A village at the southern end of the Nara basin, where Japan's capital stood in the Asuka period.
Asuka Village lies in Takaichi District, roughly in the centre of Nara Prefecture. From the late 6th century to the early 8th century, one palace after another was built here, beginning with Empress Suiko's Toyura Palace, and the area became the centre of politics and culture in Japan.
Much of the village is designated as a historic landscape preservation area under the Ancient Capitals Preservation Law, and development has been kept in check. As a result, ancient tombs and temple ruins still sit among the fields and hamlets.
The village is dotted with the Special Historic Sites of Ishibutai Kofun, Takamatsuzuka Kofun and Kitora Kofun; Asuka-dera, regarded as Japan's first full-scale temple; and stone monuments of unknown purpose such as Kameishi and Sakafuneishi. The upper reaches of the Asuka River have been selected as a national Important Cultural Landscape, the "Cultural Landscape of Oku-Asuka".
- Location
- Asuka Village, Takaichi District, Nara Prefecture
- Main stations
- Asuka Station (Kintetsu Yoshino Line) / Kashiharajingu-mae Station (Kintetsu)
- Getting around
- Loop bus (Kame Bus), rental bicycles, walking
History
HISTORY
- 592
- After the death of Emperor Sushun, Empress Suiko takes the throne at the Toyura Palace.
- 596
- Asuka-dera (Hōkō-ji), founded at the wish of Soga no Umako, is completed. It is regarded as Japan's first full-scale Buddhist temple.
- 603
- The court moves to the Oharida Palace. The Twelve Cap Ranks system is established.
- 604
- The Seventeen-Article Constitution is issued.
- 607
- Ono no Imoko is sent to Sui-dynasty China as an envoy.
- 630
- Emperor Jomei builds the Asuka Okamoto Palace.
- 643
- Empress Kōgyoku moves to the Asuka Itabuki Palace.
- 645
- The Isshi Incident takes place at the Itabuki Palace. The capital moves to Naniwa (the Taika Reforms).
- 655
- Empress Saimei builds the Later Asuka Okamoto Palace and the capital returns to Asuka. Stone monuments such as the Sakafuneishi site are thought to date from around this time.
- 667
- The capital moves to Ōmi Ōtsu Palace.
- 672
- The Jinshin War.
- 673
- Emperor Tenmu takes the throne at the Asuka Kiyomihara Palace.
- 689
- The Asuka Kiyomihara Code is put into effect.
- 694
- The capital moves to Fujiwara-kyō.
- 710
- The capital moves to Heijō-kyō (Nara). Asuka is no longer the capital.
- 1956
- The villages of Sakai, Takaichi and Asuka merge to form Asuka Village.
- 1972
- Brilliantly coloured wall paintings are discovered in the Takamatsuzuka Kofun.
- 1980
- The Asuka Act, a special law for preserving the historic landscape of Asuka Village and improving its living environment, comes into force.
- 1983
- A painting of the Black Tortoise (Genbu) is found inside the stone chamber of the Kitora Kofun.
- 2011
- The upper Asuka River valley is selected as an Important Cultural Landscape, the Cultural Landscape of Oku-Asuka.
- 2026
- On 26 July, "Asuka-Fujiwara: Archaeological Sites of Japan's Ancient Capitals and Related Properties" is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Its 19 component sites, in Asuka Village and neighbouring Kashihara and Sakurai, include Ishibutai Kofun, Takamatsuzuka Kofun, Kitora Kofun, the Asuka Palace site and Asuka-dera.
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