Artifacts Excavated from the Yamashina Nishinoyama Tomb

The Yamashina Nishinoyama Kofun Excavated Artifacts, designated a National Treasure in 1953 and housed at the Kyoto University Museum, are an extraordinary collection of early Heian period grave goods. Featuring a gold-mounted great sword, a gold-and-silver twin-phoenix mirror, and stone belt ornaments befitting the highest court nobility, these artifacts are believed to have come from the tomb of Sakanoue no Tamuramaro — the legendary Sei-i Taishogun who pacified northern Japan and founded Kiyomizu-dera Temple.

Ink Painting on Paper, Light Coloured Night Tower (by Yosa

Discover Yosa Buson's masterpiece "Yashoku Rōdai-zu" (Night Scene of Towers and Pavilions), a National Treasure of Japan. This late 18th-century ink painting captures a snowy Kyoto night with breathtaking subtlety. Learn about its artistic significance, viewing opportunities, and Buson-related sites in Kyoto.

Sword (gold Inlay Inscription Mitsutada/Mitsutoku Kao)

Discover the National Treasure katana by Osafune Mitsutada, founder of Japan's greatest swordmaking lineage. Once owned by Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu, this 13th-century masterpiece features a dazzling chōji hamon and gold inlay attribution by Hon'ami Kōtoku.

Tachi〈Inscription Close View of Osafunesumi, Bizen

Discover a National Treasure tachi forged in 1329 by Chikakage of the Osafune school in Bizen Province. With an elegant blade of approximately 80.6 cm, this late Kamakura period masterwork showcases the refined ji-hada and graceful suguha-based hamon characteristic of the Bizen tradition. Explore the legacy of swordsmith Chikakage, his close ties with the legendary Kagemitsu, and the rich history of Japan's greatest sword-producing region.

Tachi〈Inscribed Bizen Province Yoshioka Sumi Sakon Sho Kanki

This National Treasure tachi, forged by master swordsmith Sukemitsu of the Yoshioka Ichimonji school in 1322, represents the pinnacle of late Kamakura-period Bizen swordsmithing. Featuring a dazzling chōji-midare hamon, sacred Buddhist inscriptions to Hachiman and Myōken, and a prestigious provenance tracing back to Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu, this extraordinary blade invites you to explore the spiritual and artistic depths of Japan's sword culture.

Tachi (inscribed Masatsune)

Discover the National Treasure tachi signed Masatsune, a masterwork of the Ko-Bizen school of Japanese swordsmithing from the Heian period. Learn about its elegant form, cultural significance, and where to appreciate Japanese sword heritage.

Sword〈Mei Shuri〉

Discover the National Treasure tachi signed by Moritoshi, a rare Kamakura-period masterwork from the Ko-Aoe school. Learn about its elegant chirimen-hada grain, historical significance, and how to appreciate Japanese swords in Japan.

Tanto (Masamune Knife without Signature (famous Masamune

Discover the Hōchō Masamune, a National Treasure tantō forged by Japan's greatest swordsmith. Learn about its dramatic metallurgical beauty, storied provenance through samurai clans, and why all three surviving Hōchō Masamune are designated National Treasures.

Short Sword (inscribed Kunimitsu)

A National Treasure tantō forged by Shintōgo Kunimitsu, the founder of the Sōshū sword tradition, during the late Kamakura period. Considered the finest among Kunimitsu's surviving works for its exceptionally rich steel and temper pattern activity, this blade features Buddhist carvings of a ritual sword and Fudō Myōō. Formerly owned by the last Tokugawa shōgun, it is now privately held in Osaka.

Short Sword (signed Takaichi □ Sumikin Goto Sadakichi / □

Discover the National Treasure tantō 'Kuwayama Hōshō,' forged in 1324 by master swordsmith Fujiwara Sadayoshi of the Yamato Hōshō school. Listed in the celebrated Kyōhō Meibutsu Chō catalogue, this blade passed from samurai lord Kuwayama Motoharu to the powerful Maeda clan of Kaga. Explore its exquisite masame-hada forging, rich provenance, and enduring legacy as the finest work of the Hōshō tradition.

Naginata (inscription Kisukemitsu, Sakonshokan, Yoshioka

This National Treasure naginata was forged in 1320 by Sukemitsu, the foremost master of the Yoshioka Ichimonji school in Bizen Province. Retaining its original tang with a rare dated inscription, it perfectly exemplifies the Kamakura-period polearm blade form. Passed down through the prestigious Kaga Maeda clan, this masterpiece showcases exquisite chōji tempering patterns and finely forged steel that embody the pinnacle of 700-year-old Japanese sword craftsmanship.

Gold and Silver Inlaid Mirror with Hunting Motif

The National Treasure "Kinginsakushūryōmonkyō" (Gold and Silver Inlaid Bronze Mirror with Hunting Scene Design), housed at the Eisei Bunko Museum in Tokyo's Mejiro-dai, is a bronze mirror from China's Warring States period (4th–3rd century BC). Known internationally as the "Hosokawa Mirror," its breathtaking gold and silver inlaid designs depicting a mounted hunter battling a tiger, mythical beasts, and a phoenix represent the pinnacle of ancient Chinese metalwork. This rare masterpiece is exhibited only during special exhibitions held every few years.

Gold-Painted Copper Plate with Bird, Animal and Cloud Design

Discover the Kinsai Chōjū Unmon Dōban, a gold-painted bronze basin from China's Han Dynasty, housed at the Eisei Bunko Museum in Tokyo. Learn why this extraordinary archaeological artifact was designated a National Treasure of Japan.

Colored Silk Painting of Peach and Doves (painted by Huizong

Discover the Pigeon on a Peach Branch (Momohato-zu), a Japanese National Treasure attributed to Emperor Huizong of the Northern Song Dynasty. This exquisite silk painting from 1107 showcases the boneless (mokkotsu) technique, Slender Gold calligraphy, and a provenance tracing back to Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu.

Kokin Wakashu Volume 5 (Koya-Giri Version)

Designated as a National Treasure, Kokin Wakashū Volume 5 (Kōya-gire) is the oldest surviving manuscript of Japan's first imperially commissioned poetry anthology and a supreme masterpiece of kana calligraphy. Written around 1050 CE, this scroll of autumn poems showcases the dynamic Second Style attributed to Minamoto no Kaneyuki. Discover its profound significance, the three distinct calligraphic styles, and where to appreciate this millennium-old treasure.

Portrait Mirror

Discover the Jinbutsu Gazō Kyō, a 5th–6th century bronze mirror designated as a National Treasure of Japan. Featuring a 48-character inscription with one of the earliest uses of the title "Great King," this extraordinary artifact at the Tokyo National Museum offers a rare window into ancient Japan's diplomacy, craftsmanship, and the origins of written Japanese.

Stone Coffin

Discover the Six-sided Stone Pillar (Sekidō), a National Treasure at Fusai-ji Temple in Tachikawa, Tokyo. Carved in 1361, this chlorite schist masterpiece features the Four Heavenly Kings and Niō guardians, representing the finest medieval Japanese stone art.

Tachi (inscribed Sadatsugu)

A National Treasure tachi forged by Sadatsugu, a master swordsmith of the Ko-Aoe school in Bitchū Province during the Kamakura period. Sadatsugu was honored as one of Emperor Go-Toba's imperial rotation swordsmiths. This blade beautifully embodies the hallmarks of the Ko-Aoe tradition, including the distinctive sumi-hada steel grain and elegant koshi-zori curvature. Privately owned in Tokyo.

Tachi (named Yoshihira)

A National Treasure tachi forged by master swordsmith Yoshihira of the Fukuoka Ichimonji school during the mid-Kamakura period. Passed down through the Kishū Tokugawa family, it features a magnificent chōji-midare tempering pattern and a rare chrysanthemum crest engraving. With a blade length of 73.8 cm and curvature of 2.9 cm, it exemplifies the pinnacle of Japanese sword artistry.

Tachi〈Meiyoshibo〉

Discover the National Treasure tachi signed by Yoshifusa, a masterwork of the Fukuoka Ichimonji school forged in the Kamakura period. Learn about its Shimazu clan provenance, stunning jūka-chōji hamon, and where to appreciate Yoshifusa's swords in Japan.