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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:
Castles
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Himeji Castle
Himeji 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 Castle
Matsue 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 Castle
Inuyama 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 Castle
Matsumoto 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 Castle
Hikone Castle (彦根城), located in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, Japan, is a historic castle that holds great significance in Japanese history. It was built in t...
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Nijo Castle
Nijo 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 Museum
The 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 Museum
Kyoto National Museum (京都国立博物館) is one of the most important museums in Japan, located in Kyoto. It was established in 1889 as the Imperial Museum and...
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Nara National Museum
The Nara National Museum (奈良国立博物館) is a museum located in Nara, Japan, housing a vast collection of Buddhist art and artifacts from the region. The mu...
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Kyushu National Museum
The 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
Taiyuin (大猷院) is a Buddhist temple located in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. It is one of the many temples and shrines in Nikko that make up a UNESCO W...
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Daigoji Temple
Daigoji Temple (醍醐寺), located in the Fushimi ward in the southeastern part of Kyoto, Japan, is a Buddhist temple founded in 874 AD by Rigen-daishi Shobo d...
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Chusonji Temple
Chusonji Temple (中尊寺), a Buddhist temple located in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, was founded in 850 AD by the Buddhist monk Jikaku Daishi Ennin. It...
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Zenkoji Temple
Zenkoji Temple (善光寺), located in the city of Nagano, Japan, is one of the most important and revered temples in Japan, known for its beautiful architectur...
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Daizenji Temple
Daizenji Temple (大善寺), also known as "Grape Temple," is a Buddhist temple located in Katsunuma, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. It is known for its associati...
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Toji Temple
Toji Temple (東寺), officially 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 ...
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Kiyomizudera
Kiyomizudera (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 Temple
Chionin Temple (知恩院) is a Buddhist temple located in Higashiyama, Kyoto, Japan. It is the head temple of the Jodo-shu (Pure Land) sect of Buddhism, one of...
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Ninnaji Temple
Ninnaji Temple (仁和寺) is a Buddhist temple located in Kyoto, Japan, and is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the "Historic Monuments of...
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Kohfukuji Temple
Kohfukuji Temple (興福寺) is a Buddhist temple located in Nara City, Japan. The temple was founded in 669 by Kagami no Okimi (later known as Fujiwara no Fuhi...
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Kinpusenji Temple
Kinpusenji Temple (金峯山寺), also known as Kinpusen-ji, is a Buddhist temple located in Yoshino, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The temple is the head temple of th...
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Todaiji Temple
Todaiji Temple (東大寺), a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Nara, Japan, is one of the country's most famous and historically significant temples, origi...
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Yakushiji Temple
Yakushiji Temple (薬師寺) is a Buddhist temple located in Nara, Japan. It was one of the powerful Seven Great Temples of Nanto (南都七大寺) in the Nara perio...
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Horyuji Temple
Horyuji Temple (法隆寺), located in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, Japan, is one of the oldest temples in Japan and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site ...
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Muroji Temple
Muroji Temple (室生寺) is a Buddhist temple located in Uda City in Nara Prefecture, Japan. The temple is the head temple of the Shingon sect Buzan school and...
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Sofukuji Temple
Sofukuji 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 Obaku Ze...
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Ginkakuji
Ginkakuji (慈照寺銀閣), also known as the Silver Pavilion, is a renowned Zen temple located in the Higashiyama ward of Kyoto, Japan. The temple was originall...
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Nanzenji Temple
Nanzenji Temple (南禅寺) is a prominent Zen Buddhist temple located in Kyoto, Japan. It was established in 1291 when Emperor Kameyama converted his detached ...
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Toshodaiji Temple
Toshodaiji Temple (唐招提寺), located in the city of Nara, Japan, is a Buddhist temple founded in 759 by the Chinese monk Jianzhen (Ganjin). It is considered...
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Daitokuji Temple
Daitokuji Temple (大徳寺), established in 1315, is a sprawling Zen Buddhist temple complex located in the northern part of Kyoto, Japan. It serves as the hea...
Shrines
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Osaki Hachimangu
Osaki Hachimangu (大崎八幡宮) is a Shinto shrine located in the Aoba Ward of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. While it was officially founded in 1607 by the...
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Toshogu Shrine
Toshogu Shrine (日光東照宮) is a Shinto shrine located in Nikko, Japan. It was initially built in 1617 by Tokugawa Hidetada, the second Tokugawa shogun, as a...
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Kunozan Toshogu
Kunozan 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 Shrine
Kitano 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 Shrine
Ujigami Shrine (宇治上神社) is located in Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture. It enshrines Uji-no-Wakiiratsuko, Emperor Ojin, and Emperor Nintoku. It is a shiki-uchi...
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Yasaka Shrine
Yasaka Shrine (八坂神社), also known as Gion Shrine, is a Shinto shrine located in the Gion district of Kyoto, Japan. It is believed to have been established...
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Sumiyoshi Taisha
Sumiyoshi Taisha (住吉大社), a Shinto shrine located in Suminoe Ward, Osaka, Japan, is one of the oldest and most famous shrines in the city. Dedicated to th...
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Kasuga Taisha
Kasuga Grand Shrine (春日大社), a Shinto shrine located in Nara, Japan, was established in 768 and is dedicated to the deities responsible for protecting the...
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Itsukushima Shrine
Itsukushima 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 Shrine
Usa 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 Shrine
Kirishima Shrine (霧島神宮), located in Kirishima-Taguchi, Kirishima City, Kagoshima Prefecture, in southern Japan, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Ninigi-no...
Modern
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Tomioka Silk Mill
The 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 House
The 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 Church
Oura Church (大浦天主堂), officially known as the Church of the Twenty-Six Martyrs of Japan, is a historic Roman Catholic church located in Nagasaki, Japan. ...
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Higashi Honganji Temple
Higashi Honganji Temple (東本願寺) is a major Buddhist temple located in Kyoto, Japan. It serves as the headquarters of the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha school ...