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.

Understand
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).

Numerous burial mounds and ruins of ancient buildings are discovered and preserved in Asuka, thus making the whole area itself a big historical museum that attracts so many visitors.

Tourist information sites

 * Asuka Village has a multilingual guide site.


 * The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site.

Get in
Kansai 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.

By car
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.

Parking lots are available at major sightseeing places such as temples and museums. Most of them charge ¥1,000 one time, regardless of parking hours.

By train
From Nara, on Kintetsu lines: Take any train (except Tokkyū (特急)) for direction either Kyoto or Namba, and change at Yamato Saidaiji to trains for Kashihara Jingu-mae (橿原神宮前), on Kashihara Line. From Kashihara Jingu-mae Station, change to Kintetsu Yoshino Line and get off at Asuka (飛鳥) Station. Otherwise, local bus services are available from Kashihara Jingu-mae Station to destinations in Asuka.

From Kyoto: The most convenient is by Kintetsu lines. Get onto a train running for Kashihara Jingu-mae (橿原神宮前) directly without change. Then change trains to reach Asuka Station.

Asuka is geared more towards the domestic rather than the foreign tourist, and as such English signs/menus are relatively scarce. For example, as of March 2010, very little non-Japanese information/signage was present at the Asuka Historical Museum.

Get around
By walk, or on rental bicycles.

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.

See

 * The Stone Burial Mound (石舞台墳)
 * Takamatsu-zuka Burial Mound (高松塚古墳)
 * Asuka-dera Temple (飛鳥寺)

Do
During strawberry season (apparently from January until the end of May) all-you-can-eat strawberry picking is available. Price and time limit probably differ depending on the greenhouse you go to. An example would be 30 minutes all-you-can-eat for ¥1,000-1,400 depending on time of year.

Buy
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.

Eat
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.

Sleep
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.

Go next

 * Takatori
 * Yoshino
 * Kashihara
 * Sakurai
 * Oyodo
 * Shimoichi
 * Higashiyoshino
 * Tenkawa
 * Tenri