Most guests of Nara Prefecture solely go to Nara Deer Park, however by no means see the opposite unimaginable locations this Prefecture has to supply. Simply an hour South, Asuka is likely one of the most superb spots I’ve come throughout in Japan – and never many individuals go to it!
At first look, Asuka looks as if a stupendous, quiet, rural Japanese city – the colourful rice paddies, the normal buildings and the slim windy roads. However Asuka holds numerous hidden tales and secrets and techniques.
Asuka is sometimes called the birthplace of historical Japan, because the nation was unified throughout the Asuka Interval. Though this rural city is dwelling to solely round 5,000 folks, Asuka is overflowing with historical past – a few of it recognized, however most of it unknown.
Monoliths, carved stones, and enormous historical tombs may be discovered throughout the city. Japan would look very completely different at this time with out among the archaeological findings right here.
Biking round Asuka is an effective way to expertise rural Japan, plus be taught extra about Japan’s historical past. On this information, I’ll share a route you possibly can observe when visiting Asuka in your subsequent Japan journey.
* Once we determined to go to Asuka, we contacted the Nara Tourism Board to get some assist as there may be restricted data concerning the city on-line. The tourism board obtained us involved with our information Noriko, who confirmed us round Asuka. All views are my very own.
Causes to Go to Asuka, Nara
Many individuals know Nara as the primary capital of Japan, as this was the first everlasting capital. However earlier than the Nara Interval (710–794), Japan went by the Asuka Interval (538–710). Throughout this era, Japan was unified as a rustic and politically shifted in direction of a centralised imperial court docket. Nonetheless, Asuka’s historical past goes again so far as the Kofun Interval (250–552), as massive, key-shaped burial grounds have additionally been discovered right here.
The invention of the Takamatsuzuka Tumulus’ vibrant mural within the Nineteen Seventies is typically even known as “the good discovery of the century”, because it sparked a dialog about Japan’s cultural heritage safety insurance policies. Particularly throughout a time of modernisation and westernisation, the invention of this mural triggered cultural preservation all throughout the nation.
Due to this, Asuka may be very nicely preserved. The Historical Capital Conservation Act launched restrictions on the design and color of buildings in traditionally necessary cities like Asuka. The ruins, tombs and different objects of historic significance are superbly built-in with the city’s environment.
Biking round this lovely city doesn’t solely provide you with an opportunity to expertise the countryside of Japan, but additionally to attach with Japan’s deep historical past. When you’re within the historical past of Japan, Asuka is a good place to go to.
As sure areas in Japan are experiencing some struggles with over-tourism, like Nara Deer Park and its environment, it’s an important concept so as to add spots like Asuka to your Japan itinerary. Staying in a single day in Nara permits you to discover extra of the Prefecture, and see components of rural Japan with out the large crowds.
One Day in Asuka Itinerary
When you’re planning to go to Asuka in Nara for the day, you possibly can observe this itinerary to see among the highlights. Alternatively, you possibly can rent one of many superb personal guides on this web site. Nara Tourism Board linked us with one in every of their guides and we realized a lot concerning the space whereas biking round together with her, I beloved it!
1. Lease a Bike in Asuka
One of the best ways to get round Asuka is by bicycle, as most sights are fairly spaced out. There’s a native bus obtainable too, however utilizing a motorcycle is a a lot simpler technique to make your manner round. This manner, you possibly can discover at your personal tempo with out having to attend for a rural bus that doesn’t run fairly often.
You could find a bike rental subsequent to Asuka Station, making it very straightforward to seize your bike after arriving. The Asuka Tourism Affiliation sits between the station and the bike rental, so you can even cease by to get some further info if wanted.
The rental payment is ¥900/day for weekdays and ¥1,000/day for weekend days, which incorporates bicycle insurance coverage. The payment additionally features a again rack, entrance basket and a lock. They’ve different-sized bikes obtainable, together with youngsters’s bikes. On the time of writing, there’s a ¥200 low cost code on their web site that you need to use too.
Other than the Asuka Station rental, they’ve three different rental spots (in Kameishi, Ishibutai and Kashihara). For an extra ¥200, you possibly can drop off your bike at a distinct rental spot. Nonetheless, when you’re following this Asuka itinerary, it’s simpler to choose up your bike and drop it again off on the Asuka Station workplace.
2. Cease by the Takamatsuzuka Tumulus & Mural Museum
Our first cease in Asuka is the Takamatsuzuka Tumulus and the Mural Museum positioned proper subsequent to it. This burial floor is likely one of the most vital in Asuka, possibly even in the entire of Japan.
Again within the Sixties, a farmer unintentionally found this specific tomb when digging into his subject. It wasn’t till 1972 that the tomb was correctly excavated. At first sight, it didn’t look like something particular because it wasn’t as huge as among the different tombs discovered within the space. However once they opened the burial chamber, they found vivid wall work that date again to the top of the seventh century. On the time, it made headline information because the greatest discovery within the historical past of Japanese archaeology. The murals have additionally been named Nationwide Treasures.
On the West wall, a portray depicts a group of girls who appear to put on clothes that resembles that of the Goguryeo Kingdom (now Korea and China). On the 4 partitions of the tomb, 4 guardian spirits are depicted — a vermillion phoenix, a black turtle, a white tiger and a blue dragon. These are all creatures from Goguryeo tradition – displaying once more that the painter most likely didn’t come from Japan.
Just a few years after the murals had been found, mould began to develop on the partitions and the work. Making an attempt to scrub it off didn’t work, however made among the portray peel off additional. It’s important to do not forget that this tomb was sealed for hundreds of years – the brand new publicity to micro organism was inflicting a lot of points.
As this was the primary time one thing like this had been found in Japan, even specialists weren’t fairly certain find out how to protect the murals. To fund the preservation course of, together with constructing a museum, a particular set of memorial postal stamps was created. They depicted the attractive murals and the earnings had been to fund the preservation course of. Over 120 million yen was raised throughout this marketing campaign!
To correctly protect the work, the partitions of the tomb had been eliminated and correctly saved. Replicas of the murals had been created for the museum, together with a totally restored model to point out what the work would’ve regarded like model new. When performing some extra analysis about this after my go to, I managed to hunt one of many units down on eBay — they need to arrive quickly and I’ll remember to add some photos of them beneath.
The tomb appeared to have been looted centuries in the past, so it’s been exhausting to determine who was buried right here and the precise dates. Analysis confirmed that among the stones got here from at the least 50km away, displaying that whoever was buried right here will need to have been fairly necessary.
Our information additionally informed us that throughout the time this tomb and its murals had been found, Japan was going by an enormous wave of modernisation and westernisation. And the invention right here helped spark a dialog all through the nation to start out preserving extra of conventional Japan. With out this discovery, Japan might most likely look very completely different at this time!
Within the museum, you possibly can see a reproduction of the mural, together with a completely restored model. You may park your bike outdoors and enter the museum for ¥250. Despite the fact that you can’t see the unique portray, I nonetheless assume it was superb to see the replicas and be taught extra about this necessary discovery – extremely suggest stopping by the museum!
3. Cease by the Mausoleum of Emperor Kinmei
Asuka has numerous tombs, loads of them nonetheless undiscovered. However Asuka’s historical past goes again even additional than the Asuka Interval. Earlier than the spherical tumuli, the Kofun Interval noticed a distinct kind of tombs. The keyhole-shaped tumuli are solely present in a couple of locations in Japan, Sakai in Osaka being one of the crucial well-known spots.
However Asuka additionally has one keyhole-shaped tumulu, which is the mausoleum of Emperor Kinmei. You gained’t be capable to inform the form from simply visiting it, the massive moat seems to be formed like a keyhole from an aerial view.
This mausoleum is protected by the royal household and has by no means been opened. Whereas it’s by no means been confirmed that that is really the ultimate resting place of Emperor Kinmei, our information informed us that they don’t really feel the necessity to verify. Believing is sufficient.
There are different mausoleums in Asuka you could cease by, together with that of Emperor Tenmu & Empress Jito and Emperor Monmu.
4. Benefit from the View from Amakashi Hill
Not solely is the view from Amakashi Hill very beautiful, however the hill itself can also be of historic significance. In the course of the Asuka Interval, the Soga Clan held many of the energy on this space. Soga no Emishi and his son Soga no Iruka constructed a home on this hill, trying down on Asuka, establishing additional energy over it.
In 645, Soga Iruka was killed, which modified the political panorama in Japan. As an alternative of native tribes operating components of Japan, the emperor system was correctly put in place and Japan was unified as a rustic.
These days, you’ll find a stunning view from the highest with some benches to sit down and benefit from the view. On one facet, you possibly can see the conventional roofs of Asuka city, whereas the opposite facet reveals you a extra modernised Kashihara. The distinction is kind of placing, and it reveals once more how necessary it has been to protect these components of Japan.
There’s a place to park your bike on the foot of the hill and stroll up. The hill is round 150 meters excessive, however the stroll itself may be very straightforward. It takes lower than 10 minutes to get to the highest.
5. Go to Asukadera, Japan’s Oldest Buddhist Temple
Proceed by bike and head in direction of Asukadera. This temple dates again to 596, making it one of many (if not THE oldest) Buddhist temples in Japan. Akusadera was based by the Soga Clan not lengthy after Buddhism was launched in Japan.
As Buddhism initially came to visit from Korea and China, you possibly can instantly inform that the type of this temple has taken loads of affect from Korean structure. Initially, it was practically 20 instances greater however components of it had been moved to Nara when Nara grew to become the brand new capital.
The Buddha statue inside was created in 609, making it the oldest Buddha statue in Japan. The buildings of Akusadera had been rebuilt within the seventeenth and 18th centuries after a fireplace destroyed massive components of the unique setting. Nonetheless, in line with our information, the Buddha statue has by no means been moved.
6. Go to Ishibutai Kofun
If you’re spending a day in Asuka, there’s a lot to see, however you can’t skip Ishibutai Kofun. This burial floor is the largest monolithic construction within the nation — one of many huge highlights of Asuka.
Whereas they aren’t 100% certain on who’s buried right here, it’s believed to be Soga no Umako from the Soga Clan. In complete, there are 30 stones stacked on one another, weighing round 2,300 tons.
The stone burial chamber has been cleared, so you possibly can even step inside and marvel at its dimension. There’s a small cost to enter the world, however the couple hundred yen may be very a lot value it. There’s a free parking area in your bike close by too.
7. Cease by Iwayama Kofun Tumulus
Earlier than heading again to the station, it’s value stopping by Iwayama Kofun Tumulus. It’s solely a brief stroll or bike journey from the station and it’s free to go to. You could find the stairway main you to the doorway between a couple of personal homes, so it’s straightforward to overlook, however it’s very nicely maintained.
Despite the fact that it’s not as huge as Ishibutai Kofun, you can even go inside Iwayama Kofun and it’s fairly particular to see it not totally excavated. Inside, you possibly can see historical markings on the partitions – it’s a mysterious place.
When you like Pokemon video games, like myself, an attention-grabbing enjoyable truth is that Asuka was the inspiration of the Ruins of Alph in Pokemon Silver/Gold. The view from the within of Iwayama Kofun Tumulus seems precisely just like the loading display of the Ruins of Alph. There’s a lot to uncover right here, and this video by BlueBoyPhin does an unimaginable job explaining extra about it! That is the video that put Asuka on my map, and I’m so glad I obtained to go to it!
How one can Get to Asuka
It’s fairly straightforward to get to Asuka on public transport, even when you’re solely visiting for a day. Under, I’ll share find out how to get to Asuka from two fashionable close by cities, Nara and Kyoto:
How one can Get to Asuka From Nara
When you’re staying in a single day in Nara (one thing I’d extremely suggest!), you may get from Asuka inside an hour. You’ll have to switch a few instances, as there is no such thing as a direct practice to Asuka, however it ought to be straightforward sufficient.
From Nara Kintetsu Station, take the Kintetsu-Nara Line to Yamato-Saidaiji Station. Switch right here to the Kintetsu-Kashihara Line and make your technique to Kashiharajingu-Mae Station. From this station, you’ll solely need to switch yet another time for a brief five-minute journey on the Kintetsu-Yoshino Line to Asuka Station.
How one can Get to Asuka From Kyoto
Regardless of being a bit additional away, it’s very straightforward to get to Asuka when you’re staying in Kyoto – and with fewer transfers than when travelling from Nara. The journey takes about an hour and a half.
From Kyoto Station, get on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line which is able to take you straight to Kashiharajingu-Mae Station. From there, switch to the Kintetsu-Yoshino Line to Asuka Station.
Conclusion – Is Visiting Asuka Value It?
When you’re inquisitive about Japan’s historical past and archaeology, Asuka is likely one of the finest spots to go to. Particularly because it’s fairly straightforward to get to from fashionable close by spots like Nara and Kyoto, visiting Asuka is an effective way to expertise the Japanese countryside.
Throughout our go to, we barely noticed every other vacationers. Not many individuals learn about Asuka but, and it’s such a disgrace! Biking by the colourful rice fields and strolling among the many mysterious tombs is one thing I’ll always remember – it was one of many huge highlights of our newest Japan journey.
I’m already planning to return to Asuka to hopefully spend the night time and see much more of what this beautiful space has to supply. After I do, I’ll remember to replace this information with any further spots/info.
Sources:
https://www.asukakyo.jp
https://www.ijkaa.org/property/pdf/135/jkaa-9-64.pdf
https://archaeology.jp/websites/2008/takamatsu.htm
https://english.asukamura.com