FY2024 Newly Designated Cultural Properties of Minato City

These cultural properties are normally not open to the public, but a portion will be opened from 1/11, 2025, as part of the “Passing on Minato’s Heritage to the Future!” exhibition, that will be held at the Minato City Local History Museum.

Archeological Materials: Stone Tablets from the Graves of Tokugawa Shoguns at Zojoji Temple

The stone tablets are small stones that have letters and words from Buddhist sutras written on them in ink. Many of these materials were destroyed during the air raids of the Second World War, but these ones were discovered during excavation surveys between 1958 and 1960, as part of the reburial of the graves of Tokugawa Shoguns at Zojoji Temple.
These tablets are valuable materials for learning about a part of the funeral culture of the Tokugawa Shoguns, which are not recorded much in literature.

Tangible Folk Cultural Property: Set of Documents related to the Azabu Hikawa Festival from Azabu Hommura Council

Documents related to the festival held at Azabu Hikawa Shrine, which is owned by the Azabu Hommura Council.
Today, during the festival season every September, these documents are displayed in the Azabu Hommura Council Hall.
They are important for learning about the faith and folk customs of the Azabu area.