The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has decided against registration of the scenic northern Japan region of Hiraizumi, citing a lack of credentials for becoming a World Heritage site.

The Konjikido (Golden-Colored Hall) of Chusonji Temple in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture, is pictured. KYODO PHOTO

Japan, which has 14 World Heritage sites, needs to redo the procedures if it wishes to register the cultural assets of Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture. A rescreening is not expected to come until 2010 at the earliest.

Seiichi Kondo, Japan's UNESCO envoy, said he believes the organization's standard for screening candidate sites is becoming increasingly strict.