is a cluster of nineteen archaeological sites from in and around the late sixth- to early eighth-century capitals of Asuka and Fujiwara, Nara Prefecture, Japan. In 2026, the serial nomination was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List under criteria ii and iii.
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 Seventeen of the nineteen component sites have been designated for protection under the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties as Historic Sites or *Special Historic Sites ("ACA" column below).
UNESCO ID Site Municipality Comments Image Coordinates ACA 1757-001 Asuka Palace SiteAsuka no miya ato Asuka comprising the sites of the , , , and 1757-002 Asuka Pond Garden SiteAsuka-kyō ato enchi Asuka also a 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 1757-003 Asuka Water Clock SiteAsuka mizuochi iseki Asuka 1757-004 Sakafuneishi Ritual SiteSakafune-ishi iseki Asuka 1757-005 Asuka-dera Temple SiteAsukadera ato Asuka 1757-006 Tachibana-dera Temple SiteTachibanadera ato Asuka 1757-007 *Yamada-dera Temple SiteYamadadera ato Sakurai with well-preserved ICP wooden corridors discovered in 1982 1757-008 Kawara-dera Temple SiteKawaradera ato Asuka temple complex with roof tiles that are "among the most beautiful ever made in Japan" 1757-009 Hinokuma-dera Temple SiteHinokumadera ato Asuka recipient in 686 of a thirty-year maintenance grant of a hundred households, as chronicled in Nihon Shoki 1757-010 *Ishibutai Mounded TombIshibutai kofun Asuka C7 kofun; the largest stone weighs over seventy-five tons; 1757-011 Shobuike Mounded TombShōbuike kofun Kashihara C7 rectangular tumulus with two sarcophagi 1757-012 Kengoshizuka Mounded TombKengoshizuka kofun Asuka with ICP grave goods 1757-013 *Fujiwara Palace SiteFujiwara-kyū seki Kashihara in the former capital 1757-014 Daikandaiji Temple SiteDaikandaiji ato Kashihara precursor to Daian-ji 1757-015 *Motoyakushiji Temple SiteMoto Yakushiji ato Kashihara precursor to Yakushi-ji; established by Emperor Temmu for the recovery of Empress Jitō 1757-016 Mounded Tomb of Emperor Temmu and Empress JitoTenmu・Jitō tennō ryō kofun Asuka 1757-017 Nakaoyama Mounded TombNakaoyama kofun Asuka 1757-018 *Kitora Mounded TombKitora kofun Asuka with National Treasure wall paintings of the four directions and an astronomical chart, now detached 1757-019 *Takamatsuzuka Mounded TombTakamatsuzuka kofun Asuka with National Treasure wall paintings (detached in 2007) and ICP grave goods
Previously-nominated component sites In 2007, twenty-eight sites were submitted jointly for future inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List as "Asuka-Fujiwara: Archaeological sites of Japan's Ancient Capitals and Related Properties", under criteria ii, iii, iv, v, and vi. The number of component sites in the nominated property was subsequently reduced to nineteen. The following sites formed part of the original submission:
Site Municipality Comments Image CoordinatesJōrin-ji SiteJōrinji ato Asuka Historic Site Iwayayama KofunIwayayama kofun Asuka Historic Site Itabuki Palace Siteden Asuka Itabuki no miya ato Asuka Historic Site and one of the imperial palaces while the capital was at Asuka Inabuchi Palace SiteAsuka Inabuchi kyūden ato Asuka Historic Site Marukoyama KofunMarukoyama kofun Asuka Historic Site Asuka Pond Workshop SiteAsuka-ike kōbō iseki Asuka Historic Site and government workshop, producing items of gold, silver, bronze, and iron, as well as lacquerware; also a mint Oka-dera SiteOkadera ato Asuka Historic Site Ueyama KofunUeyama kofun Kashihara Historic 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 KofunMaruyama kofun Kashihara Historic 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 SiteFujiwara-kyō seki Suzaku-ōji ato Kashihara Historic Site (see also Suzakumon) Yamato SanzanYamato sanzan Kashihara Place of Scenic Beauty and meisho celebrated in Japanese poetry
See also Asuka period List of National Treasures of Japan (archaeological materials) List of World Heritage Sites in Japan
References
External links UNESCO entry Ancient Capitals of Asuka and Fujiwara Ancient Capitals of Asuka and Fujiwara