Historic Sites and Buildings
National Properties are cultural properties that belong to the Agency for Cultural Affairs. They are in use and open to the public.
Special Historic Site: Goryokaku (Hakodate City, Hokkaido)
Goryokaku is a western-style fort completed in 1864, and was home to the Hakodate Magistrate's Office of the Tokugawa government. It is known as the site of the Battle of Hakodate, which was the last battle before the Meiji Restoration. The star-shaped fort with five protruding points has five to six meter mounds around it, and its stone walls and a moat remain in good condition.
(Photo provided by the Hakodate City Board of Education)
Important Cultural Property: Former Iwasaki Family House (Taito Ward, Tokyo)
This typical Meiji period mansion with western and Japanese style buildings is the former residence of the Iwasaki Family, who founded Mitsubishi. The Western-style building, Japanese-style main hall and billiard room survive to date. Except for the Japanese-style part, the buildings were designed by Dr. Josiah Conder, who contributed tremendously to the introduction of modern western architecture in Japan, and they are very important for learning about the composition and landscape of large mansions at that time.
(Photo by Yoshihiko Ono)
Special Historic Site: Nara Palace Site (Nara City, Nara Prefecture)
Nara Palace Site is a cultural property of the people of Japan. It is designated to be a Special Historic Site as an important archaeological site of historic and academic value. The reconstruction of Suzaku Gate (photo) and East Palace Garden has been completed, and the Imperial Audience Hall was expected to be completed in 2010, which was the 1300th anniversary of the relocation of the capital.
(Photo provided by the Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties)
National Treasure and Historic Site: Himeji Castle (Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture)
Himeji Castle is a flatland-mountain castle build by Ikeda Terumasa, the feudal lord of Himeji Domain. Almost all the components of the castle, including a moat and mounds, remain in their original condition, and a group of over 80 buildings including a castle towers survive to date. It is also known as Hakuro-jo or White Heron Castle, because of the white plaster that was applied to its exterior. The castle was inscribed on the World Heritage list in 1993.
(Photo provided by the Hyogo Prefectural Board of Education)
* The cultural properties above are examples. They include land and other elements that are not part of the National Property.
Fine Arts and Crafts
The Agency for Cultural Affairs purchases and preserves cultural properties in order to prevent the loss or outflow of valuable cultural properties while making them publicly available at exhibitions held at National Museums or other local museums.
