The Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties provides that intangible folk cultural properties are 'manners and customs related to food, clothing and housing, to occupations, religious faiths, festivals, etc., to folk entertainments, arts and crafts and techniques which are indispensable for the understanding of changes in our people's modes of life.'
文化財保護法では無形の民俗文化財を、「衣食住、生業、信仰、年中行事等に関する風俗慣習、民俗芸能、民俗技術で、わが国の国民の生活の推移の理解のため欠くことのできないもの」と規定している。