History / Culture / Tour Spots in Asuka Area
Area
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Nara
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Nara
Category
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- Asuka-dera Temple
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4.5198 Reviews - Travel / Tourism
- Nara Pref. Takaichigunasukamura Asuka 682
- Japan’s first fully-fledged Buddhist temple, the Asuka-dera was completed in 596 by through the efforts of the samurai Soga no Umako, who promoted Buddhism in the nation. The temple’s principle object of worship, a bronze seated figure of Gautama Buddha popularly known as the “Asuka Great Buddha,” is Japan’s oldest Buddhist image and a designated Important Cultural Property. The Hana-eshiki Ceremony, which celebrates the birth of Gautama Buddha, is also famous for having first been conducted in Japan here. The temple was once quite large, with a central tower, three-sided main temple building, and encircling galleries, but most of the temple buildings were lost in fire due in the Kamakura period due to lightning strikes. The current main temple building was reconstructed in the Edo period.
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No need for me to emphasize “the oldest Budda statue” part of this temple. Some tips on driving there if you use Google map: This temple is in a small village and near quite large rice fields. While...
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- Okadera Temple
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4.0105 Reviews - Travel / Tourism
- Nara Pref. Takaichigunasukamura Oka 806
- A Shingon Buzan Buddhist temple located in Asuka Village, Takaichi County, Nara Prefecture and the seventh station on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage. The temple is said to have been founded by the high priest Gien on the site of a hill palace he had received where Prince Kusakabe, son of Emperor Tenmu, once lived. The temple’s official name is the Ryugai-ji Temple. Long worshiped as sacred ground providing protection from evil and harm, the temple is visited by great numbers of worshippers seeking to ensure their safety during unlucky years. The temple has many highlights, including Nyoirin Kannon Zazo (seated figure of Cintamani-cakra, a designated Important Cultural Property and Japan’s oldest earthen image) and a crimson-lacquered Deva gate and. In mid-April, some 3,000 rhododendrons come into bloom on the temple’s grounds; the fall foliage in autumn is also spectacular.
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良い寺院なのですが・・・遺憾ながらこの管理不十分なサイトのせいで、どうでもいいような口コミページがこの「一つの」施設に対して１０近くもある。何故、この岡寺と云うページだけに統一出来ないのか？サイトとしての管理能力の無さ、登録受付時のいい加減さが顕著に表れている。全部をこのページに纏めると云うよりも、他の必要無い口コミページを削除すべきなのです。ここは西国３３観音霊場の第７番札所、東光山龍蓋寺、通称...
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- Tachibana-dera Temple
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4.082 Reviews - Travel / Tourism
- Nara Pref. Takaichigunasukamura Tachibana 532
- A Tendai Buddhist temple located in Asuka Village, Takaichi County, Nara Prefecture. According to legend, the temple was erected by Prince Shotoku himself on the site where he was born. The grounds were once quite large and hosted numerous halls and other structures; today, however, only a few structures rebuilt in 1864 such as the main temple building and the Kannon hall still stand. The temple’s principal object of worship, a designated Important Cultural Property, is a wooden seated statue of Prince Shotoku and is the oldest carving of the prince in existence. The Nimen-seki, or Two-Faced Stone, found on the temple grounds, represents good and evil; the Shoso-den hall, which houses the temple’s treasures, is specially opened to the public in spring and autumn.
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天井画が見たくて橘寺を訪れました。往生院の天井にある花の絵画は全部で260あり、この寺の見所となっています。他にも人の心を表した二面石や聖徳太子を乗せた馬の像などがあり、決して大きくはない境内に見所がたくさんあります。聖徳太子ゆかりの地であり、明日香村観光では訪れる人が多いお寺です。
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- Nara Prefecture Complex of Man’yo Culture
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4.035 Reviews - Leisure / Hobbies
- Nara Pref. Takaichigunasukamura Asuka 10
- This cultural museum focuses on the Manyoshu ancient collection of Japanese poetry as well as other classical culture. There's the Japanese Painting Exhibition Hall which has a variety of exhibitions centered around Manyo Japanese paintings, the Manyo Theater where you can experience the Manyo world through music and light, as well as the Special Exhibition Hall where you can see replicas of artifacts from the Asukaike Workshop archeological site discovered on the premises. There are also the Manyo Library and Information Room, Museum Shop, and Manyo Garden located onsite.
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花見目的のドライブから宿に戻る途中たまたま当館の前を通り、まだ少し時間があったことと、駐車場も入館料も無料だったので、ほんの時間潰しぐらいのつもりで入館しました。そんな私たち夫婦に当館のボランティア解説員の方が、展示物や飛鳥時代の歴史についてたいへん詳しく、また時にはジョークを交えながら面白おかしく説明しながら、館内を案内して下さいました。そのおかげで、たいした知識もない私たちでも、たいへんよく理...
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- Asuka Historical Museum
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4.032 Reviews - Travel / Tourism
- Nara Pref. Takaichigunasukamura Okuyama 601
- The village of Asuka, in the Takaichi District of Nara Prefecture, whose name was once written with the characters for “Soaring Bird,” is well-known as the ancient birthplace of the nation we now call Japan. The Asuka Historical Museum was opened in 1975 to investigate, research, and exhibit cultural properties from the area around Asuka Village. The museum has artifacts excavated from sites like the Takamatsuzuka Tomb on permanent display, teaching visitors about the history and culture of Asuka from the time Buddhism was conveyed to Japan in the sixth century up to the transition of the capital to Nara in the early eighth century. The museum also contains a recreation of the Yamada-dera Temple, an early Buddhist temple erected by Soga no Kurayamada no Ishikawa no Maro, who was accused of treason after the Taika Reforms of 645.
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キトラ古墳と高松塚古墳を中心に 発掘品や石碑が展示されていて 静かに鑑賞できました。 古代からの飛鳥の地が 1400年経った今でもここに続いていると思える古墳群の中に 資料館がありました。
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- Asukani-imasu Shrine
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4.027 Reviews - Travel / Tourism
- Nara Pref. Takaichigunasukamura Asuka 708
- The age of this shrine makes visitors feel the weight of the eternity. It was relocated to its present location after receiving divine advice in the year 829. There are many Yin-Yang stones placed within the shrine, and the resident kami is believed to aid fertility. Every year, on the first Sunday in February, the famous Onda Festival is held here.
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飛鳥寺の少し東、小高い丘の上にある由緒のある神社。日本書紀や万葉集にも記載があるそうだが、創建については定かではないという。家内安全、商売繁盛から安産や縁結びのご利益もあるらしい。
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- Asuka Historical National Government Park
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3.523 Reviews - Travel / Tourism
- Nara Pref. Takaichigunasukamura Hirata 538
- This is a museum located in the vicinity of Takamatsuzuka at Asuka Historical National Government Park in Hirata, Asuka Village. The Asuka History Park is divided into five areas, each providing information regarding each district and exhibiting displays related to the history of Asuka. Information can be easily accessed through panel displays, as well as commentary by diorama, animation and a touch panel computer.
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休息がてらに寄らさせてもらいました。明日香村内に有る史跡などがパネルやミニチュアなどで紹介しています（無料）。駐車場も有るので車でも来れますよ。この館の裏に有る池のある公園も気分転換に散策出来ます。
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- Ishibutai kofun (tomb)
- Travel / Tourism
- Nara Pref. Takaichigunasukamura Shimashou
- One of the largest of its kind in Japan at 50 meters per side, this tomb was built by piling up 30 large boulders. Having lost the soil which once covered it and due to the flatness of the ceiling stone, the tomb is called the Stone Stage. It is not clear to whom the tomb belonged, but due to the fact that a garden which belonged to Soga no Iruka’s grandfather Soga no Umako is located nearby, one leading theory is that it is his tomb. The surrounding area blooms with cherries in the spring and red spider lilies in the fall. The tomb is a nationally designated a Special Historic Site.
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- Kawaharadera/Gufukuji
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3.09 Reviews - Travel / Tourism
- Nara Takaichi-gun Asukamura Kawahara 1109
- This historical site and Buddhist temple is located in Kawahara, Asuka Village. Said to have been built by Emperor Tenji, Kawara-dera Temple was once held in high regard as one of the Great Four Temples of Asuka along with Asukaji Temple, Yakushiji Temple, and Daikandai-ji Temple, but was later abandoned. The temple's former site has been designated as a national Historical Site and is now the home of Kofukuji Temple.
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川原寺跡を挟んで橘寺の北に位置する寺。もともとの寺は飛鳥時代のものだったが、現在のものは江戸時代の再建。拝観料がいるようなので、門前からお参りさせてもらった。
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- Kitora Tomb
- Travel / Tourism
- Nara Pref. Takaichigunasukamura Abeyama
- This is a special national historical site inside the Kitora-kofun Tumulus in the Asuka Historical National Government Park located in Mt. Abe, Asuka Village. In excavations conducted in 1983, murals were found on the wall of the stone burial chamber and became known as the second mural tomb in Japan. Currently, works continues to restore the site to its original state and the artifacts found are being stored and exhibited in the Kitora Tumulus Mural Experiential Museum Shijinno Yakata. (The murals are open to the public for limited periods of time.)
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- Takamatsuzuka kofun (tomb)
- Travel / Tourism
- Nara Pref. Takaichigunasukamura Hirata 439
- A late stage kofun (burial mound) tomb erected during the time of the ancient capital Fujiwara-kyo (694–710) and located in the east of the Takamatsuzuka section of Asuka Historical National Government Park. A five meter tall two tier tomb, the upper tier is 18 meters in diameter while the lower is 23. In 1972, a richly colored mural was discovered in the tomb which won it instant notoriety. In 1973, the tomb was designated a Special Historic Site and in 1974 the mural was designated a National Treasure. The tomb may be viewed at any time but normally the mural is not available for public viewing; the workroom in which the mural is investigated is made open to public entry irregularly for special exhibitions.
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- The Kitora Tumulus Mural Painting Interactive Museum (Shijin-no-Yakata)
- Travel / Tourism
- Nara Pref. Takaichigunasukamura Abeyama 67
- This is a museum located near the Kitora burial mound in the Kitora Tumulus area of the Asuka Historical National Government Park in Asuka Village, which preserves materials and mural paintings excavated from the ancient tombs. The Shijin (Four Deities), Chinese zodiac and celestial map murals are open to the public for limited periods, requiring registration in advance.
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- Kameishi Boulder
- Travel / Tourism
- Nara Pref. Takaichigunasukamura Kawahara
- This granite boulder sits near a residence in Asukamura. It is 3.6 meters long by 2.1 meters wide and 1.8 meters tall. Its period and purpose of construction are still unknown. On the lower section an animal-like face was carved, and as it resembles a turtle the boulder was named Kameishi (turtle rock). The Kameishi currently faces south west but there is legend that when it turns to face the west the whole of the Nara Basin will turn into a sea of mud.
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- Asuka Palace Ruins
- Travel / Tourism
- Nara Pref. Takaichigunasukamura Oka
- This Asuka period historic site, located north of the Asuka village hall, is believed to have been the location of the Isshi Incident, in which Soga no Iruka was assassinated by Prince Naka no Oe (later Emperor Tenji) and Nakatomi no Kamatari (Fujiwara no Kamatari). The ruins of multiple palaces lay on top of each other here, including Emperor Jomei’s Asuka no Okamoto no Miya and Empress Kogyoku’s Asuka Itabuki no Miya, and it is thought the site once held extreme historical importance. The stone-paved plaza and large well at the site are portions of the ruins of the Asuka no Kiyomihara no Miya, which were excavated via archeological digs and restored to their current state.
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- Sakafune-ishi
- Travel / Tourism
- Nara Pref. Takaichigunasukamura Oka
- This strangely patterned stone is approximately five meters in length, 2.3 meters wide, and one meter thick. Legend says it was used for brewing sake thus giving it its name, but there are various other theories.
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- Takamatsuzuka Mural Museum
- Travel / Tourism
- Nara Pref. Takaichigunasukamura Hirata 439
- A history museum located in Asuka Village, Takaichi County, Nara Prefecture. The museum displays materials related to the Takamatsuzuka Tomb, which drew immediate national attention in 1972 when vividly colored murals were discovered during an excavation at the site. The museum displays life-sized replicas of stone rooms and murals found at the site and created in the same manner as the originals as well as replicas of articles found at the site such as a decorative long sword fitting, Kaiju Budo Kyo of a Chinese style (mirror decorated with marine mammals), and metal coffin fittings. A essential destination for any sightseeing visit to Asuka, the facility is visited by great numbers of tourists from both in and outside Japan.
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- Saru Rocks
- Travel / Tourism
- Nara Pref. Takaichigunasukamura Hirata
- These are four rock carvings lined up in front of the grave of Kibihime no Okimi, the holy mother of Emperor Kotoku and Empress Saimei. The engraved rocks are said to represent, from the left, a woman, a mountain deity, a monk, and a man, three of which have a face on the back as well.
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- Oni no Secchin Rock
- Travel / Tourism
- Nara Pref. Takaichigunasukamura Noguchi
- These large boulders are thought to have been the rock chamber of a burial mound or part of a furnace. According to legend, and oni ogre would entrap humans and eat them, and then with his stomach full, would need to use the facilities; hence, Oni no Secchin means, the ogre’s toilet.
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- Asuka Mizuochi Ruins
- Travel / Tourism
- Nara Pref. Takaichigunasukamura Asuka
- These ruins located in Asuka, Asuka Village are a nationally-designated Historic Site. Based on the results of archeological studies conducted in 1972 and 1981 and descriptions in the Nihon Shoki, it is thought to be the site of Japan's first water clock, built by Emperor Tenji prior his ascension to the throne. It is believed to have used water drawn from the Asuka River to measure time.
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- Nakaoyama Tumulus
- Travel / Tourism
- Nara Pref. Takaichigunasukamura Hirata
- This nationally-designated Historic Site is located to the north of the Takamatsuzuka Tomb off of Prefectural Route 209 in Hirata, Asuka Village. This three-tier octagonal tomb, some 30 meters across, is classified as a late Kofun period tomb. This is the same category as the nearby Takamatsuzuka Tomb and the tomb of Emperor Tenmu and Empress Jito.
Nara Areas
With a reputation almost as stellar as that of Kyoto, Nara is a must-visit for those searching for the remains of "traditional Japan." The largely green Nara city holds the majority of the prefecture’s treasures, such as the iconic Todai-ji Temple, in which a 15-meter tall Great Buddha sits, and Nara Park, where deer flock to befriend passersby. While mountains are by no means hard to come by in this area, for hiking with a reward, head to the Kii Mountains’ Yoshino district in spring, when the hillsides put on an impressive display of white and pink cherry blossoms.
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