Meiji
明治Browse Japan’s cultural heritage from the Meiji period (1868 – 1912). Filter by prefecture, type, and keyword, with concise stories, maps, and travel tips.
Grill Ginrinso in Otaru began as herring storage, became a fisheries museum in 1941, and now serves French food. Registered in 2023 for its plastered latticed walls.
Koryuji Temple Kaizando in Hakodate, a plastered brick hall of around 1897, is the oldest building in the precinct and houses past abbots and the 500 arhats.
Koryuji Temple Main Gate in Hakodate, an eight-legged gate of around 1910 by the fifth Shinoda Sokichi, bears some 207 carvings of dragons, lions and a phoenix.
Koryuji Temple Firebreak Wall in Hakodate, a 154-meter brick wall of 1910, rises to about 7 meters on its east side and was built to shield the temple from fire.
Koryuji Temple Main Hall in Hakodate, built in 1899 by Echigo carpenters, has 39 zelkova pillars and a nine-room interior. Registered in 2012; ask at reception.
The main house of the Kobayashi family at their sake brewery in Kuriyama, Hokkaido, a timber home of 1901, is shown on guided tours of its finely made rooms.
The No. 1 Storehouse of Kobayashi Sake Brewery in Kuriyama, Hokkaido, a brick store of 1900 enlarged in 1918, is the largest store, with dentils at its eaves.
The No. 5 Storehouse of Kobayashi Sake Brewery in Kuriyama, Hokkaido, built in 1900 of stone over timber, is the smallest store, ringed by a stone string course.
The rice steaming house of Kobayashi Sake Brewery in Kuriyama, Hokkaido, a brick workshop of 1900, has a stone base, corner pilasters and a tall brick chimney.
The No. 4 Storehouse of Kobayashi Sake Brewery in Kuriyama, Hokkaido, built in 1900 of stone over a timber frame, has staggered stonework and a stone cornice.
The No. 6 Storehouse of Kobayashi Sake Brewery in Kuriyama, Hokkaido, built in 1900 of stone over timber, is the only single-storey stone store, with high windows.
Built in 1902 for a fishing magnate on Hokkaido's Uchiura Bay, this 18-metre timber house pairs a deep segai eave with a full-length pent roof and a lattice screen.
The bell tower of Shogyoji in Akkeshi, Hokkaido, built in 1908, is an open tower one bay square with leaning posts and a coffered ceiling, beside the main hall.
The Sapporo Church of the United Church of Christ in Japan, built in 1904 after a fire, has stone laid over a timber frame and Gothic details such as a rose window.
A hexagonal sentry post of just 1.9 square metres at the Abashiri Prison Museum in Hokkaido, glazed on all six faces, domed and finialled, registered in 2012.
A sentry post that guarded the near end of Kagami Bridge at Abashiri Prison in Hokkaido: a hexagon of 3.2 square metres, five faces glazed, registered in 2012.
Facing its twin across Kagami Bridge at the Abashiri Prison Museum in Hokkaido, this glazed hexagonal sentry post of 3.2 square metres was registered in 2012.
The sentry post at the tradesmen's gate of Abashiri Prison in Hokkaido, a hexagon of 3.2 square metres carrying a cloud carving under its gable, registered in 2012.
A windowless punishment cell at the Abashiri Prison Museum in Hokkaido, built from bricks fired by inmates, its walls 0.4 metres thick, registered in 2012.
Hakodate Chuka Kaikan, a brick hall of 1910 built after the great Hakodate fire, is Japan's only meeting hall in the form of a Guandi temple, with a Qing interior.