National Treasure
国 宝 一 覧Browse Japan’s National Treasures by prefecture, period, and type. Clear stories highlight what to look for at temples, shrines, castles, and museums—plus maps and travel tips.
A Nara-period hall designated a National Treasure in 1952, with an open-rafter roof, 40 round columns and a round dais for Yakushi and twelve clay generals.
An early Heian three-storied pagoda at Taimadera, Nara, a National Treasure since 1952: 24.1 m tall, eight spire rings, and 7th-century reliquaries found in 2017.
A late Nara-period three-storied pagoda at Taimadera, Nara, a National Treasure since 1952: its oldest building, with two-bay upper tiers and an eight-ring spire.
The Mandala Hall of Taimadera in Nara, dated 1161 by a ridge-beam inscription and a National Treasure since 1952: a seven-bay hall wrapped around an older sanctuary.
The Main Hall of Chōkyū-ji Temple in Ikoma City, Nara Prefecture, is a National Treasure built in 1279 during the late Kamakura period. Celebrated as a masterwork of the shin-wayō style blending Japanese wayō elegance with continental daibutsuyō elements, the hall preserves a mature esoteric Buddhist spatial plan beneath a gracefully curving cypress-bark roof, with its construction date confirmed by original ridge-beam inscriptions.
Todaiji's Founder's Hall for its first abbot Rōben: a pure Great Buddha-style core of 1200, enlarged in 1250, and the portrait statue shown only on 16 December.
The Great Buddha Hall of Todaiji, consecrated in 1709: why its front shrank from 11 bays to 7, the composite pillars and karahafu gable, plus hours, fees and photos.
Todaiji's Bell Tower, rebuilt by Eisai around 1207-1210: a Great Buddha-style frame with Zen touches carrying the 26.3-tonne founding-era bell, rung nightly at 8 pm.
Todaiji's Tegaimon Gate, a Nara-period eight-legged gate that escaped the fires of 1180 and 1567: its Kamakura repair, double tie-beam gables and free access.
Todaiji's Great South Gate, raised in 1199 by Chōgen in the Daibutsu-yō style: 18 full-height pillars, six-tier brackets, the Unkei-Kaikei guardians and free access.
Todaiji's Nigatsudo Hall, rebuilt in 1669 under the shogun Ietsuna: its stage over the slope, nested sanctuaries shaped by the Shunie and free 24-hour access.
The Hokkedo (Sangatsudo), Todaiji's oldest building: a c.747 main hall joined to a 1199 worship hall under one roof, its Tenpyo statues, hours, fees and photo rules.
Todaiji's Honbo Sutra Repository, a Nara-period azekura of triangular logs and the largest of three such storehouses, moved in the 1710s; its structure and access.
The two-storey gate of Hannyaji in Nara, built around the 1260s with a single passage, is a well-proportioned Kamakura gate with rare Daibutsu-style mouldings.
The Horyuji Temple Corridors, an Asuka-period National Treasure, enclose the Golden Hall and pagoda. Why the south side is 11 bays east but 10 west, and what to see.
The Horyuji Temple Sutra Repository, a Nara-period National Treasure, is the oldest two-level building of its type. Its beams, open upper floor and image of Kanroku.
The Horyuji Temple Kofuzo Treasury, a Heian National Treasure, keeps two storerooms under one roof with an open bay between, the original twin-storehouse form.
The Horyuji Temple Five-Storied Pagoda, a 7th-century National Treasure about 32.5 m tall, has a pillar felled in 594 and clay scenes of 711 seen through grilles.
The Horyuji Temple Golden Hall, a late-7th-century National Treasure, keeps Asuka cloud brackets. See the Shaka Triad inside and learn about the 1949 fire.
The Horyuji Temple Saiendo Hall, an octagonal National Treasure rebuilt in 1250, keeps original foundation stones and a dry-lacquer Yakushi. Its February rite.