Asuka Water Clock Site

Japan’s First Public　

Timekeeping System

Tucked away in the historical heart of Asuka Village, the Asuka Water Clock Site （水落遺跡） is a hidden gem of ancient Japanese innovation. Dating back to 660 AD, this archaeological site preserves the remains of Japan’s first publicly documented timekeeping device—a water clock (clepsydra) introduced from the Korean kingdom of Baekje. Built during the reign of Empress Saimei, the clock was part of a broader effort to modernize Japan’s administration and technology based on continental models. The site features stone-lined basins, water channels, and drainage systems that reveal how time was measured through controlled water flow. Though modest in appearance, the water clock represented a major advancement in governance, ritual scheduling, and state formation. For travelers interested in science, history, and early technology, this site offers a rare window into Japan’s 7th-century leap toward becoming an organized imperial nation.

Explore the Sights

See photos that bring Asuka Water Clock Site to life.

Open grassy field with wooden posts and railing outline, surrounded by tall green grass and trees, with buildings and parked cars in the background under a clear blue sky.
A wooden footbridge extending over a grassy area, leading to a park with trees and a few people in the distance under a clear blue sky.
Open grassy field with wooden posts and low fences, a tree and distant houses under a clear blue sky.
An old stone water basin-shaped sculpture with a round, shallow bowl filled with water, surrounded by roughly hewn rocks, in a small outdoor enclosed space with moss and small plants growing between the stones.
A disc golf basket with a metal basket and wooden obstructing bars, situated on a patch of dirt and grass with a wooden walking trail and stumps surrounding it.
Overgrown grassy area with black stones and a metal railing on the right side.