Yasaka Shrine

Discover Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto, home to a National Treasure main hall and 29 Important Cultural Properties. Explore the unique Gion-zukuri architecture, sacred dragon legend, and the birthplace of Japan's iconic Gion Festival.

Sangoinki/Annex Proclamation of Kanpaku

Discover Sanmyakuin-ki, a newly designated Important Cultural Property preserving the handwritten diary of Konoe Nobutada, one of the "Three Great Brushes of the Kan'ei Era." Explore this rare glimpse into Momoyama-Edo court life at Yomei Bunko in Kyoto.

Tachi Sword (inscribed with Bishu Nagafune Michimitsu / 9th

Discover the Important Cultural Property tachi sword crafted by Moromitsu in 1402, one of the "Three Masters" of Oei Bizen. Explore the history, artistry, and cultural significance of this exceptional blade housed at Kyoto's Kitano Tenmangu Shrine.

Tetsugenban Complete Sutra Woodblock Printing

Discover the Tetsugen-ban Issaikyo Hangi, 60,000 woodblocks that gave birth to Japan's Mincho typeface and manuscript paper format. A hidden cultural treasure in Uji, Kyoto where 340-year-old blocks still print Buddhist scriptures today.

Jokomyoji Temple Site Map

Discover the Jōkōmyō-ji Temple Site Map (浄光明寺敷地絵図), a designated Important Cultural Property and the only surviving pictorial map depicting Kamakura during its medieval heyday. Learn about its historical significance, the dramatic fall of the Kamakura Shogunate, and how to visit this remarkable treasure.

Boar Shaped Clay Product / Excavated from Tokoshinai 2 Site,

Discover the remarkable Boar-shaped Clay Object, a 4,000-year-old Important Cultural Property from Japan's Jomon period. Visit Hirosaki City Museum in Aomori to see this exceptional artifact showcasing ancient spiritual culture and artistic mastery.

Black Lacquer and Mother-of-Pearl Inlay Tableware

Discover the exquisite Kokushitsu Raden Raiban, a Kamakura period Important Cultural Property featuring stunning mother-of-pearl lotus arabesques on black lacquer. Visit this Buddhist ceremonial treasure at MOA Museum of Art in Atami, Japan.

Former Gakushuin Elementary School Main Hall

Discover the Former Gakushuin Elementary School Main Hall, an Important Cultural Property from 1899. This elegant Western-Japanese fusion building served Japan's nobility and is now preserved at Boso no Mura near Narita.

Former Konishi Family Residence

Discover the Former Konishi Family Residence (Kyu-Konishi-ke Jutaku), an Important Cultural Property in Osaka's Doshomachi district. This 1903 merchant house features traditional machiya architecture, kura storehouses, and offers a rare glimpse into Meiji-era pharmaceutical merchant life. Free guided tours available by reservation.

Raigoji Temple Main Hall

Explore Raigo-ji Temple's 1732 main hall in Matsubara City, Osaka. This hidden gem of the Yuzu Nembutsu sect features Edo-period architecture, a 500-year-old sacred tree, and connections to samurai lords and Japanese royalty. A perfect off-the-beaten-path destination for cultural travelers.

Nine-Storied Pagoda

Discover Kujuno-to, a 13th-century Important Cultural Property stone pagoda in Usuki. This remarkable monument represents the pinnacle of Bungo stone art and served as the prototype for the region's stone tower tradition.

Jinkakuji Temple Main Hall

Discover Jinkakuji Hondo, a remarkable Important Cultural Property built in 1369, nestled atop Mount Jinkakuji in Oita Prefecture. Experience ancient Muromachi architecture, Kamakura-era guardian statues, and stunning rhododendron blooms at this serene mountain temple—one of Bungo's Three Great Temples.

Ishitani Family Residence

Explore the Ishitani Residence, a National Important Cultural Property in Tottori Prefecture. This magnificent 3,000-tsubo estate features 40+ rooms, stunning Japanese gardens, and showcases the finest craftsmanship of early 20th-century Japanese architecture. A must-visit for architecture and history enthusiasts.

Ochitani Shrine

Discover Tottori Toshogu Shrine (formerly Ochidani Jinja), a serene Important Cultural Property featuring 17th-century architecture crafted by Nikko Toshogu's master builders. Explore this hidden gem nestled in an ancient forest with fireflies, traditional festivals, and the birthplace of Kirin lion dance.

Fukuda Family Residence (Kamikodani, Tottori City, Tottori

Discover Fukuda Family Residence in Tottori, a National Important Cultural Property dating back to the early 17th century. Explore the main house and two historic storehouses with traditional namako-wall decoration, representing the finest example of an Edo-period village headman's estate.

Purple Haori with Hollyhock Crest and Hollyhock Leaf

Discover the Purple Ground Haori with Aoi Mon, an Important Cultural Property featuring the rare tsujigahana dyeing technique worn by Tokugawa Ieyasu. Explore this exceptional textile masterpiece preserved at the Tokugawa Art Museum in Nagoya.

Nihon Shoki: the Age of the Gods (vols. 1 and 2)

Discover the Nihon Shoki Jindaikan, a National Treasure manuscript at Kyoto National Museum. This 13th-century handwritten copy preserves Japan's oldest official mythology, including the creation of the Japanese islands and the birth of Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess. Learn about its cultural significance, viewing opportunities, and nearby attractions.

Emperor's Family Tree Written in Ink on Paper

Discover the Teikeifu, a designated Important Cultural Property from Japan's tumultuous Nanbokucho period (1371). This handwritten imperial genealogy chart offers rare insights into medieval Japanese history at the National Museum of Japanese History in Sakura, Chiba.

Sword (Gold Inlay Inscription Rai Kunimitsu Surijo / Hon'a

Discover the Important Cultural Property 'Katana with Gold Inlay Inscription Rai Kunimitsu' at Tokyo National Museum. Explore this Kamakura period masterpiece by the legendary Rai school swordsmith, appraised by the prestigious Hon'ami family.

Kasuga Fudarakuyama Mandala in Color on Silk

Discover the Kasuga Fudarakusan Mandala, a rare Kamakura-period masterpiece depicting the mystical fusion of Kasuga Shrine and Mount Potalaka. This Important Cultural Property at Tokyo's Nezu Museum offers a unique window into medieval Japan's syncretic religious art.