Overview

Japanese National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties

Japan's National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties are tangible cultural properties designated by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology under the 1950 Cultural Properties Protection Law. Important Cultural Properties refer to buildings and artworks with high historical, artistic, and academic value, from which items of exceptional value and uniqueness from a global cultural perspective are designated as National Treasures. As of January 2026, there are 1,149 National Treasures (233 buildings, 916 artworks) and approximately 13,500 Important Cultural Properties, forming the core of Japan's cultural heritage preservation.

cultural properties national treasures important cultural properties Agency for Cultural Affairs cultural heritage buildings artworks

code	slug	name	description	category	count_items	count_structures	count_artworks_items	count_buildings_items	count_buildings_structures	count_total	count_importantItems	count_importantStructures	count_nationalTreasureItems	count_nationalTreasureStructures	era	count_folkHouses	count_important	count_nationalTreasure
buildings	national-treasure-buildings	National Treasure Buildings	National Treasures designated as buildings of exceptional value from a global cultural perspective.	buildings	233	303
artworks	national-treasure-artworks	National Treasure Artworks and Crafts	National Treasures designated as artworks and crafts with exceptionally high artistic value, including paintings, sculptures, and crafts.	artworks	916
important-cultural-properties	important-cultural-properties	Important Cultural Properties	Cultural properties designated as buildings and artworks with high historical, artistic, and academic value.	important			10952	2605	5597	13557
buildings-premodern-shrines	premodern-shrine-buildings	Pre-Modern Shrine Buildings	Shrine architecture built before the Meiji era and designated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties.	shrines							78	1290	43	585	pre-modern
buildings-premodern-temples	premodern-temple-buildings	Pre-Modern Temple Buildings	Temple architecture built before the Meiji era and designated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties.	temples							169	1311	158	873	pre-modern
buildings-premodern-castles	premodern-castle-buildings	Pre-Modern Castle Buildings	Castle architecture built before the Meiji era and designated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties.	castles							17	235	9	53	pre-modern
buildings-premodern-residences	premodern-residence-buildings	Pre-Modern Residence Buildings	Residential buildings and folk houses built before the Meiji era and designated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties.	residences							20	160	14	98	pre-modern	362
buildings-modern	modern-buildings	Modern Buildings	Buildings constructed after the Meiji era and designated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties.	modern									10	771	modern
artworks-paintings	artwork-paintings	Artworks (Paintings)	Paintings designated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties.	paintings													2070	167
artworks-sculptures	artwork-sculptures	Artworks (Sculptures)	Sculptures designated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties.	sculptures													2743	142
artworks-crafts	artwork-crafts	Artworks (Crafts)	Crafts designated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties.	crafts													2486	254
artworks-calligraphy	artwork-calligraphy-books	Artworks (Calligraphy and Books)	Calligraphy and books designated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties.	calligraphy													1936	236
artworks-documents	artwork-ancient-documents	Artworks (Ancient Documents)	Ancient documents designated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties.	documents													799	63
artworks-archaeological	artwork-archaeological	Artworks (Archaeological Materials)	Archaeological materials designated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties.	archaeological													675	51
artworks-historical	artwork-historical	Artworks (Historical Materials)	Historical materials designated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties.	historical													243	3

Classification system of Japan's National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties designated under the Cultural Properties Protection Law.