Important Cultural Property of Nara

Granite, about 14.2 metres, raised in Nara in 1253 by a mason from Song China. Four Buddhas cut into the lowest tier, reliquaries sealed inside, cosmos at its foot.

Hitomaro Shrine Main Hall in Kashihara, Nara, is a single-bay kasuga-zukuri sanctuary of 1345 honoring the poet Kakinomoto no Hitomaro, dated by a ridge-beam text.

Fukiji Main Hall in Kawanishi, Nara, is a hipped-roof Buddhist hall rebuilt in 1388 per a 1679 inscription. It adjoins Mutsugata Shrine and holds a Heian Shaka.

The Former Fukiji Arhat Hall at Horyuji in Ikaruga, Nara, was rebuilt by 1971 from late Heian timbers that left Fukiji in Kawanishi and sat in Tokyo from 1935.

Discover the Important Cultural Property pagoda of Futai-ji in northern Nara — a Kamakura-era tahōtō surviving at the historic temple founded by the legendary Heian poet Ariwara no Narihira.

The South Gate of Futai-ji Temple in Hōren-chō, Nara City, is a four-legged gate (shikyaku-mon) built in 1317 during the late Kamakura period, as confirmed by its preserved ridge tag. With a gabled tile roof and flanking earthen walls, its bold frog-leg struts and ornate carvings are regarded as forerunners of Momoyama-period gate architecture. Designated a National Important Cultural Property in 1904, the gate stands at the entrance to the temple founded by the Heian poet Ariwara no Narihira. This guide covers the gate’s history, architectural highlights, visitor information, and nearby attractions in northern Nara.

Hidden in a quiet northern neighbourhood of Nara near the ancient Heijō Palace site, Futai-ji Temple — affectionately known as 'Narihira-dera' after the celebrated poet Ariwara no Narihira — preserves a nationally designated Important Cultural Property: its late Kamakura-period Main Hall. A rare architectural survivor combining the ancient three-bay four-sided plan with medieval interior division and one of the earliest curved head-tie beams, the hall enshrines the beloved ribbon-crowned Shōkannon and a complete set of the Five Wisdom Kings. Discover its history, highlights, and a perfect walking route along the historic Saho-ji road.

Butsuryuji Sekishitsu is a stone chamber with a pyramidal roof behind the main hall in Uda City. The gorinto inside is held to mark the grave of the founder Kene.

The Main Hall of Fudoin in Hongo-cho, Yamato-Takada City, Nara Prefecture, is a late Muromachi-period Buddhist hall built in 1483 by Taima Tamenaga, lord of Takada Castle. Its five-bay-square plan, hipped roof, and traditional Japanese tile roof preserve a classic medieval temple form. Designated a national Important Cultural Property in 1925, it is the only such property within Yamato-Takada City. The enshrined Dainichi Nyorai statue, also a nationally designated Important Cultural Property, is a fine example of late Heian sculpture. Famous locally for its hydrangeas and just a few minutes' walk from Takada Station.

Hokakuji Byoto, a granite pagoda 268 cm tall, was raised on Mount Hyakkai in 1369 for the Shugendo master Sho-bo. Its carving copies wooden pagodas now lost.

The Chūin Hondō, built in 1434, is a sub-temple hall at Hōryū-ji. A three-bay Important Cultural Property, it is entered from its gable end in the Muromachi style.

Tsumamuro is a plain monks' dormitory of about 1121 in Hōryūji's West Precinct, a 27-bay hall that housed the monks who served the senior priests next door.

The Yakushibou Kuri, an Important Cultural Property standing behind the National Treasure Saiendo (West Round Hall) at the UNESCO World Heritage Horyuji Temple, is a late Muromachi-period monastic kitchen and living quarters. This 18-meter wooden structure features a distinctive dual roof design and preserves the daily living spaces of the monks who served the revered Medicine Buddha hall.

The Hori Family Residence in Nishi-Yoshino, Gojo City, Nara Prefecture, is one of Japan's oldest surviving private dwellings, dating to the late Muromachi period and designated as an Important Cultural Property. During the Nanbokuchō period, it served as the imperial residence for four Southern Court emperors including Emperor Go-Daigo. With its majestic thatched roof and dramatic history, the site was renovated in 2019 as KANAU, offering dining and accommodation experiences within a centuries-old imperial estate.

Matsuo-dera Temple in Yamatokoriyama, Nara Prefecture, is Japan's oldest yakuyoke (evil-warding) temple, founded in 718 by Imperial Prince Toneri. The Main Hall, rebuilt in 1337, is designated as an Important Cultural Property for its rare Shin-Wayō architecture blending traditional Japanese and Great Buddha styles. Discover this historic mountain temple with its secret Thousand-Armed Kannon, Kamakura-period Daikokuten statue, and stunning seasonal flower displays.

Discover the Three-Storied Pagoda of Minami Hokke-ji (Tsubosaka-dera), an Important Cultural Property rebuilt in 1497 during the Muromachi period. Standing on the sacred slopes of Takatori, this pagoda is a rare survivor of war and fire, showcasing pure Japanese architectural style.

The Raidō (Worship Hall) of Minamihokkeji Temple, commonly known as Tsubosakadera, is a designated Important Cultural Property of Japan located in Takatori, Nara Prefecture. Originally rebuilt during the mid-Muromachi period, this hip-and-gable roofed hall was restored to its medieval form during the Shōwa era. The temple, famous as the sixth stop on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage, has been a center of healing faith for eye ailments for over 1,300 years.

Hidden at the innermost sanctuary of Murō-ji Temple in Nara's Uda mountains, the Mieidō is an Important Cultural Property from the early Muromachi period. Reached by nearly 700 stone steps, this three-bay-square pyramidal-roofed hall enshrines an image of Kōbō Daishi and is one of the oldest Daishidō halls in Japan, noted for its unique thick wooden board step-roof. A sacred highlight of the temple long known as "Women's Kōya."

Tucked into the cedar-clad hills of Nara, the Miroku-dō at Murō-ji is an Important Cultural Property dating to the early Kamakura period. This three-bay hall with a hip-and-gable shingled roof preserves rare medieval techniques, including a distinctive double-roof attic structure, and houses a treasured Maitreya Bodhisattva statue from the late Nara to early Heian period. Discover the history and charm of this serene mountain temple, long known as 'Nyonin Kōya' — the Kōya-san for women.

A large mid-Edo farmhouse in Kashihara, Nara, with the oldest known yamato-mune roof, once the moated seat of a senior village headman. An Important Cultural Property.

Nara’s registered properties across designations, with featured heritage and travel notes.

The complete kokuhō catalogue — browse by prefecture, period, and category.

Nationwide jūyō bunkazai — architecture, sculpture, painting, crafts, and documents.