On July 26, 2026, the Ancient Capitals of Asuka and Fujiwara were registered as a World Cultural Heritage Site. They are located right here in my hometown, Nara Prefecture.

During the Asuka period (from the late 6th century to the early 8th century), this place served as the political and cultural heart of Japan. The Asuka period was also the era of Empress Suiko, Japan’s first female emperor. For this reason, it is widely known as a time when women played a powerful, leading role in society.

I first visited this place on a school trip back in middle school, and I have felt a sense of closeness to it since then. No matter how many times I visit, it always calms my heart. Even now, the landscape, with its vast rice fields stretching out, will always be the “spiritual home” to me.

The “Ancient Capitals of Asuka and Fujiwara” World Heritage site is a collection of 19 archaeological locations, including ancient palace ruins and ancient burial mounds. A historical site is a place where traces of old buildings or people’s lives remain. An ancient burial mound is a tomb for emperors or people of high status from long ago.

Unlike many other World Heritage Sites, the ruins here are preserved underground to prevent them from being damaged. Because of this, you really have to use your imagination to appreciate their value. At a glance, the area looks just like ordinary countryside fields or open plazas.

One example is the Fujiwara Palace Site, which was once the center of the ancient capital during the Asuka period. While the buildings themselves no longer remain, you can still see the reconstructed pillars. Looking at these pillars helps you picture just how massive the palace used to be. The actual, ancient pillar foundations are hidden safely beneath the soil, out of sight.

Just like that, the ruins of Asuka are carefully preserved beneath the soil. They may not stand out much above ground, but underground, traces of a capital from more than 1,400 years ago still remain. They are not flashy, but they are places where you can truly feel the breath of Japanese history. The local government has also released an Augmented Reality (AR) app, allowing visitors to experience what the area looked like at the time.

On the other hand, local villagers are worried about tourism, as too many tourists may begin to affect residents’ daily lives.

In 1972, when the Takamatsuzuka Tomb, famous for its beautiful wall paintings, was discovered, many tourists came to visit. As a result, roads became heavily congested, and the narrow paths between rice fields were trampled and ruined.

Learning from that experience, the village has already started taking proactive steps. For instance, they operate electric carts to reduce traffic and encourage visitors to use public transportation as much as possible.

Before the official World Heritage registration, they even created the “Asuka Visitor Guidelines.” These guidelines don’t just ask tourists to behave, such as “Do not litter,” but also outline “10 promises” for the villagers themselves. It is a somewhat unusual set of guidelines because it asks not only tourists but also local residents to protect the beautiful village together.

Some of the promises include:
・We will cherish our daily lives and our natural environment.
・We will share our local ingredients and traditional cuisine with others.
・We will value our interactions and connections with visitors.
・We will continue to share the unique charm of our region with the world.

These guidelines are filled with the love and pride of the people who live alongside the World Heritage.

With this World Heritage listing, I hope the world will discover not just the archaeological ruins, but also the beautiful charm of a “village living in harmony with cultural heritage.” I truly hope this marks the beginning of a new kind of tourism – one that deeply respects local lives and culture.

(Translated by Thanh Van)