Photo credit: Haruo Ueshimma
Escape the hustle and bustle of central Nara and Osaka and immerse yourself in a traditional Japanese village of Asuka.
Only 1 hour train ride from central Nara and Osaka takes you to Asuka Village, where a beautiful pastoral landscape remains. It is the only place in the country that the Ancient Capital Preservation Act is applied to the entire municipality, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of traditional Japanese village that coexists with its neighboring nature. Also, Asuka is where the first capital of Japan was established, dotted with ancient kofun (tumuli) and remnants of palace and temples that whisper tales of a bygone era.
With your English-speaking guide, get to know about their way of life in "Satoyama" where people live sustainably with the nearby nature, and hit the unique historical sites in Asuka.
In the morning, meet your guide at your hotel in Nara*.
Move to Asuka Village by a limited express train while enjoying a view that changes as you approach the small, charming village. In Asuka, enjoy your tour by privately chartered car.
(*It is possible to make a day trip from Osaka (10-hour tour) or stay in the village as there are various unique accommodation options. For details, please feel free to contact us.)
Once you arrive, experience "Kusakizome" plant-dyeing. Kusaki-zome is a method of dyeing cloth using a solution made by boiling natural plants and trees including red rice, madder, plum, and chestnut taro. Those vegetations grown in Asuka are mentioned in Manyoshu, the oldest anthology of poetry in the country compiled during the 7th and 8th centuries. Replicating the ancient method as possible, visitors can experience the traditional Kusaki-zome using seasonal plants and trees brought from different parts of the village.
Immerse yourself in Japanese countryside where rice paddy fields stretch for miles. In Asuka Village, terraced rice fields, known as "Tanada", rice paddies created in a stepped pattern on slopes such as hillsides can be seen. Enjoy the peaceful scenery that changes from season to season (Image below is "Tanada" in summer).
Moreover, visit a local farm and get to know about their way of life in "Satoyama" where people live sustainably with the surrounding nature. A unique experience and lunch with a local farmer will be arranged (Image below on the left is one of the examples, "Shimenawa" making experience. Image below on the right is "onigiri" rice ball making experience for lunch. The experience varies depending on the season).
In the afternoon, visit one and only huge stone tomb, Ishibutai Kofun. Ishibutai Kofun is a tumulus from the late Kofun period (6th century) located in Asuka Village. Thirty massive stones totaling approximately 2,300 tons are piled on each other to form this tumulus. It is said that the tumulus belongs to the leader of a powerful clan who held power for more than a half century. It is amazing to imagine people back in those times were able to create such an impressive structure without access to modern heavy equipment that we use today.
At the end of the day, visit Kawaharadera to experience Shakyo ("sutra copying") at the temple where sutra copying was said to be first performed in Japan. Recent studies have shown that the human brain is more likely to come up with inspirations and new ideas when it is in a state of absentmindedness, without any distraction. As you mindlessly perform Shakyo while feeling the breeze of Asuka, something you never thought of may come to your mind. After the sutra copying, take a break and enjoy matcha green tea with Japanese confectionery to cap off the whole day in Asuka.
Move back to central Nara by a limited express train. End your tour at your hotel in Nara.
Soy sauce brewery visit and soy sauce squeezing experience
Visit Tokuhoshi Soy Sauce Brewery, a small family-run brewery making soy sauce with more than 100 years of history. This small brewery still keeps the old-fashioned style of soy sauce making, using wooden barrels (kioke). Learn the process of soy sauce making and enjoy soy sauce squeezing experience. During the brewery visit, make sure to taste their soy sauce and feel the difference.
Private coffee drinking experience in Tobutorino Coffee Roastery
This coffee roastery is owned by an owner who has traveled across Japan on foot for 3 years, and moved to Asuka Village. With the owner's strong dedication to coffee, he started the roastery in a renovated "kominka" which literally means "old folk house" in Japanese in Inabuchi area where a landscape of the terraced rice field remains. Spend quality time with a special coffee which is exclusively served by the owner along with a seasonal Japanese confectionery in a serene space.
Locally sourced restaurant and café / Asuka Bio Marche
Once you are in Asuka Village, you will be surrounded by Japanese rice paddy fields, offering picturesque scenery varying from season to season. Thanks to its abundant local produces such as rice, vegetables and fruits, there are attractive restaurants and cafés in the village, from a renovated "Kominka" café with a cozy ambience to a MICHELIN 1-Star Italian restaurant. If you are interested, visit a local organic farmer's market called Asuka Bio Marche, held every Friday morning.
(price per group)
| 2 persons | 3 persons | 4 persons | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 hours | 168,500 yen~ | 206,500 yen~ | 220,000 yen~ |
(10% consumption tax included)
Including: Nationally-licensed English-speaking tour guide, public transportations between central Nara and Kashihara-jingu-mae station (the nearest limited express train station from Asuka Village), privately chartered vehicle with a driver* in Asuka Village, admission and activity fees, service charge and consumption tax
*taxi for 2 person, larger vehicle for 3 persons or more
Not Including: N/A
Note:
Please pay by credit card. You will receive an E-mail with an URL where payment can be made online. The page is protected by Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology to ensure the safety of your credit card information. We accept Visa, Master Card, American Express, Diners, and JCB.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
We can also arrange privately-guided tours in other destinations throughout Japan. Also, your tours can be tailored to your specific interests such as culture, food, and nature.
