Groups of Traditional Buildings


Groups of Traditional Buildings is a Japanese category of historic preservation introduced by a 1975 amendment of the law which mandates the protection of groups of traditional buildings which, together with their environment, form a beautiful scene. They can be post towns, castle towns, mining towns, merchant quarters, ports, farming or fishing villages, etc. The Japanese government's Agency for Cultural Affairs recognizes and protects the country's cultural properties under the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties.
Municipalities can designate items of particular importance as Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings and approve measures to protect them. Items of even higher importance are then designated Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings by the central government. The Agency for Cultural Affairs then provides guidance, advice, and funds for repairs and other work. Additional support is given in the form of preferential tax treatment.
As of October 19, 2019, 120 districts have been classified as Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings.

List of Important Preservation Districts

Criteria

Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings are designated according to three criteria:
  1. Groups of traditional buildings that show excellent design as a whole
  2. Groups of traditional buildings and land distribution that preserve the old state of affairs well
  3. Groups of traditional buildings and their surrounding environment that show remarkable regional characteristics

    Statistics


TypeNo. of
Districts
Brewers town4
Casters town1
Castle town4
Dyeing and weaving town2
Farming village5
Fishing village2
Hot-spring town1
Jinaimachi2
Lacquerware town1
Merchant quarter26
Mining town2
Mountain village15
Porcelain-maker town1
Port quarter13
Post town9
Salt works town1
Sericulture community5
Ship-owner quarter2
Shrine quarter1
Tea house quarter3
Temple town6
Textile town1
Samurai quarter14
Wax maker quarter1
Zaigō town11

Usage

The table's columns are sortable by table headings. The following gives an overview of what is included in the table and how the sorting works.