In Japan, a “National Treasure” (国宝, kokuhō) is a cultural property that has been designated by the Japanese government as having exceptional historical or artistic value. The designation is reserved for items or structures that are considered to be of significant importance to the cultural heritage of Japan.
There are currently over 3,000 items and structures that have been designated as National Treasures in Japan, including paintings, sculptures, calligraphy, ceramics, textiles, and buildings such as temples, shrines, and castles. Examples of National Treasures include:
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Castles
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Himeji CastleHimeji Castle (姫路城) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most famous castles in Japan. It is located in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, and is of...
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Matsue CastleMatsue Castle (松江城) is a castle located in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, Japan. It is also known as "Black Castle" due to its black exterior. The castl...
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Inuyama CastleInuyama Castle (犬山城) is a historic castle located in the city of Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. It is one of the oldest and most well-preserved castles...
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Matsumoto CastleMatsumoto Castle (松本城), also known as the "Crow Castle" due to its black exterior, is a historic castle located in Matsumoto city, Nagano Prefecture, Japa...
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Hikone CastleHikone Castle (彦根城) is a historic castle located in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. It was built in the early 17th century by Lord Ii Naokatsu, a powerfu...
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Nijo CastleNijo Castle (二条城) in Kyoto was built in the early 17th century and was the residence of the Tokugawa shoguns when they visited Kyoto.The Castle is a histo...
Museums
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Tokyo National MuseumThe Tokyo National Museum (東京国立博物館) is the oldest and largest museum in Japan, located in Ueno Park, Taito Ward, Tokyo. The museum was founded in 1872...
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Kyoto National MuseumKyoto National Museum (京都国立博物館) is a museum located in Kyoto, Japan, and is one of the most important museums in the country. It was established in 18...
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Nara National MuseumThe Nara National Museum (奈良国立博物館) is a museum located in Nara, Japan, that houses a collection of Buddhist art and artifacts from the region. The mus...
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Kyushu National MuseumThe Kyushu National Museum (九州国立博物館) is a museum located in Dazaifu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. It is one of Japan's four national museums and is...
Temples
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Taiyuin Temple HallTaiyuin Temple Hall(輪王寺大猷院) is a Buddhist temple located in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. It is one of the many temples and shrines in Nikko t...
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Daigoji TempleDaigoji Temple (醍醐寺) is a Buddhist temple located in the southeastern part of Kyoto, Japan. It was founded in 874 AD during the Heian period and is design...
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Chusonji TempleChusonji temple (中尊寺) is a Buddhist temple located in the city of Hiraizumi in the Iwate Prefecture of Japan. The temple was founded in 850 AD by the Budd...
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Zenkoji TempleZenkoji Temple (善光寺) is a Buddhist temple located in the city of Nagano, Japan. It is one of the most important and revered temples in Japan, and is known...
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Daizenji TempleDaizenji Temple (大善寺) is a Buddhist temple located in the city of Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. The temple was founded in the 13th century and is k...
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Toji TempleToji Temple (東寺), also known as Kyoo Gokoku-ji (教王護国寺), is a Buddhist temple located in Kyoto, Japan. It was founded in 796 AD during the Heian period...
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KiyomizuderaKiyomizudera (清水寺) is a historic Buddhist temple located in eastern Kyoto, Japan. It was founded in 778 AD and is one of the most famous temples in Japan,...
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Chionin TempleChionin Temple (知恩院) is a Buddhist temple located in Higashiyama, Kyoto, Japan. It was founded in 1234 and is considered one of the most important temples...
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Ninnaji TempleNinnaji (仁和寺) is a Buddhist temple located in Kyoto, Japan, and is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temple was founded in 888 by Emperor Ud...
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Kofukuji TempleKofukuji Temple (興福寺) is a Buddhist temple located in the city of Nara, Japan. The temple was founded in 669 by the powerful Fujiwara clan and was once on...
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Kinpusenji TempleKinpusenji Temple (金峯山寺), also known as Kinpusen-ji, is a Buddhist temple located in Yoshino, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The temple is part of the Yoshino-K...
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Todaiji TempleTodaiji Temple (東大寺) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Nara, Japan. It was originally built in the 8th century during the Nara period and is one ...
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Yakushiji TempleYakushiji Temple (薬師寺) is a Buddhist temple located in the city of Nara, Japan. The temple was founded in the early 8th century by Emperor Tenmu in honor ...
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Horyuji TempleHoryuji Temple (法隆寺) is a Buddhist temple located in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, Japan. It is one of the oldest temples in Japan and is recognized as a UNES...
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Muroji TempleMuroji Temple (室生寺) is a Buddhist temple located in Uda City in Nara Prefecture, Japan. The temple is known for its stunning architecture, beautiful garde...
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Sofukuji TempleSofukuji Temple (崇福寺) is a Buddhist temple located in Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. It is considered to be one of the most important Zen temp...
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GinkakujiGinkakuji (慈照寺銀閣), also known as the Silver Pavilion, is a famous temple located in the Higashiyama ward of Kyoto, Japan. The temple was originally buil...
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Nanzenji TempleNanzenji Temple (南禅寺) is a Zen Buddhist temple located in Kyoto, Japan. It was founded in 1291 and is one of the most important temples of the Rinzai sect...
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Toshodaiji TempleToshodaiji Temple (唐招提寺) is a Buddhist temple located in the city of Nara, Japan. The temple was founded in 759 by the Chinese monk Jianzhen and is consi...
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Daitokuji TempleDaitokuji (大徳寺) is a large temple complex located in the northern part of Kyoto, Japan. It is a major Zen temple of the Rinzai school and is known for its...
Shrines
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Osaki HachimanguOsaki Hachimangu (大崎八幡宮) is a Shinto shrine located in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. It was founded in 1607 by the powerful feudal lord, Date M...
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Toshogu ShrineToshogu Shrine (日光東照宮) is a Shinto shrine located in Nikko, Japan. It was built in the 17th century by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shog...
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Kunozan ToshoguKunozan Toshogu (久能山東照宮) is a Shinto shrine located on the top of Mount Kuno in Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. The shrine is dedicated to T...
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Kitano Tenmangu ShrineKitano Tenmangu Shrine (北野天満宮) is a shrine located in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City, and serves as the head shrine of approximately 12,000 Tenmangu shrines n...
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Ujigami ShrineUjigami Shrine is located in Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture. It enshrines Uji-no-Wakiiratsuko, Emperor Ojin, and Emperor Nintoku. It is a shiki-uchi-sha (shrine ...
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Yasaka ShrineYasaka Shrine (八坂神社), also known as Gion Shrine, is a Shinto shrine located in the Gion district of Kyoto, Japan. It was originally established in the 7t...
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Sumiyoshi TaishaSumiyoshi Taisha (住吉大社) is a Shinto shrine located in the Sumiyoshi district of Osaka, Japan. It is one of the oldest and most famous shrines in Osaka an...
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Kasuga TaishaKasuga Taisha (春日大社) is a Shinto shrine located in Nara, Japan. It was established in the 8th century and is dedicated to the deity responsible for prote...
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Itsukushima ShrineItsukushima Shrine (厳島神社) is a Shinto shrine located on the island of Miyajima in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The shrine is famous for its unique torii ...
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Usa ShrineUsa Shrine (宇佐神宮), also known as Usa Jingu, is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Usa in Oita Prefecture, Japan. The shrine is known for its beautifu...
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Kirishima ShrineKirishima Shrine (霧島神宮) is a Shinto shrine located in Kirishima City, Kagoshima Prefecture, in southern Japan. The shrine is dedicated to Ninigi no Mikot...
Modern
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Tomioka Silk MillThe Tomioka Silk Mill (富岡製糸場) is a historic silk mill located in the city of Tomioka in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. It was established in 1872 and is consi...
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State Guest HouseThe State Guest House (迎賓館赤坂離宮), also known as the Akasaka Palace, is a government building located in the Akasaka district of Tokyo, Japan. It serves...
Others
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Oura ChurchOura Church (大浦天主堂), also known as the Church of the Twenty-Six Martyrs, is a historic Roman Catholic church located in Nagasaki, Japan. It is cons...
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Higashi Honganji TempleHigashi Honganji Temple (東本願寺) is a large Buddhist temple located in Kyoto, Japan. It is the headquarters of the Jodo Shinshu sect of Buddhism, one of th...
