Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture plan to turn some of their office buildings into tourist destinations and are taking steps to preserve them properly.

Last week, the Council for Cultural Affairs recommended that Nagoya City Hall and the Aichi Prefectural Government Office be registered as tangible cultural properties of Japan. The buildings retain the architectural design of the early Showa Era and are among the few still standing.

Their popularity has grown in recent years with the rise in organized tours and appearances in film sets.