, project papers, 311-317.