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National Treasures of the Heian period

The capital moved to Kyoto, and a way of building suited to Japan's climate took shape. Where a place has buildings from several periods, it is listed under the oldest.

By period

Asuka Nara Heian Kamakura Muromachi Momoyama Edo Meiji

Heian · Temples · National Treasures

Chuson-ji

Hiraizumi, Iwate

Built in 1124 by Fujiwara no Kiyohira, first lord of the Northern Fujiwara clan, the Konjikido Golden Hall enshrines Amida Buddha in an interior covered with gold and mother-of-pearl inlay, and four generations of the Fujiwara rest beneath its altar. It is the one building that survives from Chuson-ji's founding.

Heian · Temples · National Treasures

Ishiyama-dera

Otsu, Shiga

At Ishiyama-dera you can see two National Treasures: the Heian-period Main Hall, whose worship hall is built out over the wollastonite bedrock, and the Tahoto Pagoda of 1194, the oldest of its kind with a known date. There is also the Genji Room, where Murasaki Shikibu is said to have begun The Tale of Genji.

Heian · Temples · National Treasures

Daigo-ji

Kyoto, Kyoto

At Daigo-ji you can see the Five-Story Pagoda, said to be the oldest wooden building in Kyoto Prefecture, and the Kondo in the lower precinct, and the Yakushi Hall and the cliff-hung Seiryu-gu Worship Hall on the mountaintop at Kami-Daigo. The temple counts six National Treasure buildings in all; the two at Sanpo-in are covered on the Sanpo-in page.

Heian · Shrines · National Treasures

Ujigami Shrine

Uji, Kyoto

At Ujigami Shrine you can see two National Treasures: the late Heian Main Sanctuary, considered the oldest surviving shrine building, and the early Kamakura Worship Hall in the shinden-zukuri residential style. Byodo-in stands across the Uji River, so the two are easy to visit together.

Heian · Temples · National Treasures

Byodo-in

Uji, Kyoto

Built by Fujiwara no Yorimichi in 1053, the Phoenix Hall spreads its wing corridors out from a central hall enshrining Amida Buddha and is mirrored in the pond in front, a National Treasure familiar from the ¥10 coin. Inside you can see Jocho's seated Amida Buddha.

Heian · Temples · National Treasures

Joruri-ji

Kizugawa, Kyoto

At Joruri-ji you can see the late Heian Main Hall, where nine Amida statues sit in a row, and the Three-Story Pagoda facing it across a pond. The layout of the grounds, centered on a garden that represents the Pure Land paradise, is also worth seeing.

Heian · Temples · National Treasures

Muro-ji

Uda, Nara

Muro-ji has three National Treasure buildings: a Five-Storied Pagoda said to be the smallest outdoor pagoda in Japan, an early Heian Kondo and a Kamakura-period Main Hall (Kanjo-do). The pagoda and Kondo are under covers for roof work due to finish in 2027, but you can still worship at the Main Hall and see the Buddhist images in the Treasure Hall.

Heian · Temples · National Treasures

Sanbutsu-ji (Nageire-do)

Misasa, Tottori

At Sanbutsu-ji you can see Nageire-do, a late-Heian hall built on long pillars in a hollow of a cliff on Mt. Mitoku, by making the pilgrimage climb up the ascetics' trail. Climbers must go in groups of two or more, and clothing and footwear are checked at the entrance.

Heian · Temples · National Treasures

Shiramizu Amida-do (Ganjo-ji)

Iwaki, Fukushima

Shiramizu Amida-do (Ganjo-ji) is a temple in Iwaki, Fukushima. Its Shiramizu Amida-do (Amida Hall) is a designated National Treasure (Late Heian period, 1160).

Text in preparation

Heian · Temples · National Treasures

Kakurin-ji

Kakogawa, Hyogo

Kakurin-ji is a temple in Kakogawa, Hyogo. Its Main Hall and Taishi-do Hall are designated National Treasures (Late Heian period–Mid-Muromachi period, 1112–1397).

Text in preparation