Asuka-Fujiwara


Asuka-Fujiwara: Archaeological sites of Japan's Ancient Capitals and Related Properties is a cluster of archaeological sites from in and around the late sixth- to early eighth-century capitals of Asuka and Fujiwara-kyō, Nara Prefecture, Japan. In 2007, twenty-eight sites were submitted jointly for future inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List under criteria ii, iii, iv, v, and vi. As of 28 January 2025, the number of component sites in the nominated property has been reduced to nineteen. Currently, the submission is included on the Tentative List. The Japanese government is aiming for inscription in 2026.
Since 2011, the Cultural Landscape of the Asuka Hinterland has been protected as one of the Cultural Landscapes of Japan. An area of 60 ha is also protected within the Asuka Historical National Government Park. Related artefacts are housed at the Asuka Historical Museum.

Component sites

As of 28 January 2025, the nominated property comprises nineteen component sites:
SiteMunicipalityCommentsImageCoordinates
Asuka Palace Site
Asuka no miya ato
Asukacomprising the sites of the,,, and
Asuka Pond Garden Site
Asuka-kyō ato enchi
AsukaHistoric Site and Place of Scenic Beauty, a pair of ponds in gardens extending 80 metres E-W and at least 230 metres N-S and related to the
Asuka Water Clock Site
Asuka mizuochi iseki
AsukaHistoric Site
Sakafuneishi Ritual Site
Sakafune-ishi iseki
AsukaHistoric Site
Asuka-dera Temple Site
Asukadera ato
AsukaHistoric Site
Tachibana-dera Temple Site
Tachibanadera ato
AsukaHistoric Site
Yamada-dera Temple Site
Yamadadera ato
SakuraiSpecial Historic Site with well-preserved ICP wooden corridors discovered in 1982
Kawara-dera Temple Site
Kawaradera ato
AsukaHistoric Site and temple complex with roof tiles that are "among the most beautiful ever made in Japan"
Hinokuma-dera Temple Site
Hinokumadera ato
AsukaHistoric Site and recipient in 686 of a thirty-year maintenance grant of a hundred households, as chronicled in Nihon Shoki
Ishibutai Mounded Tomb
Ishibutai kofun
AsukaC7 kofun; the largest stone weighs over seventy-five tons; Special Historic Site
Shobuike Mounded Tomb
Shōbuike kofun
KashiharaHistoric Site and C7 rectangular tumulus with two sarcophagi
Kengoshizuka Mounded Tomb
Kengoshizuka kofun
AsukaHistoric Site with ICP grave goods
Fujiwara Palace Site
Fujiwara-kyū seki
KashiharaSpecial Historic Site in the former capital
Daikandaiji Temple Site
Daikandaiji ato
KashiharaHistoric Site and precursor to Daian-ji
Motoyakushiji Temple Site
Moto Yakushiji ato
KashiharaSpecial Historic Site and precursor to Yakushi-ji; established by Emperor Temmu for the recovery of Empress Jitō
Mounded Tomb of Emperor Temmu and Empress Jito
Tenmu・Jitō tennō ryō kofun
Asuka
Nakaoyama Mounded Tomb
Nakaoyama kofun
AsukaHistoric Site
Kitora Mounded Tomb
Kitora kofun
AsukaSpecial Historic Site with National Treasure wall paintings of the four directions and an astronomical chart, also recently detached
Takamatsuzuka Mounded Tomb
Takamatsuzuka kofun
AsukaSpecial Historic Site with National Treasure wall paintings and ICP grave goods

Previously-nominated component sites

The following sites formed part of the original submission:
SiteMunicipalityCommentsImageCoordinates
Jōrin-ji Site
Jōrinji ato
AsukaHistoric Site
Iwayayama Kofun
Iwayayama kofun
AsukaHistoric Site
Itabuki Palace Site
den Asuka Itabuki no miya ato
AsukaHistoric Site and one of the imperial palaces while the capital was at Asuka
Inabuchi Palace Site
Asuka Inabuchi kyūden ato
AsukaHistoric Site
Marukoyama Kofun
Marukoyama kofun
AsukaHistoric Site
Asuka Pond Workshop Site
Asuka-ike kōbō iseki
AsukaHistoric Site and government workshop, producing items of gold, silver, bronze, and iron, as well as lacquerware; also a mint
Oka-dera Site
Okadera ato
AsukaHistoric Site
Ueyama Kofun
Ueyama kofun
KashiharaHistoric Site unearthed during studies to reroute the city's roads, comprising two rectangular burial mounds c.13m long with stone chambers in a hill measuring 40x27m; of different construction dates in late C6 and C7
Maruyama Kofun
Maruyama kofun
KashiharaHistoric Site investigated by William Gowland, a rectangular chamber with two sarcophagi, long corridor, and stone roof weighing in excess of a hundred tons
Fujiwara-kyō Suzaku Avenue Site
Fujiwara-kyō seki Suzaku-ōji ato
KashiharaHistoric Site
Yamato Sanzan
Yamato sanzan
KashiharaPlace of Scenic Beauty and meisho celebrated in Japanese poetry