Uncover the Soul

of Ancient Japan

Explore Nara, Japan through guided cultural and historical tours in the Asuka and Fujiwara regions—the birthplace of Japanese civilization.

Wander through ancient temples, kofun burial mounds, and imperial palace ruins set in peaceful countryside, far from crowded tourist routes.

If you are searching for an authentic Japan experience—quiet, historic, and deeply rooted in early Japanese culture—this is where your journey begins.

Join our guided tours of Asuka and Fujiwara and explore the roots of Japan with a local guide from the region.

Choose from half-day and full-day experiences designed for travelers seeking history, quiet beauty, and a deeper cultural journey.

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A Historic Milestone for Asuka and Fujiwara

Asuka & Fujiwara Officially Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

July 2026

We are delighted to announce that the Asuka & Fujiwara Palaces and Related Sites have been officially inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The World Heritage property consists of 19 archaeological sites across Asuka Village, Kashihara City, and Sakurai City in Nara Prefecture. Together, these ancient palace sites, temples, and imperial tombs represent the birthplace of Japan's first centralized state and reflect a remarkable period of political, cultural, and religious development from the late 6th to the early 8th century.

This inscription recognizes the outstanding universal value of one of Japan's most important historical landscapes and marks a significant milestone for the region.

At Discover Nara, we are proud to share the history and beauty of this extraordinary cultural heritage with visitors from around the world. We look forward to welcoming you to the birthplace of Japan and helping you experience its newly recognized World Heritage treasures.

World Heritage Celebration Tour
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Best for Travelers

Who Want More Than the Usual Nara Visit

Discover Nara is designed for travelers who want more than a standard visit to Nara.

Our tours are especially suited to history lovers, culturally curious travelers, repeat visitors to Japan, and those seeking a meaningful day trip from Kyoto or Osaka.

If you are drawn to quieter places, local stories, ancient temples, burial mounds, and the deeper roots of Japanese culture, you will feel at home here.

A traditional Asian style garden pathway with stone steps, enclosed by tall beige walls and topped with curved tile roofs, surrounded by lush trees and bamboo, with a bright blue sky above.

A Different Side of Japan

Most visitors to Nara head straight to Nara Park.

But beyond the famous deer and Great Buddha lies a quieter, deeper world.

The Asuka and Fujiwara region is where Japan began—home to its earliest capitals, ancient temples, and burial mounds over 1,400 years old.

Here, history is not something you simply observe. It is something you walk through.

A wooden interior with a Buddhist statue sitting on a chair, with a wall of wooden plaques with Japanese writing behind it. Purple origami cranes hang from the ceiling.

Private Guided Tours of Asuka and Fujiwara

Explore the Asuka and Fujiwara region through carefully designed guided tours led by a local from Kashihara.

Whether you want a short introduction or a full-day historical journey, our tours are designed to help you experience ancient Japan in a personal and meaningful way.

Choose from half-day and full-day options depending on your schedule and interests.

  • Quick Highlights Tour
    A shorter introduction to Asuka and Fujiwara for first-time visitors or day-trippers.

  • Half-Day Tour
    A balanced experience for travelers who want to explore key sites with deeper context.

  • Full-Day Tour
    A more immersive journey through ancient temples, tombs, and historic landscapes.

Find the Right Tour

Explore Nara’s Historic Destinations

Nara is home to a wide range of historic destinations—from ancient temples and sacred shrines to burial mounds, archaeological sites, and traditional townscapes.

Explore key areas such as Asuka, Fujiwara, and Nara City, and discover which places resonate most with your interests.

View Destinations
A traditional Asian pagoda with a tall spire surrounded by lush green trees, viewed at dusk with a cloudy sky in the background.

Highlights

in Asuka-Fujiwara

Traditional Japanese temple entrance with a tiled roof, wooden gate, and stone monument in front. Lush greenery around the entrance.

Asuka-dera Temple

Large rocks form a traditional stone monument in a park. A person in gray attire is examining the monument. Background features green trees, mountain range, and a clear blue sky with a few clouds.

Ishibutai Tumulus

Traditional Japanese temple with a tiled roof, surrounded by trees on a hillside.

Oka-dera Temple

Stone Buddha statue overlooking cherry blossom trees surrounding traditional Japanese temple buildings.

Tsubosaka-dera Temple

A traditional Japanese temple with a curved roof, set amidst trees and a cloudy sky, with a wide gravel courtyard in the foreground.

Kashihara-jingu Shrine

Quiet narrow street lined with traditional Japanese wooden buildings with tiled roofs and potted plants, under a clear sky.

Imai-cho Town

People walking around a large, concrete, dome-shaped building with a mountain range in the background.

Kengoshizuka Mounded Tomb

A grassy hill in the foreground with a dense cluster of green trees and bushes behind, and a clear blue sky above.

Kitora Mounded Tomb

More Highlights
A peaceful forest scene with a dirt path leading through green trees. There are small wooden structures with roofs along the side of the path, typical of a Japanese shrine or temple.

Where Myths Meet History

-Asuka & Fujiwara-

Explore Asuka and Fujiwara with a local guide and discover the places where Japan’s earliest stories, beliefs, and political foundations began.

A cluster of small, bright yellow flowers with multiple petals, blooming amidst green grass and moss on soil.
A close-up of a hollow bamboo tube with water dripping from it onto a dark surface.

Why Travel with

Discover Nara

Discover Nara offers a different kind of travel experience.

Instead of rushing through famous tourist spots, we focus on the quieter places that reveal how Japan began.

Here is what makes our tours different:

  • Specialized focus on Asuka and Fujiwara

  • Local insight from a founder raised in Kashihara

  • Thoughtful, slower-paced experiences

  • A deeper connection to early Japanese history and culture

Meet the Founder

A middle-aged man with a gray beard, wearing a green baseball cap backward, white t-shirt, and a backpack, taking a selfie in a desert landscape at sunset.

Born and raised in Kashihara, at the heart of the Asuka and Fujiwara region, our founder Shige offers a personal connection to the land and its history. Discover Nara was created not only from a love of history, but from a personal connection to the land itself

Read the Story

A stone statue of a monk holding a hat, surrounded by potted plants and orange autumn leaves, with the ground covered in small gravel and a paving stone.

Which Area of Nara

Would You Like to Explore?

Nara Prefecture offers many different kinds of historic places—from temple complexes and sacred shrines to archaeological sites and preserved townscapes.

Explore areas such as Asuka, Fujiwara, and Nara City to find the destinations that best match your interests and travel style.

Wander from ancient temple paths to misty hillsides, from timeless villages to sacred shrines where history lingers in the air.

As the scenery shifts, so does the spirit — gentle, powerful, serene.

No two places are the same, and each one leaves a trace on the soul.

In Nara, every step tells a story.

See Destinations
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Contact Us

Interested in Discover Nara? If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

For tour-related quote requests, please use our dedicated inquiry form.

Thank you very much for your interest in Discover Nara. We look forward to hearing from you.

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