Asuka-Fujiwara World Heritage: Planning Nara Groups

Explera DMC Japan is adding Asuka to Nara and Kansai programmes for 2027. The Ancient Capitals of Asuka and Fujiwara joined UNESCO's World Heritage List on 26 July 2026. The 19 archaeological sites lie in Asuka Village and the cities of Kashihara and Sakurai, and HOSHINOYA Asuka opens in the village on 22 July 2027.

Asuka was the seat of Japan's early capitals from the late sixth century, and Fujiwara-kyo became the country's first planned capital. The new listing is Japan's 27th World Heritage property.

What does the Asuka-Fujiwara World Heritage listing cover?

• 19 archaeological sites. Palace remains, temple sites and burial mounds from the sixth to the eighth centuries, spread across Asuka Village, Kashihara and Sakurai.
• The palace sites. The remains of the Asuka palaces and of the Fujiwara Palace, the centre of the planned capital, are part of the listing.
• The painted tombs. The Takamatsuzuka tomb, known for its wall paintings, is one of the listed sites.
• A working landscape. Most sites sit among fields and villages, not inside one fenced park, so a visit is a tour across the countryside.

How do we plan groups around Asuka?

• A full day from Kyoto or Osaka. We add Asuka to a Nara day, or run it as its own day trip by private coach.
• A coach and a guide, not a rail pass. The local stations are on the Kintetsu line, which the Japan Rail Pass does not cover, and the sites are spread out. We use a coach or e-bikes with a guide.
• An overnight from summer 2027. HOSHINOYA Asuka, Hoshino Resorts' tenth HOSHINOYA, opens on 22 July 2027 with single-storey rooms and stepped gardens. We hold it for small luxury groups.
• Check viewing days. Some tomb paintings are shown only on set public viewing days, so we confirm the dates before we promise them.

See our guides to the Nara day trip, HOSHINOYA Nara Prison, JNTO's five places for 2027 and Japan's World Heritage sites.

For the coach, the guide and the rest of the day, see our group travel service and our Nara destination page.

Sources: Nippon.com (Jiji): Japan's Asuka-Fujiwara sites added to World Heritage List and Hoshino Resorts: HOSHINOYA Asuka scheduled to open on 22 July 2027.