Tachibana-dera Temple

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.\

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.

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.

Asuka-dera is one of Japan's oldest Buddhist temples and one of the most important sites in Asuka. Founded around 596 by Soga no Umako, it was established during the introduction and early development of Buddhism in Japan. The temple's principal image, the Asuka Daibutsu, is traditionally dated to 609 and is regarded as Japan's oldest surviving Buddhist image, although it has undergone repairs and restoration. The present temple buildings are much later reconstructions, but the site preserves the location of the original temple complex.

Asuka Niimasu Shrine (Asuka-imasu Jinja) is an ancient Shinto shrine in the hills north of Asuka village. Dedicated to several deities associated with the protection of the region and fertility, the shrine is particularly known for its unusual fertility symbolism. Its annual Onda Matsuri in February is famous for its fertility rituals and humorous performances. The present shrine buildings are relatively modest, but the site provides an interesting contrast to Asuka's numerous Buddhist temples and archaeological remains and reflects the area's continuing religious traditions.

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.