Town guide
Asuka
明日香村
A rural village that was the centre of Japan's court in the Asuka period, with the stone tomb of Ishibutai, the painted tombs of Takamatsuzuka and Kitora, and Asuka-dera.
Village in Nara
Advisories (minor): Thunder · Alerts for all of Japan
- places to see
- 12
- protected local food
- 1
- traditional crafts
- 3
- Japan Heritage stories
- 12
Map of Asuka
Every place on this page, on the map. Switch on places to eat and stay nearby.
Things to see in Asuka
Marukoyama Kofun
マルコ山古墳An ancient burial mound in Nara Prefecture, Japan.
Nakaoyama Kofun
中尾山古墳An ancient burial mound in Nara Prefecture, Japan.
Iwayayama Kofun
岩屋山古墳An ancient burial mound in Nara Prefecture, Japan.
Hinokuma-dera Temple Site
檜隈寺A historic site in Nara Prefecture, Japan.
Kengoshizuka Kofun
牽牛子塚古墳An ancient burial mound in Nara Prefecture, Japan.
Sakafuneishi Site
酒船石遺跡A historic site in Nara Prefecture, Japan.
Asuka Palace Site
飛鳥京跡A historic site in Nara Prefecture, Japan.
Asuka Mizuochi Site
飛鳥水落遺跡A historic site in Nara Prefecture, Japan.
Asuka Inabuchi Palace Site
飛鳥稲淵宮殿跡A historic site in Nara Prefecture, Japan.
Daikandai-ji Temple Ruins
大官大寺跡A historic site in Nara Prefecture, Japan.
Kawara-dera Temple
川原寺A Buddhist temple in Nara Prefecture, Japan.
Omiashi Shrine
於美阿志神社A Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture, Japan.
Explore by interest
Nearby towns and day trips
Japan Heritage stories in Nara
- Aizu's 33 Kannon pilgrimage: faith with a day out
- Asuka: the women who shaped the birth of Japan
- Gyoda: the town of tabi storehouses
- Iga and Koka: in search of the real ninja
- Izumo: the sacred land where the sun sets
- Kamenose: crossing the landslide heart of the Tatsuta Kodo
- Katsuragi Shugen: where mountain asceticism began
- Michinoku gold: where Japan's gold story began
- Nyonin Koya: the temples where women prayed instead of Mount Koya
Local foods from Nara
Crafts from Nara
Weather in Osaka this week
Today
24 Oct
Rain
High 25°CLow 20°C
Sun
25 Oct
Rain
High 29°CLow 22°C
Rain 90%
Mon
26 Oct
Cloudy
High 25°CLow 19°C
Rain 70%
Tue
27 Oct
Cloudy
High 24°CLow 17°C
Rain 50%
Warm: T-shirts and breathable clothes, plus a light layer for air-conditioned trains and shops.
Good to know
- Rent a bicycle at Asuka or Kashihara-jingu-mae station. The sights are spread out among rice fields.
- Ishibutai Kofun is a huge stone burial chamber whose earth mound has gone, so you can walk inside.
- Asuka-dera holds the Asuka Great Buddha, said to be Japan's oldest Buddha statue.