National Treasures of Nara

A Nara-period bronze finial inscribed with a date matching 715. Part of a pagoda mast, it survives where the pagoda does not. National Treasure since 1953.

An eight-lobed Heian-period mirror in Nara Prefecture. Nine Buddhist figures stand engraved upon its face, while flowers and birds cover all the back.

Kofun-period finds in Nara Prefecture, listed as a single lot. The tomb itself is placed about 350 metres to the west of Horyuji, and not by any address.

A Heian-period handscroll in Nara owned by a listed company. The company owns the scroll itself while a museum that it runs is the place that keeps it.

Five Asuka-period murals from the Kitora tomb in Nara, the only set in Japan where all four guardians survive. Its ceiling star chart is the oldest in East Asia.

A Nara-period storehouse northwest of the Great Buddha Hall at Todaiji, the only azekura building keeping the twin-storehouse form. National Treasure since 1997.

A Nara-period log storehouse in Nara Prefecture. It had stood there before the temple did, and was converted later on when the precinct was laid out here.

A Kamakura-period sword owned by Kasuga Taisha in Nara Prefecture. Its own commentary here lists only how it differs from the other sword kept there now.

A Kamakura-period sword owned by Kasuga Taisha in Nara Prefecture. Unlike its own companion sword there, its commentary stands on its own two feet here.

A Kamakura-period sword owned by Kasuga Taisha in Nara Prefecture. Of the three swords numbered in sequence there, only this one was listed early on now.

A pair of great ceremonial drums owned by Kasuga Taisha in Nara Prefecture. A hundred and nineteen full years lie between its own two listings here now.

A Kamakura-period pagoda owned by Saidaiji in Nara Prefecture. A museum now holds it, so its own location and its own owner are recorded well apart here.

An Asuka-period embroidery owned by Chuguji in Nara Prefecture. Asuka work and a Kamakura copy of it sit together within one and the very same frame now.

Akishino-Dera Temple Main Hall in Nara is an early Kamakura hall on the old lecture hall site, with an earthen floor and low hipped roof. National Treasure, 1953.

Discover the National Treasure 'Silk-Painted Image of the Eleven-Headed Kannon' at Nara National Museum — a 12th-century Heian-period masterpiece on silk. As one of Japan's oldest surviving silk paintings of this form of Kannon, it features an unusually naturalistic three-quarter pose, exquisite cut-gold-leaf (kirikane) decoration, and motifs newly introduced from Song-dynasty China. This guide covers the painting's iconography, history, and how to plan your visit to the museum in Nara Park.

Discover the Lotus Arabesque Maki-e Sutra Box, a National Treasure from the late Heian period housed at Nara National Museum. Crafted in the exceptionally rare lacquered-leather (shippi) technique and adorned with togidashi maki-e, this elegant container once preserved decorated sutras at Jingū-ji in Fukui.

The Lecture Hall of Toshodai-ji was moved from the Heijo Palace around 760 and is the only palace building still standing, now housing Nara and Kamakura sculptures.

Built in 1240 and called the Relic Hall, the Drum Tower of Toshodai-ji enshrines relics said to have come with Ganjin and hosts the May fan-scattering rite, Uchiwamaki.

The Golden Hall of Toshodai-ji is the only surviving temple main hall from Japan's Nara era, fronting three National Treasure Buddhas beneath a shibi-crowned tiled roof.

The Treasure House of Toshodai-ji is a Nara-period log storehouse built in the azekura method, standing beside the older Sutra Repository that predates the temple.

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.