Asuka
Discover Asuka
Asuka (飛鳥) refers to the south-eastern part of Nara Basin, which mostly overlaps with contemporary Asuka Village (明日香村, different kanjis are used), in Nara Prefecture. Asuka is the land where Japan has developed into a centralized state than a collective sovereign between 6C AD and 8C AD. Imperial palaces were built on this ground to form an ancient capital city of Japan, Asukakyo (飛鳥京).
What to Experience in Asuka
Taste of Asuka...
As you walk out of Asuka Station and pass the bike rental shop on your left, you will see a sign for a cafe and small hotel a 150 meters to the right. Follow it, and you'll find yourself in a restaurant with an attractive classy interior that doesn't seem to belong in Japanese inaka. Try the hayashi rice, it's heavenly. Asuka B&B () is a clean and welcoming Continental-style B&B with Japanese elements. European and Japanese-style rooms available. Private toilets and showers in all rooms; shared Japanese-style bath. Bike hire is available.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsKansai International Airport is the closest airport to Asuka, which is a 90 minutes car drive from this airport. Transportation such as cars and trains are recommended to take from Kansai Airport to Asuka. If you are accessing from Narita International Airport, take a train to Tokyo station and you can take Shinkansen to Kyoto station. If you are entering Japan from Kagoshima or Fukuoka, you can take Shinkansen as well. From Kansai International Airport, take E71 and E26 (Hanwa Expressway) northbound, exit at Exit 12-1 (Mihara JCT) onto E91 (Minami Hanna Expressway) to Exit 6 (Katsuragi), and take Route 24 eastbound to Ofusa crossing, where you turn right onto Route 169. Then you can get to Asuka after driving about 3 kilometers. From central Osaka or Nagoya, take E25 (Nishi Meihan Expressway) to Exit 5 (Koriyama), where you take Route 24 and drive southbound to Shijo-machi crossing where you turn left onto Route 169. Then you can get to Asuka after driving about 3.5 kilometers....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Kame Bus (かめバス), is a bus service that tours around major sight-seeing spots including Kintetsu Kashihara Jingu-mae and Asuka Stations, and a one-way trip between the two stations, through Asuka Town takes around 35 minutes. A One-day Free Ticket is available at ¥650 Bicycles are available for hire at most accommodation locations around Asuka Town, and dedicated bike/pedestrian paths connect the main historical/sightseeing attractions around the town. Where no bike paths are available, the roads are generally slightly wider and quieter than in the cities, although caution is advised in the narrow main streets of Asuka town, where vehicular traffic can travel alarmingly quickly. Generally the roads and paths are relatively flat, and a gearless bike will suffice (and tend to be more common at the hire outlets); however, a geared bicycle would be helpful for getting up the few gentle slopes around the town.
Where to Stay
Asuka B&B () is a clean and welcoming Continental-style B&B with Japanese elements. European and Japanese-style rooms available. Private toilets and showers in all rooms; shared Japanese-style bath. Bike hire is available.
Money & Budget
Out of the station, cross the street at the lights, and on your right you will find a small farmers' market. Fresh strawberries (of the Asuka Ruby variety), Japanese apricots (ume, 梅) to make umeshu at half the supermarket price, and a great variety of other local produce is available. May be seasonal only. As you walk out of Asuka Station and pass the bike rental shop on your left, you will see a sign for a cafe and small hotel a 150 meters to the right. Follow it, and you'll find yourself in a restaurant with an attractive classy interior that doesn't seem to belong in Japanese inaka. Try the hayashi rice, it's heavenly. Asuka B&B () is a clean and welcoming Continental-style B&B with Japanese elements. European and Japanese-style rooms available.
Safety Information
Glimpses of Asuka
a tree with lots of pink flowers on it
a person laying on the floor in front of a window
Traditional Japanese house in Asuka, Japan (Nara Prefecture).
a man with a backpack standing under a wooden structure
Asuka Langley action figure from Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo Japanese Anime
飛鳥寺は、奈良県高市郡明日香村飛鳥にある真言宗豊山派の寺院。山号は鳥形山。本尊は「飛鳥大仏」と通称される釈迦如来。現在は正式には安居院という。開基は蘇我馬子で、蘇我氏の氏寺である法興寺の後身である。思惟殿は新西国三十三箇所第9番札所で本尊は聖観音である。 Asuka-dera Temple is a temple of the Shingon sect Buzan school located in Asuka, Asuka-mura, Takaichi-gun, Nara Prefecture. The honorific mountain prefix is Mt. Torigata. The principal image is Shaka Nyorai, commonly known as "Asuka Daibutsu." Currently, it is officially called Ajoin. The kaiki is SOGA no Umako, and it is the successor of Hoko-ji Temple, a clan temple of the Soga clan. Shii-den is the 9th temple of the 33 temples of Shinsaikoku, and the principal image is Sho Kannon.
飛鳥寺は、奈良県高市郡明日香村飛鳥にある真言宗豊山派の寺院。山号は鳥形山。本尊は「飛鳥大仏」と通称される釈迦如来。現在は正式には安居院という。開基は蘇我馬子で、蘇我氏の氏寺である法興寺の後身である。思惟殿は新西国三十三箇所第9番札所で本尊は聖観音である。 Asuka-dera Temple is a temple of the Shingon sect Buzan school located in Asuka, Asuka-mura, Takaichi-gun, Nara Prefecture. The honorific mountain prefix is Mt. Torigata. The principal image is Shaka Nyorai, commonly known as "Asuka Daibutsu." Currently, it is officially called Ajoin. The kaiki is SOGA no Umako, and it is the successor of Hoko-ji Temple, a clan temple of the Soga clan. Shii-den is the 9th temple of the 33 temples of Shinsaikoku, and the principal image is Sho Kannon. 飛鳥寺は、奈良県高市郡明日香村飛鳥にある真言宗豊山派の寺院。山号は鳥形山。本尊は「飛鳥大仏」と通称される釈迦如来。現在は正式には安居院という。開基は蘇我馬子で、蘇我氏の氏寺である法興寺の後身である。思惟殿は新西国三十三箇所第9番札所で本尊は聖観音である。 Asukadera Temple is a Shingon sect temple located in Asuka, Asuka Village, Takaichi District, Nara Prefecture. Its mountain name is Torigatayama. The principal image is Shaka Nyorai, commonly known as the "Asuka Daibutsu." Its current formal name is Agioin. It was founded by Soga no Umako, and is the successor to Hokko-ji Temple, the clan temple of the Soga clan. The Shiuiden Hall is the 9th temple of the New Saigoku Thirty-Three Pilgrimage, and the principal image is the Seiganbon.
a tree with lots of pink flowers on it
a person laying on the floor in front of a window
Traditional Japanese house in Asuka, Japan (Nara Prefecture).
a man with a backpack standing under a wooden structure
Asuka Langley action figure from Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo Japanese Anime
飛鳥寺は、奈良県高市郡明日香村飛鳥にある真言宗豊山派の寺院。山号は鳥形山。本尊は「飛鳥大仏」と通称される釈迦如来。現在は正式には安居院という。開基は蘇我馬子で、蘇我氏の氏寺である法興寺の後身である。思惟殿は新西国三十三箇所第9番札所で本尊は聖観音である。 Asuka-dera Temple is a temple of the Shingon sect Buzan school located in Asuka, Asuka-mura, Takaichi-gun, Nara Prefecture. The honorific mountain prefix is Mt. Torigata. The principal image is Shaka Nyorai, commonly known as "Asuka Daibutsu." Currently, it is officially called Ajoin. The kaiki is SOGA no Umako, and it is the successor of Hoko-ji Temple, a clan temple of the Soga clan. Shii-den is the 9th temple of the 33 temples of Shinsaikoku, and the principal image is Sho Kannon.