Image caption Mount Fuji, south-west of Tokyo, is an active volcano and Japan's highest mountain

Japan's cone-shaped, snow-topped volcano, Mount Fuji, has been granted World Heritage status, at a Unesco meeting in Cambodia.

The United Nations body selected the mountain as a "cultural" rather than a "natural" heritage site.

Unesco said Mount Fuji had "inspired artists and poets and been the object of pilgrimage for centuries".

Mt Fuji, south-west of Tokyo, is Japan's highest mountain at 3,776m (12,460 ft).

The volcano, which last erupted just over 300 years ago, is visible from the Japanese capital on a clear day.

It is featured prominently in historic Japanese art work, including wood blocks prints.

It is also one of the traditional "Three Holy Mountains" - along with Mount Tate and Mount Haku, both in central Japan.

Unesco listed Italy's Mount Etna as a world heritage site on Friday, saying the 3,300m (10,900 ft) active volcano had "notoriety, scientific importance, and cultural and educational value of global significance".