World Heritage Day Tour | Asuka-dera Temple, Ishibutai Kofun, Kitora Kofun | Includes Eel Bento [Departing from Kyoto, Nara, Osaka]

【Asuka-dera Temple - Home to Japan's Oldest Great Buddha】

Asuka-dera Temple houses the oldest Buddhist statue in Japan, created in 609 by Kuratsukuri no Tori, the leading Buddhist sculptor of the time. Standing approximately 3 meters tall, it was originally crafted using 15 tons of copper and 30 kg of gold. Although it suffered damage to its entire body during major fires in the Heian and Kamakura periods and underwent repairs, its long face and almond-shaped eyes retain the distinctive characteristics of Asuka-period sculpture. 

【Ishibutai Kofun - A Spectacular Tumulus with a Massive Stone Chamber】 

This is a stone chamber tumulus built by stacking 30 giant stones. The mound is a square tomb measuring 50 meters on each side and is surrounded by a moat. The stone chamber is 19.1 meters long, and the burial chamber is approximately 4.7 meters high, 3.5 meters wide, and 7.6 meters deep. The total weight of the stones is estimated at 2,300 tons, with the ceiling stones on the south side weighing approximately 77 tons and those on the north side approximately 64 tons.

【Kitora Kofun - An Asuka-period Tumulus Where the Four Deities Mural Was Discovered】

 Kitora Kofun is a two-tiered circular tumulus located in Asuka Village, Nara Prefecture. It gained attention in 1983 as the second mural-painted tumulus after Takamatsuzuka Kofun when the Genbu (Black Tortoise) mural was discovered, and it was designated as a Special Historic Site in 2000. Along with the unearthed lacquered wooden coffin, gilt-bronze artifacts, and human remains, it is an important cultural asset that demonstrates the high level of culture and technology in ancient Japan.

 【October Departure - Fujiwara Palace Site - A Palace Site Where Cosmos Flowers Bloom】

 The Fujiwara Palace Site is where the Fujiwara Palace once stood at the center of Fujiwara-kyo, the capital city ruled by three successive emperors—Jito, Mommu, and Genmei—about 1,300 years ago. Within an area of approximately 1 square kilometer, the Fujiwara Palace contained facilities for national rituals and politics, such as the Daigokuden (Great Hall of State) and Chodoin (Audience Hall), as well as the Dairi (Imperial Palace), the residence of the Emperor. It featured a combination of functions similar to the current Imperial Palace, the National Diet Building, and the government office district of Kasumigaseki. Although Fujiwara-kyo served as the capital for 16 years from 694 to 710, it is believed to have been larger in scale than the subsequent Heijo-kyo and Heian-kyo capitals. The structure of Fujiwara-kyo was inherited by later capitals. The Fujiwara Palace Site was designated as a Special Historic Site by the government in 1952, and the 'Asuka-Fujiwara Palace Sites and Related Properties,' of which the Fujiwara Palace Site is a component, was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2026 as a cultural heritage of great value in human history. Today, only a few vermilion-lacquered columns have been reconstructed at the Fujiwara Palace Site, leaving a vast green field. It is cherished as a flower garden where seasonal flowers are planted, allowing visitors to enjoy a colorful carpet of earth. 

【November Departure - Oka-dera Temple - An Ancient Temple in Asuka Surrounded by Autumn Leaves】

Oka-dera Temple is located on the hillside of Okayama in Asuka Village, Nara Prefecture. Its formal name is Ryugai-ji Temple, but it has long been affectionately known as 'Oka-dera' after the local place name. It is revered as the 7th temple on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage and is also known as Japan's first temple for warding off evil; it currently belongs to the Buzan school of Shingon Buddhism. According to temple records, it was founded about 1,300 years ago by Priest Gien at the imperial request of Emperor Tenji. Priest Gien was a high-ranking monk who played an important role in the Buddhist world during the Nara period; he is said to have been the first in Japan to be granted the rank of Sojo (Archbishop) and contributed significantly to the development of the Hosso school. Legend also says that he was born as a child of Kannon and raised alongside Prince Kusakabe. The temple's name, 'Ryugai-ji' (Dragon Lid Temple), originates from a legend in which Priest Gien used his spiritual power to seal an evil dragon that was ravaging the Asuka region into a pond and covered it with a stone to make it repent. This story of subduing the evil dragon is considered the origin of the faith in warding off evil that continues at Oka-dera to this day.

*This product is a 'Request Booking,' and it takes time to confirm your reservation. Since bookings are processed on a first-come, first-served basis, your request may be placed on a waiting list or may not be accepted depending on availability. The final booking status will be confirmed upon the issuance of your voucher. In the unlikely event that the tour cannot be operated due to reasons such as being fully booked, we will contact you within the specified number of days. Please note that if you do not wish to be on the waiting list, cancellation (with a refund) is possible. 

This tour is conducted in Japanese only.
 Please be aware that all guidance provided by the tour conductor during the trip will be in Japanese only.

However, to ensure the smooth operation and safety of the tour, we will provide information to the extent possible using translation apps (such as meeting points, departure times, etc.). Please observe the following when participating:

 Please book with your correct name and email address.

 The tour operates from different departure points. The departure point will also be the tour's end point. 

Please be punctual for meeting times during the tour. If you arrive after the meeting time, the tour will depart.