Japan defines Important Cultural Properties as properties that are historically or artistically significant to the country. Among them, properties that are especially treasured by the people and possess high value from a world culture perspective are designated as National Treasures.
As of October 2020, 1,120 properties have been designated as National Treasures and 13,281 items as Important Cultural Properties (including National Treasures). Nara Prefecture has 203 National Treasures, the third most after Tokyo (281) and Kyoto (234) (as of December 1, 2019). 64% of Japan’s total treasures are concentrated in these three prefectures.
Unbeknownst to most, many buildings have been designated as National Treasures in Nara (71) as well as Kyoto (73), but Nara holds the most ancient buildings. Many buildings in Kyoto were destroyed by fire during the Onin War, a civil war that took place in the Muromachi Period, but Nara Prefecture still contains National Treasure shrines and temples that have existed since before that war, for a total of 24.
日本国にとって歴史上または芸術上価値が高く 重要なものは重要文化財として、その中で世界文化の見地から価値が高いもので「たぐいない国民の宝たるもの」が「国宝」に指定されています。
2020年10月現在、国宝には1120件、国宝を含む重要文化財は13281件。
奈良県の国宝の数は203件で東京（281）、京都（234）に次いで3番目に多く、全体の64%がこの3都府県に集中しています。（2019年12月1日現在）
建造物で国宝に指定されている建造物は、京都とともに奈良にも多く、しかも京都に比べ、古さで奈良は圧倒的に多いということは知られていません。ちなみに京都府の建築73件、奈良県71件です。京都の市街地は室町時代の内戦「応仁の乱」で多くの建造物が焼失しましたが、奈良県にはそれ以前の神社仏閣も国宝に指定されています。奈良の国宝、その数24院。
①法隆寺Horyu-ji Temple ②法起寺Hoki-ji Temple
③當麻寺Taima-dera Temple ④石上神宮Isonokami Jingu Shrine
⑤長谷寺Hase-dera Temple ⑥室生寺Muro-ji Temple
⑦円成寺Enjo-ji Temple ⑧長弓寺Chokyu-ji Temple
⑨霊山寺Ryosen-ji Temple ⑩東大寺Todai-ji Temple
⑪唐招提寺Toshodai-ji Temple ⑫海龍王寺Kairyuo-ji Temple
⑬十輪院Jurin-in Temple ⑭秋篠寺Akishino-dera Temple
⑮興福寺Kofuku-ji Temple ⑯金峰山寺Kinpusen-ji Temple
⑰元興寺Gango-ji Temple ⑱薬師寺Yakushi-ji Temple
⑲新薬師寺Shinyakushi-ji Temple ⑳栄山寺Eisan-ji Temple
㉑春日大社Kasuga Taisha Shrine ㉒般若寺Hannya-ji Temple
㉓宇多水分神社Uda Mikumari Shrine ㉔正倉院Shoso-in Temple
On this tour, we will visit the first 9 locations on the above list.
今回はこの24院の中から、①～⑨までの9か所を訪ねる旅を企画しました。