宝物庫(ほうもつこ)

ほうもつこ
noun
treasure house; treasury; repository of valuables
culture
1. treasure house; treasury; storehouse for valuables
A building or room where valuable objects, artifacts, or treasures are kept. Often found at temples, shrines, castles, and museums in Japan.
寺(てら)の宝物庫(ほうもつこ)を見学(けんがく)する。
To visit the temple's treasure house.
宝物庫(ほうもつこ)には国宝(こくほう)に指定(してい)された仏像(ぶつぞう)が収(おさ)められている。
The treasure house contains Buddha statues designated as national treasures.
城(しろ)の宝物庫(ほうもつこ)から貴重(きちょう)な刀剣(とうけん)が発見(はっけん)された。
Precious swords were discovered in the castle's treasure house.
2. treasure trove; rich source (figurative)
Used figuratively to describe a place, collection, or resource that is exceptionally rich in valuable content.
この図書館(としょかん)は知識(ちしき)の宝物庫(ほうもつこ)だ。
This library is a treasure trove of knowledge.
この地域(ちいき)は自然(しぜん)の宝物庫(ほうもつこ)と呼(よ)ばれている。
This region is called a treasure house of nature.
祖母(そぼ)の家(いえ)は昔(むかし)の写真(しゃしん)や手紙(てがみ)の宝物庫(ほうもつこ)だった。
My grandmother's house was a treasure trove of old photos and letters.

Compound of 宝物(ほうもつ) (treasure; valuable object) + 庫(こ) (storehouse). The reading 宝物(ほうもつ) is the on'yomi compound; the kun'yomi equivalent 宝物(たからもの) means "treasure" in a more personal, emotional sense.

Many Japanese temples and shrines have a 宝物庫(ほうもつこ) or 宝物殿(ほうもつでん) (treasure hall) where religious artifacts, donated objects, and cultural properties are displayed.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 宝物殿(ほうもつでん): treasure hall — a more formal term, often used for grander structures at shrines and temples
  • 宝庫(ほうこ): treasury; treasure house — a shorter synonym, more commonly used in figurative expressions
  • 蔵(くら): storehouse; warehouse — a traditional Japanese storage building, not specifically for treasures

Related Words

Compare: 宝庫(ほうこ) (treasury)
Compare: 蔵(くら) (storehouse)
general
Added 2026.5.8 20:17 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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