Sites in Asuka Fujiwara

Nominated for UNESCO WorldHeritage status

Walk Through the Origins of Japan

In the quiet countryside of southern Nara Prefecture—stretching across Kashihara City, Asuka Village, and Sakurai—lies the Asuka–Fujiwara region, a cradle of early Japanese civilization. Here, 19 archaeological sites are currently being considered for UNESCO World Cultural Heritage status in 2026, each preserving the political, cultural, and spiritual beginnings of the Japanese state.

From the late 6th to early 8th centuries, this area served as Japan’s first political center, where new ideas and technologies from China and the Korean Peninsula reshaped nearly every aspect of society. Palace complexes, government offices, temple foundations, and imperial tombs reveal a period of rapid transformation as imported knowledge blended with native traditions, ultimately giving rise to the Ritsuryō legal system and the foundations of the imperial nation.

This guided heritage tour invites you to explore the landscapes where emperors ruled, monks introduced Buddhism, and craftsmen pioneered architectural and artistic innovations. Surrounded by open fields, ancient stone carvings, and panoramic mountain views, you’ll experience the birthplace of Japan’s early identity in a way that only Asuka and Fujiwara can offer.

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HIGHLIGHTS

  • Asuka Palace Site: Ancient stone ruins in a grassy landscape with houses and hills in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

    Asuka Palace Site｜飛鳥宮跡

    Tour #9

    Hidden in the peaceful fields of Asuka Village lies a site of profound historical importance: the Asuka Palace Site, the political heart of Japan in the 7th century. Constructed in 592 AD under Empress Suiko, this was the first…

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  • Asuka Pond Garden Site: Open grassy field with trees and small buildings in distance, rolling hills covered in forest, blue sky with white clouds, and a bird flying in the sky.

    Asuka Pond Garden Site｜飛鳥京跡苑池

    Tour #9

    Beneath the quiet countryside of Asuka Village lies one of Japan’s most extraordinary archaeological finds: the Asuka Pond Garden Site a meticulously designed imperial garden dating back to the…

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  • Asuka Water Clock Site: Open grassy area with wooden posts and low fences, trees in the background, clear blue sky, and distant buildings.

    Asuka Water Clock Site｜飛鳥水落遺跡

    Tour #9

    Tucked away in the historical heart of Asuka Village, the Asuka Water Clock Site is a hidden gem of ancient Japanese innovation. Dating back to 660 AD, this archaeological site preserves the remains of…

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  • Sakafuneishi Ritual Site: Large stone in a forested area with a dirt path and green trees in the background.

    Sakafuneishi Ritual Site｜酒船石遺跡

    Tour #4, 9

    Hidden among the wooded hills of Asuka Village lies one of Japan’s most intriguing archaeological enigmas — Sakafuneishi, or the "Sake Ship Stone." Carved from a single massive boulder,…

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  • Fujiwara Palace Site: A park with multiple tall pink columns with white bases scattered across an open grassy field, with trees and a cityscape in the background under a clear blue sky.

    Fujiwara Palace Site｜藤原宮跡

    Tour #9

    Long before Kyoto and Nara, Japan’s imperial court once stood here—at the Fujiwara Palace, the first full-scale capital city built on a grid plan modeled after Chinese cities. Established in 694 CE during…

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  • Asuka-dera Temple Site: Traditional Japanese temple building with wooden doors, a tiled roof, lanterns, and a garden with trees and gravel in front.

    Asuka-dera Temple Site｜飛鳥寺跡

    Tour #1, 2, 3, 4, 9

    Nestled in the quiet countryside of Asuka Village, Nara, Asuka-dera is more than just a temple—it’s the cradle of Japanese Buddhism. Founded in the late 6th century by the powerful Soga clan, it holds the

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  • Tachibana-dera Temple: A traditional Japanese shrine with a curved roof, steps leading up to the entrance, surrounded by trees and stone lanterns under a partly cloudy sky.

    Tachibana-dera Temple Site｜橘寺跡

    Tour #4, 9

    Tucked away in the peaceful landscape of Asuka Village, Tachibana-dera stands as one of Japan’s most historically significant temples. Believed to be the birthplace of Prince Shōtoku—a legendary figure who…

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  • Yamada-dera Temple Site: A stone monument with Japanese inscriptions standing in a grassy field, with a clear blue sky and a small village in the background.

    Yamada-dera Temple Site｜山田寺跡

    Tour #9

    Hidden in the peaceful countryside of Asuka, the Yamada-dera Temple Ruins offer a rare glimpse into the architectural and political ambitions of Japan’s Asuka Period. Founded in 641 AD by Soga no Kurayamada no Ishikawa no Maro…

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  • Kawahara-dera Temple: Traditional Japanese building with a wooden exterior, tiled roof, and a shimenawa rope hanging in the center, set against a blue sky, with informational signs in front.

    Kawahara-dera Temple Site｜川原寺跡

    Tour #4, 9

    Tucked away in the serene landscape of Asuka Village in Nara Prefecture, Kawahara-dera may not be as well-known as Asuka-dera or Hōryū-ji—but in ancient Japan, it was one of the largest and most influential Buddhist temples…

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  • Hinokuma-dera Temple Site: A wooden pagoda-style sculpture on a stone base in a grassy area surrounded by dense green trees like oaks and pines under a clear blue sky.

    Hinokuma-dera Temple Site｜檜隈寺跡

    Tour #9

    Tucked quietly in the scenic hills of Asuka Village, the Hinokuma-dera Temple Site may be little-known today, but it once stood at the crossroads of faith, power, and imperial legacy in ancient Japan. Believed to have been founded…

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  • Daikandaiji Temple Site: Open farmland with green crops and a dirt road, surrounded by trees, mountains in the background, and a partly cloudy sky.

    Daikandaiji Temple Site｜大官大寺跡

    Tour #9

    Long before Nara became the ancient capital, the Daikandaiji Temple stood as a powerful symbol of the fusion between politics and Buddhism in 7th-century Japan. Originally known as Ōtera (“Great Temple”), this vast complex was established under the…

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  • Motoyakushiji Temple Site: A serene Japanese garden during autumn, featuring large rocks on a sandy ground, red and orange maple trees, stone lanterns and small traditional structures, under a clear blue sky.

    Motoyakushiji Temple Site｜本薬師寺跡

    Tour #9

    Once a grand monument of faith and power in the late 7th century, the Motoyakushiji Temple was commissioned by Emperor Tenmu in 680 CE as a prayer for the recovery of his ill empress. Built in the ancient capital of…

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  • Ishibutai Mounded Tomb: Large ancient stone formation in a grassy clearing, with green forested mountains in the background.

    Ishibutai Mounded Tomb｜石舞台古墳

    Tour #1, 2, 3, 4, 9

    Hidden among the quiet hills and rice fields of Asuka Village in Nara, the Ishibutai Kofun is a massive stone tomb that sparks the imagination. Believed to be the burial site of Soga no Umako—a powerful statesman who played a …

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  • Shobuike Mounded Tomb: A small stone altar or shrine built into a stone wall, with a rectangular stone block on top, and a black stone or metal object beneath, set in a corner with walls made of large rocks and concrete.

    Shobuike Mounded Tomb｜菖蒲池古墳

    Tour #9

    Tucked away in the tranquil landscape of Asuka, the Shobuike Mounded Tomb is a lesser-known but historically significant burial site dating back to the late 7th century—a time of political transformation and consolidation in Japan…

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  • Kengoshizuka Mounded Tomb: A large, modern, pyramid-shaped stone structure surrounded by greenery and mountains in the background.

    Kengoshizuka Mounded Tomb｜牽牛子塚古墳

    Tour #9

    Located in the historic heart of Asuka Village, the Kengoshizuka Mounded Tomb is a uniquely shaped octagonal burial mound dating back to the mid-7th century. This rare form, combined with its scale and sophisticated stone chamber…

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  • Mounded Tomb of Emperor Temmu and Empress Jito: Stone steps leading up to a small gate with a wooden fence, with large green trees in the background and a clear blue sky.

    Mounded Tomb of Emperor Temmu and Empress Jito｜天武・持統天皇陵古墳/ Tour #4, 9

    Tour #4, 9

    Nestled in the peaceful landscape of Asuka, Nara, the joint tomb of Emperor Temmu (r. 673–686) and Empress Jitō (r. 686–697) marks the burial site of one of ancient Japan’s most powerful imperial couples. Emperor Temmu was…

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  • Nakaoyama Mounded Tomb: Ancient Japanese burial mound surrounded by green trees, with a stone monument inscribed in Japanese characters in the foreground.

    Nakaoyama Mounded Tomb｜中尾山古墳

    Tour #9

    Tucked away in the quiet countryside of Asuka, the Nakaoyama Mounded Tomb dates back to the late 7th century and is believed to be the possible burial site of Prince Ōtsu, the ill-fated son of Emperor Tenmu…

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  • Kitora Mounded Tomb: A grassy hill with a slight mound in the center, surrounded by trees under a clear blue sky.

    Kitora Mounded Tomb ｜キトラ古墳

    Tour #3, 4, 9

    Located in the serene hills of Asuka Village, the Kitora Tumulus is a 7th–8th century burial site famous for its celestial wall paintings and intricate astronomical knowledge. Discovered in 1983, this smaller but richly decorated tomb features…

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  • Takamatsuzuka Mounded Tomb: A grassy mound in a park with surrounding green bushes and trees under a blue sky with some clouds.

    Takamatsuzuka Mounded Tomb｜高松塚古墳

    Tour #4, 9

    Nestled in the heart of Asuka Village, Takamatsuzuka Kofun is a small burial mound with a monumental legacy. Discovered in 1972, this 7th–8th century tomb stunned the world with its vividly preserved wall paintings…

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Where history whispers, let your spirit wander freely.