I was born and raised in Nara and have deep roots here.
Nice to meet you. My name is Kazu.
I was born and raised in Nara and have deep roots in this region. One of the charms of Nara, in my opinion, is its wide, open blue sky. My name is written with the character “Wa,” which means harmony and peace, and also represents Japan itself.
Asuka Village was once the ancient capital of Japan, and even today it is filled with precious history, including beautiful nature, ancient tombs, and archaeological remains. In the Asuka Village that I truly love, many sites still convey the spirit of ancient times—although many of them remain hidden beneath the ground.
When standing before stone structures built about 1,400 years ago, you can clearly feel traces of cultural exchange with other regions, and realize that Asuka was once an international city. Through the introduction of Buddhism, various cultures, technologies, and ideas were brought from abroad, forming the foundation of modern Japan. Asuka is truly the place where it all began.
The desire of local people to carefully protect these sites and landscapes and pass them on to the future makes this area even more special.
I sincerely hope you will come and experience Asuka for yourself.
- Favorite Spots
- I love walking through temples and shrines, taking time to appreciate Buddha statues and the fine details of architectural decorations.
While guiding, I enjoy sharing simple questions such as, “Why is this here?” or “What does this mean?” and exploring the answers together with my guests.
I also enjoy cycling tours, visiting various locations and discovering legends and episodes connected to historical sites and people. I hope to introduce the small, quiet stories that still remain in each place.
In the future, I would like to develop more experience-based tours focused on Japanese culture, such as the tea ceremony, soy sauce, and sake, allowing guests to experience Japanese daily life and traditions more closely.
- Recommended spots in Asuka
- My favorite place in Asuka is the Inabuchi area.
Here, the view opens wide, revealing gentle hills and beautiful terraced rice fields. As you walk, you can hear the soft sound of flowing water and feel surrounded by fresh air and lush greenery.
It is not a dramatic or grand landscape, but one that is simple and sincere.
Time seems to slow down, allowing you to take a deep breath and experience Asuka fully with all five senses.
