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