sangimi no yado

Let’s visit the heritage sites that illustrate “the 100 years that shaped Japan.”

The “48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee” is being held in Busan, South Korea, from July 19 to 29, 2026. Around 3,000 participants from across the globe have gathered to discuss the conservation and inscription of new World Heritage sites.
This year, all eyes are on “Asuka-Fujiwara”, which is highly anticipated to be officially inscribed as a World Cultural Heritage site.
In this article, we will introduce the best ways to enjoy the ancient capitals of Asuka and Fujiwara—a historic region that is currently buzzing with unprecedented excitement.

What Is a “World Heritage Site”?

Globally Recognized and Protected: ‘Exceptionally Valuable Cultural and Natural Properties’

• A World Heritage site is defined as “an exceptionally valuable cultural or natural property that transcends national and ethnic borders, meant to be shared by all humanity and passed down to future generations.” This framework is based on an international treaty adopted by UNESCO, a specialized agency of the United Nations.
  Places are not selected simply because they are “famous tourist destinations.” The list is strictly reserved for sites internationally recognized as having “unique and outstanding universal value.”
  If the Asuka-Fujiwara region is officially inscribed, it means it will be globally recognized as a cultural treasure, taking its place alongside iconic wonders like the Pyramids of Egypt and the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto and Nara.
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What Happens When a Site Becomes a World Heritage?

What exactly changes for a cultural or natural property once it is inscribed as a World Heritage site? Here are the three major impacts:

• 1. A Boost in Global Recognition

  By being officially recognized as a “treasure of the world,” the site gains extensive coverage in both domestic and international media, as well as in travel guidebooks. This attracts people who previously knew nothing of its history, including a surge of international tourists, bringing fresh energy and vibrancy to the entire region.

• 2. The Obligation and Responsibility to Protect

  Becoming a World Heritage site acts as an international pledge to “protect and pass these precious ruins and landscapes on to the future.” The frameworks for management and preservation are significantly strengthened. This includes establishing strict rules to prevent unregulated development and making it easier to receive national government support for preserving the ruins.

• 3. A Rediscovery of Local Pride

  Even if a site is a familiar, everyday landscape for locals, having its “world-class value” officially proven becomes a massive source of pride for the community. It fosters a stronger collective awareness to “cherish and protect our historical landscapes and culture,” which in turn helps deepen the bonds within the local society.

• **Shiretoko (Inscribed in 2005)**
• **Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama (Inscribed in 1995)**
• **Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group (Inscribed in 2019)**

June 2026: The Long-Awaited Recommendation for “Inscription”!

The journey toward the World Heritage inscription of “Asuka-Fujiwara” is now reaching its crucial final stage.
In June 2026, ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites), an official advisory body to UNESCO, issued a recommendation stating that the region is fully worthy of being inscribed as a World Cultural Heritage site. ICOMOS is the organization responsible for dispatching experts to conduct on-site evaluations at candidate locations to strictly assess their true value for inscription.
Receiving their highest possible evaluation—a recommendation for “Inscription”—marks a massive leap forward toward official recognition. The final decision will be officially made based on this recommendation at the World Heritage Committee session, which is just around the corner.

What is the “Asuka-Fujiwara” Region?

Asuka and Fujiwara: The Birthplace Where the Foundations of Japan Were Built

• The “Asuka-Fujiwara” ancient capitals mark a massive turning point in history—the very place where the foundations of the nation we now know as “Japan” were completed.
  Spanning present-day Asuka Village, Kashihara City, and Sakurai City in Nara Prefecture, the Asuka region served as the political and cultural center of Japan for about 100 years, from the end of the 6th century to the early 8th century (until the capital moved to Heijo-kyo in Nara).
  During this dynamic era, the legendary Prince Shotoku played an active role, and new culture such as Buddhism poured in from the Asian continent. Because of this, the region became the birthplace of many “Japanese firsts,” including the first official coins, clocks, Buddhist temples, tiled roofs, and formal capital cities. It was also the stage for monumental historical events, such as the Taika Reform and the Jinshin War (Japan’s first major internal rebellion).
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• Before this period, Japan was largely a patchwork of territories ruled by Gozoku (powerful regional clans who held vast lands, wealth, private armies, and independent control over their respective areas).
  During the Asuka period, Japan transformed dramatically from this chaotic state into a unified, law-based nation (Ritsuryo state) centered around the Emperor—a nation capable of standing on equal footing with foreign countries. In fact, it is said that the country’s name, “Nihon” (Japan), and the title “Tenno” (Emperor) were officially used for the very first time during this incredible era.
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Let’s Explore the “Component Parts” of Asuka-Fujiwara!

What is a World Heritage “Component Part”?

The “component parts” (or constituent sites) of a World Heritage property refer to the individual ruins, buildings, and locations that collectively make up a single World Heritage site. This term is especially used when multiple distinct locations are grouped together and inscribed as one unified World Heritage site.
The “Asuka-Fujiwara” ancient capitals consist of 19 component parts. These historical sites are categorized under the overarching theme of “The Formation and Establishment of the Japanese Nation.”

The Component Parts of Asuka-Fujiwara

Asuka-Fujiwara	Component	Process of formation
【Palace and government office sites】 Formation process of the central organization of the Ritsuryo State	01 Asuka Palace Site	The process of palace formation by the Ritsuryo system
	02 Asuka Pond Garden Site
	03 Asuka Water Clock Site
	04 Sakafuneishi Ritual Site
	13 Fujiwara Palace Site	Establishment of the palace by the Ritsuryo system
【Buddhist Temple Site】 Establishment of the Buddhist Temple as a State Religion	05 Asuka-dera Temple Site	Acceptance of Buddhism
	06 Tachibana-dera Temple Site	establishment of a clan or temple
	07 Yamada-dera Temple Site
	08 Kawara-dera Temple Site
	09 Hinokuma-dera Temple Site
	14 Daikandaiji Temple Site	Establishment of the National Temple
	15 Motoyakushiji Temple Site
【Mounded Tomb】 Changes in the Grave System under the Ritsuryo Code	10 Ishibutai Mounded Tomb	Transmission and Transformation of the Traditional Grave System
	11 Shobuike Mounded Tomb
	12 Kengoshizuka Mounded Tomb	Transition and development to a new tomb system
	16 Mounded Tomb of Emperor Temmu and Empress Jito	Octagonal tombs and mural tombs
	17 Nakaoyama Mounded Tomb
	18 Kitora Mounded Tomb
	19 Takamatsuzuka Mounded Tomb

• 1. Asuka Palace Site

  

  The [Asuka Palace Site] was the political heart of the Asuka period, the era when the foundation of the nation of “Japan” was established.

  Archaeological excavations have revealed a fascinating fact: the palaces of four successive emperors were built directly on top of one another at this exact location.

  It was the stage for major political reforms and remained the center of Japanese history until the capital was relocated to Fujiwara-kyo in 694.

• 2. Asuka Kyoato Enchi (Asuka Imperial Palace Gardens Site)

  

  The [Asuka Kyoato Enchi] is the site of [Japan’s oldest full-scale garden], built adjacent to the Asuka Palace.
  The large garden featured two ponds, a small artificial island, and an exceptionally advanced [stone fountain system] for its time.
  Blending latest technologies introduced from the Korean Peninsula with traditional Japanese elements, this historic site marks the very [origin of Japanese garden history].

• 3. Asuka Mizuochi Iseki (Water Clock Site)

  

  The [Asuka Mizuochi Iseki] is the historic site where Japan’s very first [water clock] was constructed in 660.
  Built using the most advanced technology in East Asia at the time, this facility marked the beginning of state-managed timekeeping in Japan.
  Announcing the time to the public was not merely for convenience. It was a powerful political statement, demonstrating that the rulers [controlled time and space] to build a strong, centralized nation under the Emperor.

• 4. Sakafuneishi (Sake Trough Stone)

  

  The [Sakafuneishi], a granite stone structure on top of a small hill.
  This hillside is a site that shows the fusion of the emperor’s ritual space related to water and the advanced masonry techniques of the Korean Peninsula, as stone walls were built with sandstone produced in Tenri-Shi City, and a stone-paved plaza with a turtle-shaped stone tank water conducting facility was built on the valley floor to the north of the wall.
  These structures are thought to be the “Futatsuki no Miya” and “Ishi no Yamaoka” described in the “Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan)”.

• 5. Asukadera Temple Site

  

  The [Asukadera Temple Site] marks the location of Japan’s very first full-scale Buddhist temple. The construction of this massive complex sparked the beginning of comprehensive urban development in the Asuka region.
  The architectural layout and the patterns on excavated roof tiles reveal an active [technological exchange] with other East Asian countries.
  Built using cutting-edge technologies from the continent, it profoundly influenced later Japanese architecture. This site represents the [origin of Buddhism’s prosperity] in ancient Japan and stands as a powerful symbol of early nation-building.

• 6. Tachibanadera Temple Site

  

  The [Tachibanadera Temple Site] is a historic temple traditionally known as the birthplace of [Prince Shotoku], one of ancient Japan’s most influential figures. It is also believed to have been one of Japan’s oldest [nunneries].
  The temple’s name derives from a fascinating legend: an ancient envoy, ordered to find the elixir of immortality, brought back a [Tachibana (wild citrus) fruit] and planted it on these very grounds.
  Although its original, vast complex was destroyed by fires during medieval wars, the temple has been carefully preserved. Today, it still retains a peaceful atmosphere and traces of its ancient founding.

• 7. Yamadadera Temple Site

  

  The [Yamadadera Temple Site] is a historic temple whose construction began in 641 by Soga no Ishikawamaro, a powerful political figure of the Asuka period. Although work was temporarily halted due to a political conflict, the complex was eventually completed around 673.
  The site is famous for a miraculous discovery during excavations in 1982: the collapsed [East Cloister] (wooden corridors) was found almost perfectly intact, buried underground.
  As a complete wooden structure from the Asuka period survived, this major archaeological find provides invaluable insights into the [advanced architectural styles] of ancient Japan.

• 8. Kawaharadera Temple Site

  

  The [Kawaharadera Temple Site] was once a magnificent complex built by Emperor Tenchi to mourn his mother, [Empress Saimei]. Though it was originally one of Japan’s four greatest temples, only its foundation stones remain today, preserved by the current [Gufukuji Temple].
  This site is highly significant as the birthplace of [sutra copying] (Shakyo) in Japan. Today, Gufukuji Temple offers [sutra copying experiences] where beginners and international visitors can easily engage with this traditional culture, even by tracing just a single character.

• 9. Hinokumadera Temple Site

  

  The [Hinokumadera Temple Site] is the ruins of a temple built by a powerful clan of Toraijin (ancient immigrants from the Asian continent) who brought advanced technologies to Japan.
  Its most striking feature is its [unique layout], which strongly reflects continental influences. Unusually for the time, the lecture hall, pagoda, and main hall were arranged in a straight line from north to south.
  The temple also utilized architectural techniques distinct from mainstream Japanese styles, such as stacking roof tiles to form foundations. It is a highly international historic site that vividly conveys the active [technological exchange] across East Asia during the Asuka period.

• 10. Ishibutai Kofun (Megalithic Tomb)

  

  The [Ishibutai Kofun] is a representative [landmark] of the Asuka region, famous for its massive, exposed stone burial chamber.
  Originally an earthen mound, the soil was lost long ago, leaving behind the dynamic megaliths seen today. Excavations have revealed that it was initially a massive [square-shaped tomb] measuring 50 meters on each side.
  The internal stone chamber is the [largest of its kind in Japan] for its era. Because moving such colossal stones required immense authority, it is widely believed to be the tomb of [Soga no Umako], a profoundly powerful leader of the Asuka period.

• 11. Shobuike Kofun (Square Tomb)

  

  The [Shobuike Kofun], built in the mid-7th century, is a two-tiered [square-shaped tomb] measuring about 30 meters on each side.
  Its most remarkable feature is its incredibly [luxurious internal structure]. The stone walls of the burial chamber were beautifully coated with white plaster to create a sacred space.
  Inside, two [house-shaped stone sarcophagi] with elaborate roof decorations and lacquered interiors rest side-by-side. This lavish setup suggests it was built for a highly influential couple or family, offering a precious glimpse into the burial culture of the Asuka period.

• 12. Kengoshizuka Kofun (Octagonal Tomb)

  

  The [Kengoshizuka Kofun] is a prestigious [octagonal tomb], a shape reserved exclusively for emperors and the highest-ranking royals of the time.
  Inside, an incredibly elaborate burial chamber featuring two rooms was carved out of a single massive block of stone. Furthermore, a 2010 excavation discovered another small tomb located right in front of it.
  This unique layout—a two-room octagonal tomb paired with a smaller tomb in front—perfectly matches ancient historical records of [Empress Saimei’s joint tomb]. It is a thrilling site where ancient texts were proven true by modern archaeology.

• 13. Fujiwara Palace Site

  

  The [Fujiwara Palace Site] marks the center of Japan’s very first full-scale capital city, Fujiwara-kyo.
  This massive palace complex housed the Emperor’s residence, government offices, and the [Daigokuden] (Great Hall of State) for key ceremonies. It was the first Japanese palace to feature durable stone foundations and [tiled roofs], fundamentally transforming the nation’s architectural history.
  The main avenue extending south from the front gate, [Suzaku Oji], boasted an impressive width of approximately 24 meters. This organized urban layout stands as evidence of the completion of a [centralized nation] ruled by the Emperor under a unified system of laws.

• 14. Daikandaiji Temple Site

  

  The [Daikandaiji Temple Site] marks the location of the [largest state-sponsored temple] in the Asuka region.

  In its prime, it featured massive halls comparable in size to the imperial palace itself, along with a towering [nine-story pagoda] that symbolized the nation’s prestige. When the capital later moved to Nara, the temple was also relocated and became the renowned Daianji Temple.

  Today, only earthen mounds and a stone monument remain amidst peaceful farm fields. The true charm of this site lies in standing in this quiet landscape and imagining the [massive temple complex] that once dominated the area.

• 15. Motoyakushi-ji Temple Site

  

  The [Moto-Yakushiji Temple Site] marks the ruins of a temple founded by Emperor Tenmu with a deep prayer for the recovery of his ailing wife.

  Its most defining feature is the [twin-pagoda layout], where two pagodas stood side-by-side in front of the main hall. This cutting-edge architectural style was brought about through active [technological exchange] with the Korean Peninsula.

  When the capital moved, the temple was relocated and became the famous [Yakushiji Temple] in present-day Nara City. Hence, this site is called Moto (Original) Yakushiji. Born from a husband’s love and prayer, it is a beautiful historic site best appreciated by imagining its connection to the magnificent Yakushiji Temple standing in Nara today.

• 16. Tomb of Emperor Tenmu and Empress Jito (Joint Tomb)

  

  The [Tomb of Emperor Tenmu and Empress Jito] is a [joint tomb] of the husband-and-wife monarchs who laid the foundation of the ancient Japanese nation.

  Built in the late 7th century as a prestigious [octagonal tomb], it was strategically positioned directly south of the Fujiwara Palace to eternally protect the capital.

  Inside, Emperor Tenmu rests in a traditional burial alongside Empress Jito, who became the very first Japanese monarch to be cremated due to rising Buddhist influences. This site beautifully preserves their bond while marking a [major turning point] in Japan’s burial culture.

• 17. Nakaoyama Kofun (Octagonal Tomb)

  

  The [Nakaoyama Kofun] is widely believed to be the true resting place of [Emperor Monmu] due to its specific location and prestigious design.

  This three-tiered [octagonal tomb] features elaborate stonework befitting an emperor. Unlike older, massive tombs, its very small internal chamber was designed specifically to hold an urn of cremated ashes.

  This reflects a major cultural shift toward Buddhist [cremation] practices, symbolizing the end of the Asuka period and the dawn of a new era.

• 18. Kitora Kofun (Tomb with Ancient Murals)

  

  The [Kitora Kofun] is a highly significant circular tomb famous for its brilliantly [colored murals].

  The walls inside the stone burial chamber are decorated with vibrant guardian deities, including the Four Divine Creatures and the Twelve Zodiac figures. Above them, the ceiling features an incredibly detailed [star chart] depicting the sun, the moon, and constellations.

  This ceiling painting gained global attention as the [oldest existing star map in East Asia]. It represents a beautiful “microcosm” created within the tomb, showcasing the surprisingly advanced level of astronomy in ancient Japan.

19. Takamatsuzuka Kofun (Tomb with Ancient Murals)

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• The [Takamatsuzuka Kofun] is a historic circular tomb renowned as the site of Japan’s very first discovery of brilliantly [colored murals], a finding that sparked a nationwide fascination with the Asuka period.
  The stone burial chamber is adorned with vibrant paintings, most notably the famously elegant [Asuka Beauties] (groups of women), alongside the Four Divine Creatures and a detailed [star chart] on the ceiling.
  These murals reveal the strong influence of ancient Chinese philosophy and art. This monumental discovery serves as proof of a [major historical shift], transitioning from traditional Japanese tomb culture to a new burial style incorporating the latest continental trends.

ACCESS

We have published a map featuring the 19 cultural properties that make up the ‘Asuka-Fujiwara’ ancient capitals, alongside the closely related ‘Asuka Megaliths’ and local facilities where you can dive into the history of the Asuka period.
The map also introduces recommended cafes and restaurants where you can savor local cuisine and enjoy the scenic views of the ruins, making your Asuka experience even more delightful.
We invite you to enjoy a journey where you can see, touch, and feel the history of the very era when the nation of Japan was born!

 

Highly Recommended: Rent a Bicycle to Explore the Sites!

• Some of the “Asuka-Fujiwara” component sites have limited or no parking available, making them quite difficult to access by car. While exploring on foot is certainly a wonderful option, we highly recommend renting a bicycle to make the most efficient use of your precious sightseeing time!
  Convenient rental shops are located right by Kintetsu Asuka Station and Kintetsu Kashiharajingu-mae Station. Depending on the shop, you can choose from a great variety of options to suit your needs:
  E-bikes / E-Mopeds (motorized bicycles) / Tuk-tuks (perfect for exploring in groups!).
  Be sure to take advantage of these convenient rentals to perfectly match your historical tour itinerary and your own physical fitness level!

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