Travel back in time with a visit to Asuka, a well-preserved ancient town dating from the Edo period (1603-1867). Explore the town's mysterious stones and burial mounds, and enhance your understanding of its rich history at the Asuka Historical Museum.
The easiest way to get around in Asuka is by car, since many of the major sights and attractions are not accessible by public transportation.
If you decide to rent a car, it is advised to do so from one of the bigger cities in the vicinity. You can use our car rental widget in the FAQ menu below.
Valid passes:
Nara Bus 2-Day Wide Pass
Coverage:
all Nara Kotsu buses within Nara City
also covers buses within Ikaruga
also covers buses within Asuka
Duration: 1 day
Price: 1000 Yen
Where to buy: Nara Station
Nearest airport:
The nearest and most convenient airport is Kansai International Airport in Osaka.
by car: approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes
Rental cars:
We recommend staying in Asuka for about two days.
Fruit picking:
January to March is generally a great time to pick strawberries in Japan.
Scenic rides:
Katsuragisan Ropeway: Click here to find the most up-to-date timetable for this ropeway.
Hiking:
The hiking season typically runs from Spring until Autumn.
There are several festivals here throughout the year. Please be advised that the following list is based upon previous entries of those festivals and that the dates might have changed for the following year. It is also possible that the entire festival is cancelled in the case of heavy rainfall or a natural disaster. Please check with the official organisers' website for the most up-to-date information.
For the exact location of any of the festivals listed here, you can consult our map above by clicking on the icon in the upper most corner of the map to open the map legend. Festivals are hidden by default but can be made visible by clicking on the "Festivals" checkbox in the map legend.
Asuka Furusato Summer Festival
Date: August 15th
Time: 17:00 - 21:00
Asuka Hikari no Kairou Festival
Date: September 21st and 22nd
Time: 18:00 - 21:00
Ancient City Asuka Cultural Festival
Date: October 26th and 27th
Nearest airport:
The nearest and most convenient airport is Kansai International Airport in Osaka.
by car: approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes
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