Throughout our long history until the present day, cultural properties have been created, fostered, and passed down. They are invaluable assets for the people of Japan. Under the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties, the national government thus designates, selects, and registers the most important cultural properties as National Treasures, Important Cultural Properties, Historic Sites, Places of Scenic Beauty, or Natural Monuments and imposes restrictions on exports and activities that alter their existing state. Moreover, the national government takes various measures to protect cultural properties by providing subsidies for preservation, repairing, building disaster-proof facilities, or public ownership of historic sites. The government also takes action to utilize cultural properties, by subsidizing the development of facilities for the display of cultural properties, and increasing opportunities for the public to enjoy cultural properties at exhibitions and other events.
Among the cultural heritage sites that represent Japan, outstanding ones with universal value are recommended to UNESCO for registration on the World Heritage list.

• Introduction of Cultural Properties

Announcements

• Japan Heritage

Relevant Laws and Schemes

• Law on the Maintenance and Improvement of Historical Landscape in Communities

• Basic Scheme for Historic and Cultural Properties

List of Measures and Projects