sangimi no yado

Traditional lamps to illuminate Asuka

The season changes from summer to autumn, and the ears of rice droop in late September.
Asuka Village usually holds a nighttime event called “Asuka Hikari no Kairo” at various locations in the village in September.
Usually, most stores close their doors at dusk, and a quiet night descends on Asuka Village.
For these two days, the village will be enveloped in fantastic light with lighting and projection mapping in various places.
In 2022, the festival was held on September 23 (Fri.) and 24 (Sat.).
This article reports on the event on Saturday, September 24.

What is the “Asuka Hikari no Kairo”?

A night when about 20,000 candles are lit in Asuka Village.

The “Asuka Corridor of Light” is a popular event that has been held since 2003 in Asuka Village, Takaichi County, Nara Prefecture.
It is held over two days on a weekend in September every year.
Major historical sites, temples, shrines, and facilities in the village, such as Ishibutai Kofun Tumulus and Okadera Temple, are lit up and the surrounding area is illuminated by approximately 20,000 candles.

In 2022, the “Asuka Round Trip Digital Pass” will be adopted.

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• Asuka Village is developing a system that will allow visitors to enjoy sightseeing conveniently, comfortably, and at a reasonable price, while also supporting the preservation of Asuka Village’s historical sites.
  As part of a social experiment, the “Asuka Round Trip Digital Pass” has been adopted for the Asuka Hikari no Kairo in 2022.
  In addition to unlimited rides on the tour bus from daytime to each of the two days of the event, free admission to historical sites and discounted admission fees to some facilities, the system also allowed visitors to donate 5% of the purchase price as “cooperation money for preservation of cultural properties”.

The “Asuka Hikari no Kairo” in 2022.

6 light-up venues in 4 Areas.

• 
• In 2022, there will be 6 light-up venues in 4 areas for the “Asuka Hikari no Kairo”.
  Shuttle buses are available between each venue and Asuka Station, but the lights will be on for only 3 hours from 18:00 to 21:00.
  It is difficult to visit all the venues in one day because the shuttle buses as well as the venues are very crowded.
  This time, we visited Ishibutai Kofun, Oka-dera Temple, and Kawahara Temple site (Gufuku-ji Temple).

Sat, Sept 24, 2022, 5:30 pm.

• The Asuka Hikari no Kairo (Corridor of Light) was scheduled to be held for two days.
  However, the first day, Fri, 23, was unfortunately cancelled in the morning due to expected stormy weather caused by an approaching typhoon.
  Due to this, the 2022 event will be held only on Sat, September 24.
  The year before last, in 2020, the event was canceled to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, and last year, in 2021, the event was held on a reduced scale, with visitors limited to residents of Nara Prefecture only.
  Before the lights went on at 18:00, many people visited the Ishibutai Kofun Tumulus and History Park area, one of the venues.
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Ishibutai Kofun & Historical Park Area

It was bright for a while after 6:00 p.m. that day, but by 6:30 p.m. the sun had completely set.
Soap bubbles were flying in the Ishibutai Kofun Tomb and Historical Park area, and many people were gathered around the hot air balloons.
The balloon was moored and soared to about 20 meters above the ground. There was a bit of wind, but the balloon was rising and falling steadily at 6:00 p.m.

• In the “Ishibutai Kofun and History Park area”, a hot air balloon ride to view Asuka at night from the sky is a very popular activity.
• The Ishibutai Kofun and Historical Park area is also the center of the event.
• In the lawn field, “messages of light” created by children of Asuka Village line the lawn.

Oka-Dera Temple and Oka Street Area

The Oka-dera Temple and the Oka Street area are particularly concentrated with photo-worthy spots.
Oka-dera Temple usually attracts visitors with its beautiful seasonal flowers, and autumn leaves.
Since visitors are usually not allowed to enter the temple after 5:00 p.m., many people set up their cameras to take pictures of the beautifully illuminated precincts of Oka-dera Temple.
Also, limited edition red seal booklets for the “Corridor of Light” were available for purchase.

• Chozuya is illuminated with marbles.
• Oka-dera Temple uses many Japanese umbrellas for lighting effects.
• The stairs leading to the main hall are also lined with Japanese umbrellas.

• The three-story pagoda is photographed from the main hall side.
• Reflection of Japanese umbrella with mirror.
• The main hall also attracts many visitors.

Kawara-dera and Tachibana-dera Temple Area

The Kawahara-dera and Tachibana-dera areas are home to two temples and the remains of an Asuka-era temple.
Kawahara-dera Temple is a temple that once existed. It is a vast temple comparable to Asukadera Temple, which boasted of the oldest giant statue of Buddha in Japan, the Asuka Daibutsu, and a vast site, where many festivals were held at that time.
However, there are very few references to the temple in history books and Fudoki, and it was destroyed by fire several times before disappearing from history.
Gufuku-ji Temple is the temple that inherited its Buddhist lantern.

• Site of Kawahara-dera Temple overlooking Gufuku-ji Temple.
• Projection mapping of the foundation stone of the Chukondo site of Kawahara-dera Temple.
• The first sutra chanting hall in Japan will be fantastically decorated with projection mapping.

• Projection mapping of the sutra dojo.
• Warm lights of Jizo made of bamboo crafts.
• Taken from Kawahara-dera site in the direction of Tachibana-dera.

Gourmet food at “Asuka Hikari no Kairo”.

During the “Asuka Hikari no Kairo”, special menus will be offered at various restaurants in Asuka Village.
Visitors can purchase a digital ticket on the website in advance and pick it up at each restaurant.
This time, I purchased special menus at two restaurants.

• Atelier Yumeakari – Zenzai with Ice Cream

  An old private house coffee shop built over 100 years ago, close to the Ishibutai Kofun.
  The special menu is available only for takeout. This dessert consists of gently sweet zenzai made with Dainagon azuki beans, topped with shiratama dumplings and green tea ice cream.

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• Cafe Kotodama – Kotodama no obento

  Bento from “Cafe Kotodama”, a popular restaurant in the Oka Street area.
  The special menu is offered only for take-out.
  This healthy bento is centered around ancient rice arranged with Nara’s local delicacy “imobota,” and is filled with dishes using plenty of ingredients from Asuka Village.

In addition to these special menus, popcorn and other items were sold in the Ishibutai Kofun area.

“Higanbana Festival” will be held on 24th and 25th.

Inabuchi terraced rice paddies in the rich harvest season.

Late September is usually the beginning of autumn in Asuka Village, when the rice in the paddies is harvested and higanbana (cluster amaryllis) blooms along the banks.
In the Inabuchi district, which is part of Oku-Asuka, there are many terraced rice paddies along the natural terrain, creating a nostalgic satoyama landscape.
During the month of September, a “Kakashi (Scarecrow) Contest” was held on the “Kakashi Road” in the Inabuchi terraced rice fields.

• Scenery of Inabuchi terraced rice field.
• Kakashi Contest Entries. 2022 theme is “Peace in the World”.

ACCESS

Please use “Asuka no yado” for your excursion to Asuka Village.
The hotel is located in easy access to the “Asuka Hikari no Kairo” and “Higanbana Festival” sites, not to mention sightseeing.
You can come and go as you please between check-in (15:00) and check-out (11:00).
We also provide a small flashlight to illuminate your feet as you walk through Asuka Village at night.
Please be careful when walking around Asuka Village after dark, as there are many places in the village where it is dark and difficult to see your footsteps even during the event hours.
 

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