Bunkazai TabiA travel guide to Japan’s cultural heritage

Cultural heritage in Kyushu & Okinawa

Browse Kyushu & Okinawa prefecture by prefecture.

Oura Church

Edo · Other buildings · National Treasures

Oura Church

Nagasaki, Nagasaki

Completed in 1864, this is the oldest surviving church in Japan. It is where hidden Christians revealed their faith in the Discovery of Christians, and you can see its Gothic-style interior and the statue of Mary linked to that event.

Usa Jingu

Edo · Shrines · National Treasures

Usa Jingu

Usa, Oita

At Usa Jingu, the three National Treasure halls of the main sanctuary, built in the ancient Hachiman-zukuri style, stand side by side at the upper shrine, and in the grounds you can also see the Usa torii, the lower shrine, the roofed Kurebashi bridge and a great camphor tree. The main sanctuary is normally closed and is sometimes opened during periods such as special viewings.

Kirishima Jingu

Edo · Shrines · National Treasures

Kirishima Jingu

Kirishima, Kagoshima

At Kirishima Jingu you can see the vermilion Main Sanctuary, Offering Hall and Worship Hall, rebuilt in 1715, rising in stages, linked to the Chokushiden by a climbing corridor and steep stairs. The interiors of the halls can be seen during special viewings by reservation.

Chiran, Minamikyushu: The samurai street of stone walls and hedges

Historic districts

Chiran, Minamikyushu

Minamikyushu, Kagoshima

One of the Satsuma domain's samurai settlements known as fumoto, where samurai residences line streets of stone walls topped with neatly clipped hedges. Visitors can tour seven gardens designated as a national Place of Scenic Beauty in a town long called the Little Kyoto of Satsuma.

Taketomi Island, Taketomi: A red-tiled house with a coral stone wall

Historic districts

Taketomi Island, Taketomi

Taketomi, Okinawa

A village on a small Yaeyama island where red-tiled houses sit behind coral-stone walls called gukku along white sand lanes. Under the Taketomi Island Charter drawn up by the islanders, the lanes are swept every morning and the island's way of life and scenery are carefully protected.

Chikugo-Yoshii, Ukiha

Historic districts

Chikugo-Yoshii, Ukiha

Ukiha, Fukuoka

Chikugo-Yoshii, Ukiha is a rural market town in Ukiha, Fukuoka, selected in 1996 as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.

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Niikawa-Tagomori, Ukiha

Historic districts

Niikawa-Tagomori, Ukiha

Ukiha, Fukuoka

Niikawa-Tagomori, Ukiha is a mountain village in Ukiha, Fukuoka, selected in 2012 as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.

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Kuroki, Yame

Historic districts

Kuroki, Yame

Yame, Fukuoka

Kuroki, Yame is a rural market town in Yame, Fukuoka, selected in 2009 as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.

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Yame-Fukushima, Yame

Historic districts

Yame-Fukushima, Yame

Yame, Fukuoka

Yame-Fukushima, Yame is a merchant town in Yame, Fukuoka, selected in 2002 as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.

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Akizuki, Asakura

Historic districts

Akizuki, Asakura

Asakura, Fukuoka

Akizuki, Asakura is a castle town in Asakura, Fukuoka, selected in 1998 as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.

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Shiotazu, Ureshino

Historic districts

Shiotazu, Ureshino

Ureshino, Saga

Shiotazu, Ureshino is a merchant town in Ureshino, Saga, selected in 2005 as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.

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Arita Uchiyama, Arita

Historic districts

Arita Uchiyama, Arita

Arita, Saga

Arita Uchiyama, Arita is a porcelain-making town in Arita, Saga, selected in 1991 as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.

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Hamashozu-machi and Hamakanaya-machi, Kashima

Historic districts

Hamashozu-machi and Hamakanaya-machi, Kashima

Kashima, Saga

Hamashozu-machi and Hamakanaya-machi, Kashima is a port town and rural market town in Kashima, Saga, selected in 2006 as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.

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Hamanaka-machi Hachihongi-juku, Kashima

Historic districts

Hamanaka-machi Hachihongi-juku, Kashima

Kashima, Saga

Hamanaka-machi Hachihongi-juku, Kashima is a brewing town in Kashima, Saga, selected in 2006 as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.

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Sofuku-ji

Edo · Temples · National Treasures

Sofuku-ji

Nagasaki, Nagasaki

Sofuku-ji is a temple in Nagasaki, Nagasaki. Its Daiyu Hoden (Main Hall) and Daiippo-mon Gate are designated National Treasures (Early Edo period, 1644–1646).

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Kounoura, Oshima Village, Hirado

Historic districts

Kounoura, Oshima Village, Hirado

Hirado, Nagasaki

Kounoura, Oshima Village, Hirado is a port town in Hirado, Nagasaki, selected in 2008 as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.

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Higashi-Yamate, Nagasaki

Historic districts

Higashi-Yamate, Nagasaki

Nagasaki, Nagasaki

Higashi-Yamate, Nagasaki is a port town in Nagasaki, Nagasaki, selected in 1991 as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.

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Minami-Yamate, Nagasaki

Historic districts

Minami-Yamate, Nagasaki

Nagasaki, Nagasaki

Minami-Yamate, Nagasaki is a port town in Nagasaki, Nagasaki, selected in 1991 as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.

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Kojiro-koji, Unzen

Historic districts

Kojiro-koji, Unzen

Unzen, Nagasaki

Kojiro-koji, Unzen is a samurai residence town in Unzen, Nagasaki, selected in 2005 as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.

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Tsujun Bridge

Edo · Other buildings · National Treasures

Tsujun Bridge

Yamato, Kumamoto

Tsujun Bridge is a historic structure in Yamato, Kumamoto. Its Tsujun Bridge is a designated National Treasure (End of the Edo period, 1854).

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Aoi Aso Shrine

Momoyama · Shrines · National Treasures

Aoi Aso Shrine

Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto

Aoi Aso Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto. 5 of its buildings, including the Main Sanctuary and Corridor, are designated National Treasures (Momoyama period, 1610–1613).

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Fuki-ji

Heian · Temples · National Treasures

Fuki-ji

Bungotakada, Oita

Fuki-ji is a temple in Bungotakada, Oita. Its Great Hall (Odo) is a designated National Treasure (Late Heian period).

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Mamedamachi, Hita

Historic districts

Mamedamachi, Hita

Hita, Oita

Mamedamachi, Hita is a merchant town in Hita, Oita, selected in 2004 as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.

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Kitadai and Minamidai, Kitsuki

Historic districts

Kitadai and Minamidai, Kitsuki

Kitsuki, Oita

Kitadai and Minamidai, Kitsuki is a samurai district in Kitsuki, Oita, selected in 2017 as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.

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