National Treasures of Osaka

Kōon-ji Kannon-dō, known as 'Kuginashi-dō' (Hall Without Nails), is a National Treasure in Kaizuka City, Osaka. Built in the late Kamakura period entirely without iron nails, this extraordinary hall preserves the legacy of the Nara-period monk Gyōki. Featuring a fusion of Japanese, Zen, and Great Buddha architectural styles, rare Gyōki-buki roof tiles, and 19 Important Cultural Property Buddhist statues, it is a must-visit for heritage enthusiasts.

The Tahōtō pagoda of Jigen-in Temple in Izumisano, Osaka, is a National Treasure built in 1271 during the Kamakura period. Counted among Japan's Three Great Tahōtō Pagodas alongside Ishiyama-dera and Kongō Sanmai-in, it is regarded as the smallest outdoor wooden tahōtō with National Treasure or Important Cultural Property status. Its cypress-bark roof, refined four-step bracketing, and well-preserved original altar make it an architectural jewel. Just minutes from Kansai International Airport, the temple sits within the Hine-no-Shō Japan Heritage district, offering a serene encounter with medieval Japan.

An unsigned straight double-edged Heian sword owned by Kongo-ji, tied by temple tradition to the monk Akan's esoteric rites and kept at the Kyoto National Museum.

Kongo-ji in Osaka keeps a National Treasure scroll of the Engishiki shrine register, copied in 1127, naming 2,861 shrines recognized by the Heian court.

Six Bai Juyi poems in three scripts, with Ono no Michikaze's only surviving standard-script hand. See this National Treasure at Osaka's Masaki Art Museum.

Seven Heian-era kakemamori amulets at Osaka's Shitennoji, National Treasures worn at the neck, one concealing a wooden Buddha revealed by a 2018 CT scan.

A Heian National Treasure handscroll pairing thirty poets across fifteen rounds, with 130 waka in mature kana on purple-and-indigo tobikumo paper, in Izumi, Osaka.

The Kacho Maki-e Kyosoku, a 9th-century lacquered armrest at Osaka's Fujita Museum, is one of Japan's earliest maki-e works, decorated in gold and rare tin.

The National Treasure Senju Kannon at Fujiidera Temple in Osaka has 1,041 real hands, each palm once painted with an eye. Shown only on the 18th of each month.

Dated 883, this National Treasure handscroll records Kanshinji's founding by Kukai's disciple Jichie and inventories the Osaka temple's early Heian halls and images.

A Heian court belt at Domyoji Tenmangu in Osaka, set with fifteen silver-plated plaques of hunters and ducks. A National Treasure linked to Sugawara no Michizane.

At Dōmyōji Tenmangū near Osaka, this 36.4 cm ivory court scepter is a National Treasure and one of six relics tied by tradition to Sugawara no Michizane.

Discover the Ryōbu Daikyō Kantoku-zu, a National Treasure silk painting from 1136 housed at Fujita Museum in Osaka. This Heian-period masterpiece depicts the legendary stories of how two sacred esoteric Buddhist sutras were obtained in India.

Written 13 days before his death in exile, Emperor Gotoba's handprint-sealed will is a National Treasure and the founding document of Minase Jingu, Osaka.

Excavated in 1848 beside Emperor Ojin's tomb, these dragon-patterned gilt bronze saddle fittings count among Japan's oldest horse trappings, shown Saturdays.

Discover the Shitennoji Engi, a National Treasure preserved at Shitennoji Temple in Osaka. This guide introduces the history, cultural value, highlights, and visiting information for the two-scroll set bearing the legendary handprints of Prince Shotoku and Emperor Go-Daigo.

Kongo-ji's National Treasure screens set a gold sun over spring hills and a silver moon over snowy pines. Explore this Muromachi masterpiece and its rare openings.

An unbroken 8.3-meter scroll of 101 classical poems in flowing 11th-century kana on cloud-patterned paper, held as a National Treasure at Osaka's Fujita Museum.

The National Treasure celadon vase 'Bansei', fired at Southern Song China's Longquan kilns, passed from an empress to a Kyoto temple before reaching Izumi, Osaka.

A ninth-century Tang manuscript of China's first dictionary survives in Osaka as a National Treasure. See its seal-script columns at the Kyou Shooku library.

Osaka’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.