Escape to the Timeless Beauty of Nara 🍁 Kashihara & Asuka Village 2 Days｜Japan Travel Vlog

Escape to the Timeless Beauty of Nara 🍁 Kashihara & Asuka Village 2 Days｜Japan Travel Vlog

About an hour by train from Osaka, I arrived in Kashihara City, Nara Prefecture. Kashihara is known as the site of Japan’s oldest capital, Fujiwara-kyo, and is also called “the birthplace of Japan.” On the first day, I’ll explore Kashihara City, and on the second day, I’ll visit the neighboring Asuka Village. It’s a five-minute walk from Kashiharajingu-mae Station. I’ve come to Kume Temple. The golden statue of Dainichi Nyorai immediately catches the eye. The Buddha statue next to it is also beautiful. Japanese people can’t help but want to leave a coin in places like this. It’s not a large temple, but there are many things to see. First, I offer a small coin and say a prayer. I also made a wish — I hope it comes true. I can’t believe there are so few people at such a beautiful temple. The plants here are really impressive. It’s already beautiful now, but I’m sure it will be even more stunning in autumn. The best time to see the autumn leaves in Kashihara is from early November to early December. There are many stone Jizo statues enshrined here. Their little red bibs are so cute. It was a peaceful, hidden gem of a temple. Oh, I spotted a cat! But it ran away… After walking for about seven minutes, I arrived at Kashihara Shrine. A magnificent torii gate made of unpainted wood. Inside, it’s spacious, and many ducks are swimming in the pond. This is a shrine that belongs to Kashihara Shrine. There aren’t many people on this side, but the view of the bright red torii gates lined up is breathtaking. Before praying, I wash my hands to purify my body and mind. It’s not just the torii gates that are painted red. It’s so beautiful here — I wonder why no one comes to this side. I’ve arrived in front of the main hall. Since you can’t get close to it, I’ll pray from here. Since I’m here, I’ll try drawing a fortune slip. I got number 12. My fortune is… Great blessing! That’s a lucky one — so I guess there’s no need to tie it up. It was a vast and beautiful shrine filled with a sacred atmosphere. I’m taking the train to Yagi-Nishiguchi Station, two stops away. Enjoying the view from the front car is one of the joys of traveling. After just four minutes, I arrived at my destination. In this area, the largest number of traditional buildings remain in Japan, and I’ll enjoy the streetscape of Imai Town. This Pikachu vending machine is so cute. And this dog looks like it’s enjoying Halloween! Imai Town still has many houses from the Edo period, and the streets are full of charm and history. There’s also a retro Showa-era feel to the place. A turtle is poking its head out and looking this way. (Please don’t feed the turtles.) The red post box really stands out and looks picturesque. There are signs along the streets, so you don’t have to worry about getting lost. It’s easy to see why this area is often used as a filming location for movies and TV dramas. It almost feels like I’ve slipped back in time. Now I’m heading out for lunch. Let’s go! I found this restaurant on Google Maps. I arrived right when it opened, but it was already fully booked. Then I found a nice-looking eel restaurant nearby, but unfortunately, it was closed today. Oh no… what should I do? I guess I’ll head to a restaurant near my next destination instead. The scenery here is so different from Osaka, and just walking around makes me feel happy. I came across this beautiful spot by chance. Doesn’t it feel like walking through this torii gate might take you somewhere completely different? I hadn’t looked this place up beforehand, so I’m really thankful for this lovely coincidence. I came to a Japanese restaurant where you can enjoy a kaiseki-style course meal. I was lucky to get a seat, but since it’s private dining, reservations are recommended. Aki no Course: 2,000 yen ($13.08 / €11.27) It’s hard to believe such a wonderful meal costs this little. The tofu is sweet, so they recommend eating it as it is. Freshly cooked rice in a small pot also comes with the set. Every single dish was truly delicious. The garden on the first floor is also beautiful. Thank you for the amazing meal. I finally got to visit a temple I’ve always wanted to see! It’s so beautiful that I’m at a loss for words. Everywhere I look, I’m completely moved. Not only the red lanterns, but the colorful ones are also lovely. I wonder what this is? What a beautiful sound. It seems there’s a garden on this side as well. Many koi fish with beautiful patterns are swimming around. Taking a short break on the bench. The view from here is also amazing. It looks like there’s a café further inside. As much as I’d love to stay, it’s time to head to my next destination. This beauty is something you should really experience in person. From start to finish, it was truly breathtaking. The sky is starting to look a bit ominous, so I walked quickly for about 10 minutes. About 2.4 million cosmos flowers are in full bloom. The vast field of cosmos is absolutely breathtaking. It feels like you could just keep walking forever. This was once the center of Fujiwara-kyo, the capital ruled by three emperors about 1,300 years ago. And apparently, a palace once stood here. Standing here now in this very spot is truly moving. The pampas grass swaying in the wind is beautiful too. The sun is almost setting. I feel sad that I have to leave this beautiful place. Today, unfortunately, it’s raining. It keeps raining on and off, but I’m heading to Asuka Village by bicycle. Let’s go! I rented the bicycle near Kashiharajingu-mae Station at “Asuka Rental Cycle.” It’s an electric bike, so I’ll reach Asuka Village in about 15 minutes. “Tortoise Stone” direction. I’m lucky the rain stopped before I set off. I found an unmanned shop. These items are only 100 yen ($0.65 / €0.56)—isn’t that incredibly cheap? This is one of the mysterious stone monuments that represents Asuka Village. It’s called “Turtle Stone,” because it resembles a turtle. But to this day, no one knows why it was made or when it was created. This is how big it is! It’s even bigger than me, and I’m just under 170 cm—I was surprised! And it’s starting to rain again. Safety first, so I’m heading to the next destination while holding my umbrella! I’ll visit Tachibanadera Temple later, so I’m skipping it for now. I’m getting close to Okadera Temple. There’s also a bus stop nearby, so you can get here by bus as well. I cycled part of the way and then walked a steep slope for about three minutes. The entrance fee is 500 yen ($3.27 / €2.81). But this temple is worth far more than the price. The dahlias floating on the water are so vibrant. I’m not sure if it’s because of the rain or because it’s a weekday, but there are surprisingly few people here. The maple leaves dripping with rain are very beautiful. At first, I thought it was unfortunate that the weather was rainy. But the quiet, rainy temple feels magical and enchanting. “Tie a wish ball to the lucky mochi tree.” Everywhere I look is truly beautiful. This room has many wonderful exhibits. Photography of the main deity is prohibited, so please visit in person to see it with your own eyes. As I go further inside, a grand torii gate towers above. The atmosphere completely changes, and it feels like sacred time is flowing. The sound of the rain is soothing, making this temple very relaxing. Thank you for the wonderful time. I returned by bicycle to the road leading to Tachibana-dera. The rain is getting heavier. This is the statue of Shotoku Taishi’s beloved horse, Kurokoma. It’s a very large and impressive temple. This is said to be the birthplace of Shotoku Taishi. Many flowers are blooming in the temple grounds, and the scent is wonderful. “Ojo-in” The ceiling paintings here are amazing, and you can lie down to admire them. All of these were painted by contemporary artists. They are so beautiful, I feel like I could just lie here forever. The sound of the rain is soothing. It’s a very relaxing space. There are many cherry trees, so I imagine the view in spring would also be wonderful. I’m having lunch at the restaurant on the second floor. Ancient Rice Set: 1,500 yen ($9.79 / €8.42) This restaurant uses local ingredients for its dishes. The sweet potato is so sweet and delicious. The fried chicken is coated in a sweet and sour sauce, which was also amazing. Every dish was delicious — I’m completely satisfied. Next, I’m heading to Ishibutai Tumulus, which is right nearby. It’s less than a five-minute walk, so I arrive quickly. This is one of Japan’s largest burial mounds, made by stacking 30 massive stones. No one knows who was buried here, or how these stones were transported, and no solid evidence has been found yet. You can enter the tumulus. On rainy days, it can be slippery, so watch your step. How on earth did they build such a grand burial mound? The light streaming through the gaps is beautiful. It’s a magnificent tumulus, full of mysterious charm. The rain is getting even heavier, but I’m heading toward the Inabuchi Rice Terraces. Asuka Village is also known as one of Nara’s main rice-producing areas, and it’s selected as one of “Japan’s Top 100 Terraced Rice Fields.” It seems that rice harvesting has already started in some parts, but the countryside is beautiful. In summer, the rice fields stretch even wider, and I’m sure it’s even more spectacular. I hope this beauty comes across at least a little in the video. In autumn, for a limited time, many scarecrows line the roads. All of them are so cute. Just riding my bicycle here is so much fun. There was a giant Myaku Myaku scarecrow! Myaku Myaku, the Osaka Expo mascot. After about 15 minutes of cycling through the mountains, I arrived at my next destination. It’s a round tumulus whose occupant is unknown. It was built from the late 7th to early 8th century. Let’s climb the steps and take a closer look. Maybe because I’m hungry, it looks like matcha pudding to me. Now, it’s time to head to the last destination. Seeing it from a distance again really makes you realize how big it is. I thought the rain would stop along the way, but it rained all day today. We’re finally reaching the final stage of the Nara trip. Kengoshizuka Tumulus is a rare octagonal tumulus — there are only five like it in Japan. To reach the tumulus, you need to climb this long staircase. The stairs are longer than they look, so it might be tough if your legs aren’t strong. This tumulus is not the original from that time. However, it was faithfully reconstructed to match the design from the late 7th century. If you make a reservation in advance, you can also explore the inside. It’s amazing to think about how they were able to create something this grand with the technology of that era. Over these two days, I had a truly wonderful experience. Kashihara and Asuka that I visited were places full of charm, where you can truly experience the history and culture of ancient Japan. I hope everyone can visit in person and experience the romance of ancient times.

A 2-day trip to Kashihara and Asuka Village in Nara, also known as “the birthplace of Japan” 🚃
When you think of Nara, Nara Park and its deer usually come to mind, but on this trip, I discovered beauty that transcends time 🍁
Just about an hour by train from Osaka, enjoy a relaxing journey through the rural side of Nara, Japan 😆

【 Chapter ⏰ 】
00:00　Start
00:53　Kumedera Temple
03:35　Kashihara Shrine
06:44　Imai – Cho
09:48　Lunch (Sen No Mame)
10:50　Ofusa Kannon Temple
13:18　Fujiwara Palace Site
14:55　Day 2
16:00　Tortoise Stone
17:22　Okadera Temple
19:54　Tachibanadera Temple
22:00　Lunch (Yumeichi Chaya)
23:07　Ishibutai Tumulus
24:22　Inabuchi Tanada Terraced Rice Fields
25:45　Takamatsuzuka Tumulus
26:43　Kengoshizuka Tumulus

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Hi! I’m Gumi, a Japanese woman living in Osaka, Japan 😊
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