Kitora Tomb

Takamatsuzuka Burial Mound (Takamatsuzuka kofun) is a small 7th-century burial mound famous for the richly coloured wall paintings discovered inside in 1972. The paintings depict figures including the celebrated Asuka Beauties, as well as the Four Guardian Gods and representations of the sun, moon and stars. The original tomb is carefully protected and is not open to visitors, but the nearby Takamatsuzuka Mural Hall displays reproductions of the paintings and explains the excavation and conservation work. The tomb is an important example of the cultural connections between Asuka-period Japan and the wider East Asian world.

Saruishi (Monkey Stones) are a group of unusual carved stones near the village of Asuka. The four stone figures have roughly human or animal-like faces and are thought to date from the Asuka period, although their original purpose is unknown. Their distinctive expressions have led to various interpretations, including connections with guardian figures or influences from the Korean Peninsula.

Kameishi (Tortoise Stone) is one of the unusual carved stones scattered across the Asuka countryside. The large, roughly turtle-shaped stone is thought to date from the Asuka period, although its original purpose and meaning remain uncertain. Local tradition says that the stone faces toward the direction of Nara and that, should it ever turn completely around, the surrounding region would be submerged.\

Tachibana-dera is a Buddhist temple traditionally regarded as the birthplace of Prince Shōtoku, one of the most important figures in the early development of Buddhism in Japan. Founded in the Asuka period, the temple occupies a peaceful site surrounded by rice fields and hills. The main hall contains a number of Buddhist images, including the unusual **Taishō Kannon**, while the temple grounds preserve the remains of its ancient foundations. Tachibana-dera is located close to Ishibutai and other major sites in the Asuka area, making it easy to combine with a tour of the surrounding archaeological landscape.

Oka-dera Temple, also known as Ryūgaiji, is a Buddhist temple founded in 663 on a hillside overlooking the Asuka plain. The temple is particularly noted for its gardens, autumn colours and the large Nyoirin Kannon, a clay statue dating from the Nara period and regarded as the largest clay Buddhist statue in Japan. The temple's name means “Temple on the Hill”, while its traditional name, Ryūgaiji, is associated with a legend in which the monk Gaien subdued a dragon and confined it beneath a large stone. The temple is one of the 33 temples of the Saigoku Kannon pilgrimage and is also traditionally associated with prayers for protection from bad luck.

Sakafune-ishi is a large, unusually shaped stone on a hillside in Asuka, carved with a series of channels, grooves and shallow depressions. Its purpose is unknown, although various theories have suggested that it was used for ritual activities, the preparation of liquids, or some form of ancient water system. The stone is generally dated to the Asuka period and is one of several mysterious carved stones found around Asuka. A short walk through the wooded hillside leads to the stone.