Historic Site, Takanashi Family Residence Site (Nagano) |
"Monument" is the collective term to refer to the following types of cultural properties:
The national government designates significant items in these three categories as “Historic Sites,” “Places of Scenic Beauty,” and “Natural Monuments,” and seeks to preserve them. Those which are of particularly high significance are designated as “Special Historical Sites,” “Special Places of Scenic Beauty,” and "Special Natural Monuments,” respectively. |
Places of Scenic Beauty, Ogami and Megami Rocks, and Mt. Torigoe (Iwate) |
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Natural Monument, Hibiscus hamabo colony and sub-tidal habitat near the Manose River outlet |
Number of Designated Historic Sites by Category and Age
As of April 1, 2014
| Age | Primitive | Ancient | Middle Ages | Premodern | Modern | Total |
| Category | ||||||
| Shell mounds, ancient tombs, etc. | 655 (14) |
15 | 4 | 674 (14) |
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| Site of castle towns, etc. | 1 | 97 (9) |
182 (1) |
97 (9) |
4 | 381 (19) |
| Sites of shrines, temples, etc. | 217 (14) |
56 | 12 | 285 (14) |
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| School and other sites related to education, scholastic, and cultural activities |
1 | 1 | 21 (3) |
4 | 27 (3) |
|
| Medical facilities and other sites related to society and living |
3 |
3 | 6 | |||
| Transportation facilities and other sites related to economic activities and production |
11 | 40 | 25 | 91 (2) |
17 | 184 (2) |
| Tombs, tombstones, etc. | 10 (3) |
11 | 55 | 1 | 77 (3) |
|
| Old houses, gardens with ponds, etc. | 6 | 19 (2) |
57 (4) |
82 (6) |
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| Sites related to foreigners or foreign countries | 7 |
1 | 8 | |||
| Total | 667 (14) |
386 (26) |
301 (3) |
343 (18) |
27 |
1,724 (61) |
Note: The numbers in parentheses are Special Historical Sites and included in the total.
Number of Designated Places of Scenic Beauty
As of April 1, 2014
| Category | Number | Category | Number |
| Gardens | 207(24) | Springs | 1 |
| Parks | 10 | Beaches | 36 |
| Bridges | 2 | Islands | 9(2) |
| Flowering trees | 14 | Sandbars | 1(1) |
| Pine groves | 6(1) | Hot springs | 2 |
| Rocks and caves | 14 | Mountains | 16(2) |
| Ravines and mountain streams | 34(5) | Hills, highlands, flatlands | 2 |
| Waterfalls | 9 | Rivers | 1 |
| Lakes and marshes | 3(1) | Panoramic views | 10 |
| Floating waterweeds | 1 | - | |
| Total | 378(36) | ||
Note: The numbers in parentheses are Special Places of Scenic Beauty and included in the total.
Number of Designated Natural Monuments
As of April 1, 2014
| Category | Number |
| Animals | 194(21) |
| Plants | 548(30) |
| Geological and mineral formations | 246(20) |
| Nature conservation areas | 23( 4) |
| Total | 1,011(75) |
Note: The numbers in parentheses are Special Natural Monuments and included in the total.
Number of Registered Monuments
As of April 1, 2014
| Category | Number |
| Ruins | 8 |
| Places of scenic beauty | 69 |
| Animals, plants, geological and mineral formations | 5 |
| Total | 82 |
Number of Selected Important Cultural Landscapes
43
Remarks
The number in each of the categories includes cross-listed cultural landscapes (e.g. Places of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monuments).
Counting cross-listed properties as single entries, the number of designated properties is 3,004 and the number of registered properties is 80.
"The Road of History to Explore, See, and Feel" Project
Roads and waterways have traditionally hosted an exchange of culture and people. They are one of the most common cultural properties that are vitally important for understanding the history of Japan. The Agency for Cultural Affairs has launched a program to research and develop the Road of History since 1978 to conduct a comprehensive and systematic research and preservation project on old roads and canals from the pre-Edo period together with cultural properties and the surrounding environment.
Since 1993, the Agency for Cultural Affairs has been advocating for the "Road of History to Explore, See, and Feel" project in an attempt to help people understand local history and culture, as well as to promote the protection of cultural properties and their surrounding environment. The "Road of History" project provides opportunities to explore old roads and experience local cultural properties throughout the country. 1995 was the first year in which the Nara Central Conference was held, along with two regional conferences in Tochigi and Fukushima.Research on Modern Gardens and Parks
The Agency for Cultural Affairs carried out "Research on Modern Gardens and Parks" from FY2009 through 2011.
This research program targets human and cultural Places of Scenic Beauty, including modern gardens and parks. After a nationwide location survey, those places were reported in a list, and important cases were selected based on the evaluation standards developed prior to the selection. Methods of evaluation and protection were also discussed as part of the research program.General Survey on Places of Scenic Beauty - Nationwide Survey (Location Survey)
The Agency for Cultural Affairs conducted a nationwide location survey on places of scenic beauty in 2011 and 2012.
This complete survey covered all the undesignated and unregistered places of scenic beauty and their locations in Japan, followed by a discussion of the places to be protected as well as methods of evaluation and protection.
The result of the survey was summarized in the "Result of the General Survey on Places of Scenic Beauty - National Survey (Location Survey)."Maintenance, management, and preservation of Special Historic Sites, Nara Palace Site, etc.
Nara Palace Site and Fujiwara Palace Site are designated as Special Historic Sites. These important sites not only possess high historic and scientific value but are also well-preserved in a wide area. They are cultural properties of the people of Japan and must be preserved under proper maintenance and management.
