Photo: The Ishibutai Tumulus features a stone chamber built with over 30 massive stones. Visitors can go inside this unique structure. © Courtesy of Kintetsu Railway Co.,Ltd.
Long before Kyoto became an imperial capital, and centuries before Tokyo grew into the metropolis it is today, the foundations of Japan were taking shape among the green hills and ancient monuments of Nara Prefecture.
Now, this remarkable chapter of Japanese history has received new international recognition. On July 26, 2026, the Ancient Capitals of Asuka and Fujiwara were inscribed on UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage List, becoming Japan’s 27th World Heritage Site. To celebrate, Kintetsu Railway has launched a commemorative train that makes the journey into Japan’s past part of the experience itself.
Spanning Asuka Village, Kashihara City, and Sakurai City, the newly designated World Heritage Site brings together archaeological ruins, temples, tombs, and former palace grounds dating primarily to the sixth and seventh centuries.
During the Asuka period, the region was Japan’s political center, predating the later capitals of Heijo-kyo and Heian-kyo. It was here that a centralized government under the emperor gradually emerged through major political and social reforms associated with figures including Prince Shotoku. The area’s importance in shaping the country has earned Asuka an evocative nickname: “the birthplace of Japan.”
Today, visitors can explore remnants of that formative era at sites such as the Asuka Palace Site and the Fujiwara Palace Site, as well as centuries-old temples and mysterious burial mounds.
At Asuka-dera Temple, the Great Buddha of Asuka is considered Japan’s oldest surviving gilt-bronze Buddha statue. Nearby Okadera Temple is home to another extraordinary work: a roughly 4.85-meter-tall Nyoirin Kannon, the largest surviving clay statue in Japan.
Some of Asuka’s most fascinating treasures, however, are hidden underground. The Kitora and Takamatsuzuka tumuli are renowned for their beautifully preserved murals, which offer tantalizing glimpses into the beliefs and artistic traditions of ancient Japan.
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Then there is the Ishibutai Tumulus. One of Japan’s largest burial mounds, its stone chamber was constructed using more than 30 massive stones weighing over 1,000 tons combined. Visitors can even step inside the chamber, coming remarkably close to a structure created more than a millennium ago.
Making History Part of the Journey
On August 1, Kintetsu Railway marked the UNESCO designation with the Asuka-Fujiwara Shijin Liner, a specially designed train inspired by the region’s ancient heritage.
Its design draws on the “Four Symbols,” guardian spirits traditionally associated with the four cardinal directions: Seiryu, the Azure Dragon of the East; Byakko, the White Tiger of the West; Suzaku, the Vermilion Bird of the South; and Genbu, the Black Tortoise of the North. These figures famously appear in the murals of the Takamatsuzuka and Kitora tumuli.
Other motifs inspired by Asuka-Fujiwara and the area’s peaceful rural scenery appear throughout the train’s interior and exterior, transforming transportation into an introduction to the destination.
Kintetsu’s extensive rail network makes Asuka accessible from major cities including Osaka, Kyoto, and Nagoya. International visitors can also use the KINTETSU RAIL PASS to explore destinations throughout the Kansai and Chubu regions, combining ancient landmarks with bustling cities and some of Japan’s most beautiful natural scenery.
Beyond the Ruins
Asuka offers plenty of ways to experience its history beyond archaeological sites. Visitors can rent ancient-style costumes near Kintetsu Asuka Station and explore the village dressed as though they have stepped back into the Asuka period.
Traditional houses have also found new life as restaurants and cafés, providing atmospheric places to sample local cuisine between sightseeing stops. Depending on the season, travelers can head into the countryside for fruit-picking experiences featuring the region’s prized Asuka Ruby strawberries.
The UNESCO inscription may introduce Asuka and Fujiwara to a much wider audience, but the allure lies in the region’s history—the palace ruins, temples, mysterious tombs, farmland, and villages. Aboard the Asuka-Fujiwara Shijin Liner, would-be historians can see it all.
Source: Kintetsu Railway Co., Ltd.
