Information About

Shosoin




Shōsōin, or Treasure Houses , are sections of Buddhist Temple s and Shinto Shrines used to house collections of Japanese art. Although locations range from northern Honshū to Kyūshū , the largest number of these treasure houses are in the Kansai region in the Kyoto-Nara-Osaka area.

While these collections are not open to the public, selections from the Nara National Museum are shown once a year in autumn.

The following shôsôin in Nara have notable collections:


The Hōryū-ji Treasure House houses famous Buddhist Sculpture s, which date from the Asuka Period through the Kamakura Period . Among the objects are the Kudara Kannon and the Tamamushi Shrine .

The Kōfuku-ji Treasure House has sculpture dating from the 7th century through the Kamakura Period . There are pieces attributed to Kamakura sculptors such as Jōkei , Unkei , and Kōben .

In addition, temples on Mount Koya in Wakayama Prefecture preserves and displays objects in its Kōyasan Treasure House.

The following shôsôin in Kyoto have notable collections:


The Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima in the Inland Sea had a treasure house as early as 1896. This shōsōin housed Heian and Kamakura armor and Noh masks.

The Kamakura National Treasure House also holds a fine collection of Japanese art and sculpture.