In 1897 when The Law for Ancient Temples and Shrines Preservation (the prior law to establish The Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties) was proclaimed, it was considered to preserve the mural wall paintings by covering with glass, but that never happened.
古社寺保存法（文化財保護法の前身にあたる旧法）が公布された1897年（明治30年）には壁画をガラスで覆って保護することが検討されたが実現はしなかった。