Overview
Important Cultural Property status in Japan includes a category known as Crafts. Recipient of the government's second highest level of support and protection, Tokyo's holds three such designated items which are spread out across the greater metropolitan area. These representatives include armour, calligraphic woodwork and a temple bell. Here is a simple guide to where in Tokyo you can find these Important Cultural Property crafts.
Musashi Mitake Shrine
Musashi Mitake Shrine holds a suit of o-yoroi armour, high-ranking samurai armour used exclusively in the shooting of arrows on horseback. Known as murasaki susogo-katchu, the armour was given Important Cultural Property status way back in 1899. Its purple colouring and adapted plating, both metal and leather, identify the suit as being from the 13th century.
Location: 176 Mitakesan, Ome-shi, Tokyo 〒198-0175 (nearest station: Mitake Station, JR Ome Line)
Yabo Tenmangu Shrine
The Yabo Tenmangu Shrine holds a plaque made from Japanese cypress wood featuring the characters 'ten man gu' written in a cursive calligraphic style. Known as mokuzo hengaku gakubun tenman-gu, the calligraphy was written by Fujiwara Tsunetomo who followed in the calligraphic style of Fujiwara Yukinari, one of the most famous calligraphers of the 10th century. The plaque dates back to the late 13th century and was awarded Important Cultural Property status in 1941.
Location: 5209 Yaho, Kunitachi-shi, Tokyo 〒186-0011 (nearest station: Yaho Station, JR Nanbu Line)
Jindai-ji Temple
Jindai-ji Temple is the home of the Bonsho Temple Bell, a 14th-century bronze creation by a caster named Munemitsu. Awarded Important Cultural Property status in 1963, the temple bell is thought to be the third oldest bell in the Tokyo metropolitan area. An inscription on the lower part of the bell relates its history, suggesting that it was rebuilt a number of times by the time of its recasting.
Location: 5-15-1 Jindaiji-Motomachi, Chofu-shi, Tokyo 〒182-0017 (nearest station: Chofu Station, Keio Line)
