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Ruin / Grave / Ancient Tomb Spots in Asuka Area

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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.
    Ishibutai kofun (tomb) image
  • 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.)
    Kitora Tomb image
  • 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.
    Kameishi Boulder image
  • 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.
    Saru Rocks image
  • 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.
  • Mausoleum of Emperor Tenmu and Empress Jito
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Takaichi-gun Asukamura Noguchi
    This is a joint tomb for Emperor Tenmu and his wife and successor to the throne Empress Jito. The tomb's burial mound is 50 meters in diameter and 6.36 meters high. The mound is said to be a round burial mound by some and octagonal by others; the stone burial chamber is eight sided and contained a gilt bronze funerary urn. Emperor Tenmu laid the foundations for Japan's ancient Ritsuryo codes of governance and Empress Jito continued to implement and refine them. Empress Jito was also the first emperor/empress of Japan to be cremated.
    Mausoleum of Emperor Tenmu and Empress Jito image
  • Kansuzuka Ancienct Burial Mound
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Takaichi-gun Asukamura Mayumi
  • Iwayayama Ancienct Burial Mound
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Takaichi-gun Asukamura Koshi Iwayayama
  • Miyakozuka Ancienct Burial Mound
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Takaichi-gun Asukamura Sakada
  • MARUKO Yama Ancienct Burial Mound
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Takaichi-gun Asukamura Mayumi
Nara Asuka
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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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