Amakashi Hill

A hill overlooking Asuka

This hill, about 148 m high, stands almost in the centre of Asuka. It has been laid out as the Amakashi Hill Area of the Asuka Historical National Government Park.

From the observation point near the top you can see the villages and fields of Asuka, as well as the three mountains of Yamato: Unebi, Miminashi and Ama-no-Kaguyama. Both the Asuka Palace Site and Asuka-dera Temple lie below you from this hill.

The residences of Soga no Emishi and Iruka

The Nihon Shoki (Japan's oldest official chronicle, compiled in 720) records that Soga no Emishi and his son Iruka built their houses side by side on "Amakashi no Oka" and fortified them like a stronghold.

To build a residence on a hill looking down on the palace: how unusual that was, and how it was received, gives a sense of the mood leading up to the Isshi Incident of 645.

The eastern foot site

Excavations since 2005 have found the remains of 7th-century buildings at the eastern foot of the hill. This is called the Amakashi Hill Eastern Foot Site.

Buildings stood on level ground created with stone walls, and burnt earth and charcoal were also found. The site has attracted attention for its possible link to the Soga residences, but it has not been confirmed to be the residences themselves.

Walking

The hill has a "Man'yō Plant Trail" planted with plants that appear in the Man'yōshū (Japan's oldest anthology of poetry).

It is about a 15-minute climb from the foot to the observation point. There are both paved and earth paths, and an open area on the way where you can rest.

Visiting

Right by the "Amakashi-no-oka" stop on the Asuka loop bus from Kintetsu Kashiharajingu-mae Station. Admission is free and the park is open at all hours.

At the foot of the hill are the Toyura Palace Site (Kōgen-ji Temple), Amakashi-niimasu Shrine and the Furumiya site, and to the east are Asuka-dera Temple and the Mizuochi site. If you climb up here first and take in the whole area before you start exploring Asuka, the routes you take afterwards will make more sense.