If you’re a modern-minded traveler, you’ll love an intellectual journey into ancient Japan’s history and culture. Tracing the roots of a civilization that blossomed millennia ago and exploring its mystical sites and traditional arts offer far more meaning than ordinary tourism. You might think, “Aren’t shrines simpler than temples?” Here you’ll discover how plain shrines and nature blend into a sublime beauty. Prepare for an enlightening experience — learning mixed with sensory wonder.
Unraveling the Mysterious Kofun Culture – Ancient Tombs Where History and Art Intersect
Japan’s ancient burial mounds, or kofun, can span hundreds of meters. You might picture a pyramid, but kofun are massive earthen tombs, very different from Western stone tombs. In Osaka’s keyhole-shaped kofun clusters, geometric designs adorn the mounds and rows of clay figures called haniwa stand around them (＊1). These were monumental structures, not mere mounds of earth. For example, the Daisen Kofun (Emperor Nintoku’s tomb) is about 486 meters long. Legend says 6.8 million people took 15 years to build it. Standing beside it, the sheer scale alone shows the reverence people had for their ruler. If you view a kofun as you might a grand cathedral, you’ll feel how ancient Japanese conveyed authority.
Amazingly, these kofun remain remarkably well preserved today. They’re protected as parks, and local residents and volunteers regularly clean them so the mounds stay intact even in the city — UNESCO praised these efforts (＊2). Each kofun has its own story: locals call Nintoku’s tomb “Nintoku-san,” and community groups clean it every few months as if tending a cherished garden (＊2). Join an expert-guided tour and stand by the stone chamber to take in the full view and imagine life 1,600 years ago. Sakai City even offers free guided tours on certain weekends, letting you hear from experts and feel the living history of these ancient tombs.
The UNESCO Listing – A Cultural Kofun Tour
In 2019, the Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Cluster was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, recognizing the value of kofun culture. These keyhole tombs are found only in Japan, so this honor was an international acknowledgment of their importance. UNESCO also highlighted the local community’s role in preserving the sites. Volunteers maintain the mounds — for example, locals hold a major cleanup at Nintoku’s tomb twice a year (＊2). This shows that the kofun remain a part of community life today. You can also attend local lectures and seminars on ancient history (＊5). Museums and cultural groups regularly invite archaeologists to speak, and joining one of these talks will deepen your understanding and make the kofun world come alive.
Experience Ancient Japanese Art – The Kitora Kofun Murals
The Kitora Kofun in Asuka (Nara) is extraordinary. Inside its stone chamber are vividly colored murals — like a hidden “ancient art museum.” Discovered in 1983, the ceiling shows a precise star map, and the walls depict the Four Symbols (Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, etc.) and the twelve zodiac animals in human form. Instead of biblical scenes, Kitora’s art expresses cosmic and calendrical knowledge. Its star chart is one of the oldest known in the world (＊6). Today these precious murals are carefully preserved. They have been removed (for protection) and are displayed in a special facility. At the Shijin-no-Yakata (Four Gods Hall) museum next to the site, you can view a full-size reproduction up close during special periods (＊7). Seeing it there, you almost feel the ancient artists and the vast universe they depicted.
(*Reference 1: Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group World Heritage Symbol Character Site, "About the Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group."https://www.mozu-furuichi.jp/jp/learn/mozu_furuichi.html)
(*Reference 2: Foreign Press Center Japan, "Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group Press Tour (Osaka)," January 15, 2020.https://fpcj.jp/assistance/tours_notice/p=77876/)
(*Reference 3: Sakai Tourism and Convention Bureau, "Model Course for Exploring the Mozu Kofun Group (Guided Tour)."https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/model-course/)
(*Reference 4: Foreign Press Center Japan, "Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group Press Tour (Osaka)" Description of post-war preservation of kofun.https://fpcj.jp/assistance/tours_notice/p=77876/)
(*Reference 5: Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group World Heritage Preservation and Utilization Council, "World Heritage Study Session" Event Information (Lecture series scheduled for 2024).https://www.mozu-furuichi.jp/jp/promotion/allure/event/learning/)
(*Reference 6: Asuka Historical National Government Park, "Kitora Tumulus" Overview Page (Description of the murals).https://www.asuka-park.jp/area/kitora/tumulus/)
(*Reference 7: Asuka Historical National Government Park, "Kitora Tumulus Mural Experience Center – Hall of the Four Deities: Visitor Information."https://www.asuka-park.jp/area/kitora/tumulus/)
Ise Jingu – Land of the Gods: Ancient Spiritual Culture
Ise Jingu in Mie Prefecture is an essential stop on this journey. It enshrines Amaterasu-Omikami (the Sun Goddess) in the Inner Shrine and Toyouke-Okami in the Outer Shrine, and is often called the “spiritual home of the Japanese people.” For over 2,000 years people have prayed here for peace, and even today the sacred grounds offer pure air and a deeply serene atmosphere. A key charm of Ise is its simplicity and harmony with nature. The shrine buildings use the ancient Yuitsu Shinmei-zukuri style — completely unadorned. They’re built from plain, unpainted Japanese cypress wood (＊1) with no carvings or paint. You’ll notice the clean lines and lack of decoration. This simplicity itself is powerful — a living expression of the Japanese idea of wabi-sabi, finding depth in understatement.
Ise also literally surrounds you with nature. On the shrine grounds, a “sacred forest” of cedar and cypress trees has grown for centuries. Walking under the deep-green canopy, you might feel you’re in a magical woodland where the gods dwell. The shrine also plans for the future: a long-term forest management plan systematically replants cypresses around the site (＊2). Ise’s ancient architecture continues to inspire modern creativity. Exhibitions and workshops draw architects and artists from around the world. For example, you can join hands-on workshops using hinoki cypress or kaya thatch to learn traditional building techniques. This shows how centuries-old design still sparks fresh inspiration.
Okage Yokocho – Food and Tradition
After visiting Ise Jingu, take a cultural break at the nearby Okage Yokocho. This street recreates old Edo- to Meiji-era Ise, with stone-paved alleys and folk-style buildings. All utility wires are buried and every detail evokes old Japan — it feels like stepping onto a historical movie set. Okage Yokocho isn’t an actual old town but an intentional reconstruction designed to let you “taste old Japan.” Here you can savor Japan’s traditions with all five senses. The food is a highlight: try thick Ise udon noodles in a sweet-savory sauce, fresh tekone sushi with local seafood, and Ise-Shima’s famous “platinum oysters” — flavors unlike anything back home (＊4). On weekends, the Shin-on Daiko drum team performs live, filling the air with rhythmic celebration. Frequent music and festival events create a rich sensory atmosphere, bringing Japanese culture to life (＊3).
(*Reference 1: Ise Jingu Official Website, "Shrine Architecture (Characteristics of Yuiitsu Shinmei-zukuri)."https://www.isejingu.or.jp/about/architecture/)
(*Reference 2: Kanko Mie, "2,000 Years of History at Ise Jingu: Exploring True Sustainability in Its Traditional Forest Management Practices."https://www.kankomie.or.jp/report/1728)
(*Reference 3: Kanko Mie, "44 Recommended Foods and Souvenirs at Okage Yokocho!" (Commitment to Authentic Streetscape Reconstruction).https://www.kankomie.or.jp/season/article/134)
(*Reference 4: Kanko Mie, "44 Recommended Foods and Souvenirs at Okage Yokocho!" (Introducing Traditional Ise Cuisine).https://www.kankomie.or.jp/season/article/134)
Ancient Capitals in Nara and Asuka – Cultural Exploration
Just south of Kyoto, Nara’s Asuka Village was Japan’s first capital in the 7th century. Today it’s a quiet rural village, but beneath its fields lie ruins of the Asuka Palace, ancient noble houses, and mysterious megaliths. Unlike sprawling Western ruins, Asuka’s remains blend into the landscape. As you walk its lanes, you might sense history layered over modern life. The locals actively preserve this heritage – for example, traditional terraced rice fields are still maintained around the Ishibutai Tumulus. Asuka is also easy to explore with green transport. You can rent electric-assist bicycles to tour the gentle hills with no emissions, and a small hybrid shuttle bus connects the main sites. For something truly unique, Asuka even offers open-sided electric tuk-tuks (＊3) — fun three-wheeled vehicles that let you feel the breeze as you ride.
Asuka-ji and Horyu-ji – Ancient Architecture and Art
In Asuka Village, don’t miss the temples Asuka-ji and Horyu-ji. Asuka-ji, founded in 593 by Soga no Umako, is one of Japan’s oldest. Its current main hall is a later reconstruction, but its principal statue – the Asuka Daibutsu (a seated bronze Shaka Buddha, c. 607 AD) – remains, about 3 meters tall (＊1). Nearby in Ikaruga, Horyu-ji is a 1,300-year-old marvel. Its 7th-century Main Hall and five-story pagoda form the world’s oldest wooden temple complex (＊2). If you’re used to stone cathedrals back home, you’ll be amazed these wooden structures still stand. Stepping into the temple grounds feels like stepping into history: the wooden beams, slightly tapered columns, and the rich scent of cedar remind you that Japan built beauty without stone.
(*Reference 1: Kintetsu Railway, "Introduction to Asuka Temple (Asuka Daibutsu)." Constructed in 609 by Kuratsukuri no Tori.https://www.kintetsu.co.jp/)
(*Reference 2: Wikipedia, "Horyuji Temple." (Description as the world's oldest surviving wooden structures and UNESCO World Heritage site.)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/法隆寺)
(*Reference 3: Asuka Rental Cycle (Public Corporation), Official Website of Asuka Tourism Association, "Introduction to EV Tuk-Tuks." (Tourism demonstration project in Asuka Village.)https://www.k-asuka.com/tuktuk/)
Lodging That Enriches – Staying in History
Across Japan, you’ll find inns where history is part of the stay. Many are renovated traditional houses or samurai residences over 100 years old, now boutique inns that feel like living museums. Antique furniture and folk crafts fill the rooms, and even the wooden beams may be made from reclaimed local timber. The plaster walls often showcase skilled artisans’ work. Outside, a rock garden or bamboo grove might greet you, and at night, paper lanterns cast a warm, nostalgic glow.
Cultural Workshops and Performances at Inns
Many inns offer cultural experiences. For example, Asaba ryokan in Shuzenji has a Meiji-era Noh stage with regular performances. Others provide hands-on workshops like kimono dressing or a traditional tea ceremony (＊2). These programs let you dive into Japanese arts and traditions firsthand and spark your curiosity.
Lodgings and Sustainability
High-end Japanese inns also embrace sustainability. For example, Hoshinoya Karuizawa (Nagano) has generated most of its own power from on-site hydropower since the 1920s (＊3). They recycle diligently to reduce waste (＊4). Food scraps become compost for rice fields, and the resulting rice is used to brew a special sake (＊4). Even small details count: disposable items have been replaced with sustainable alternatives. These efforts have won environmental awards.
(*Reference 1: Ikyu Concierge, "4 Inns Offering Authentic Japanese Cultural Experiences," (Zagyosou's traditional sword appreciation and kimono dressing experience.)https://www.ikyu.com/concierge/61874)
(*Reference 2: Ikyu Concierge, "4 Inns Offering Authentic Japanese Cultural Experiences," (Sumiya Ryokan’s matcha tea experience.)https://www.ikyu.com/concierge/61874)
(*Reference 3: Hoshino Resorts Official Website, "Independent SDGs Initiatives | Decarbonization," (Hydroelectric power generation at Hoshinoya Karuizawa.)https://hoshinoresorts.com/jp/aboutus/sdgs/posts/f1h46pa7b/)
(*Reference 4: Hoshino Resorts Official Website, "Independent SDGs Initiatives | Decarbonization," (Waste sorting, composting, and local sake brewing initiatives.)https://hoshinoresorts.com/jp/aboutus/sdgs/posts/f1h46pa7b/)
Conclusion
A journey through ancient Japan’s history and culture will satisfy your intellectual curiosity. You’ll be awed by the kofun clusters, breathe the pure forest air at Ise, wander Asuka’s streets, and immerse yourself in centuries-old traditions. Through these experiences, you’ll sense the roots of Japanese culture and the passion of the people preserving it. Listening to experts and doing hands-on activities will leave a deep impression on your heart. So, why not step into the adventure of Ancient Japan? On this cultural path from past to future, you may discover a new side of yourself.
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