On July 26, at the “48th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee” held in Busan, South Korea, it was decided to inscribe “Asuka and Fujiwara Capital Sites”—a group of archaeological sites centered on the Asuka period in Nara Prefecture—on the World Cultural Heritage List. This marks the 22nd World Cultural Heritage site in Japan—following the “Sado Island Gold Mines” in 2024—the 27th site overall when including natural heritage sites, and the fourth in Nara Prefecture.
“The Ancient Capitals of Asuka and Fujiwara” consists of a total of 19 component properties—including the ruins of palaces and government offices, Buddhist temples, and tombs—spanning Kashihara City, Sakurai City, and Asuka Village in Nara Prefecture. Major historic sites include the “Fujiwara Palace Site,” the ruins of a palace dating back approximately 1,300 years, the “Site of the Original Yakushi-ji Temple” in Nara City— “Site of Hon-Yakushi-ji,” the predecessor of Yakushi-ji Temple in Nara City; the “Shobu-ike Kofun,” a two-tiered burial mound with sides approximately 30 meters long; and the “Site of Daikan-daiji,” the ruins of an ancient temple that was the largest in the region. It is said to be valuable as the setting for the formation of Japan’s ancient state and to have been preserved in excellent condition.
On the day the decision to register the site was announced, public viewings and live YouTube streams were held at venues such as the Kashihara Cultural Hall in Nara Prefecture, where more than 1,000 people gathered to share in this historic moment.
Kashihara Mayor Tadahiko Kameda expressed his gratitude for the decision to register the site, which comes as the city marks the 70th anniversary of its incorporation, stating, “Our efforts over the past 20 years to secure this registration have finally borne fruit.”
© Source travel watch