The term "national treasures" ("kokuho" in Japanese) refers to those buildings, artworks or other items, among the larger group designated tangible cultural assets (important cultural properties) by Japan's Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties (according to the second item listed under article 27 of the law), that possess great cultural worth from the viewpoint of world culture, as well as those buildings, artworks or other items, considered peerless treasures by Japan's citizens, that are designated as such by the state (specifically, by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology).
国宝（こくほう、英語：Nationaltreasures）とは日本の文化財保護法によって国が指定した有形文化財（重要文化財）のうち、世界文化の見地から価値の高いものでたぐいない国民の宝たるものであるとして国（文部科学省）が指定したものである（文化財保護法第27条第2項）。