Kansai
Though other kofun remain covered in earth, Japan's largest stone burial chamber is laid bare and you can walk inside. The tomb was looted centuries ago, and it's unclear whose remains are interred here, though Soga no Umako, a powerful member of the influential Soga clan, is a likely candidate (which would date the tomb to the early 7th century).
The sightseeing bus from Asuka Station stops at Ishibutai (楼270, 15 minutes).
21.65 MILES
This C茅sar Pelli鈥揹esigned tower, which opened in March 2014, is Japan's tallest building (300m, 60 storeys). The observatory on the 16th floor is free,鈥
20.98 MILES
Oku-no-in, whose name means 'inner sanctuary', is perhaps the most intensely spiritual place in Japan. At its farthest reaches is the Goby艒, the crypt鈥
15.3 MILES
Nara's star attraction is its Daibutsu (Great Buddha), one of the largest bronze statues in the world. It was unveiled in 752, upon the completion of the鈥
11.41 MILES
贬艒谤测奴-箩颈 was founded in 607 by Prince Sh艒toku, considered by many to be the patron saint of Japanese Buddhism. It's renowned not only as one of the oldest鈥
22.89 MILES
After unifying Japan in the late 16th century, General Toyotomi Hideyoshi built this castle (1583) as a display of power, using, it's said, the labour of鈥
23.02 MILES
Highly photogenic 顿艒迟辞尘产辞谤颈 is the city's liveliest night spot and the centre of the southern part of town. Its name comes from the 400-year-old canal,鈥
14.97 MILES
This world-class museum of Buddhist art is divided into two sections. Built in 1894 and strikingly renovated in 2016, the Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall &鈥
7.04 MILES
Kimpusen-ji, founded in the 7th century, is believed to be the incubator of Shugend艒, a unique Buddhist sect that incorporates Shint艒 traditions and鈥
0.86 MILES
Considered the first Buddhist temple in Japan (founded 596), Asuka-dera houses Japan's oldest existing Buddhist statue, the Asuka Daibutsu (Great Buddha),鈥
1.16 MILES
This kofun was discovered by accident in the 1960s, painstakingly excavated in the 1970s and then sealed for preservation. What you'll see is a grassy鈥
1.98 MILES
This remote mountain shrine originated as a mausoleum for Fujiwara Kamatari (614鈥69), the patriarch of the Fujiwara clan that would rule court politics鈥
4. The Museum, Archaeological Institute of Kashihara
2.63 MILES
This museum and research centre is an important visit for students of ancient Japanese history. Artefacts come from various archaeological sites in the鈥
2.99 MILES
This shrine was built in 1889 on the site where it was proposed that Japan's mythical first emperor, Jimmu, ascended to the throne. Its founding was part鈥
4.54 MILES
艑尘颈飞补-箩颈苍箩补 is thought to be one of Japan's oldest Shint艒 shrines. It was built to worship Mt Miwa behind it and is rare in that it has no honden (main鈥
6.6 MILES
The most notable feature of Hase-dera, a Shingon temple founded in the 8th century, is its 11th-century, 399-step noborir艒 (climbing corridor); it鈥
7.04 MILES
Kimpusen-ji, founded in the 7th century, is believed to be the incubator of Shugend艒, a unique Buddhist sect that incorporates Shint艒 traditions and鈥