There are two kinds of important cultural properties designated after 1950 pursuant to the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties; those cultural properties which, having received no national accreditation or designation in the past, were newly designated, and those important art objects which were promotedly designated as important cultural properties.
1950年以降、文化財保護法に基づき指定された重要文化財には、国の指定・認定を受けていなかった文化財から指定されたものと、重要美術品認定物件を重要文化財に「格上げ」指定したものとが存在する。