Traveling through Asuka with Poems from the Man’yōshū
What is the Manyoshu?
The Manyoshu is Japan’s oldest poetry anthology, the first incarnation of classical Japanese literature such as waka, tanka, and haiku. The Nara Period, the period in which the poems in this anthology were composed, predates the Heian-kyo capital in Kyoto. In this area, the old capitals of Heian-kyo, Fujiwara-kyo existed in Nara, along with an even older palace that had been built in Asuka. The anthology contains 4,500 poems composed over a period of 130 years, beginning more than 1,300 years ago. Its content is diverse, ranging from poems composed for official occasions to love poems and requiems, offering a glimpse into the subtleties of the ancient Japanese mind.
The first poems in the Manyoshu were composed when the capital was located in Asuka, Nara. Many historical sites and mysterious tombs still remain in Asuka to this day. As they all possess great historical value, the Asuka and Fujiwara capital sites have been selected as candidates for UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites, with the aim of being registered in 2026. If registered, they will become the fourth WCH site in Nara Prefecture, following “Buddhist Buildings in the Horyu-ji Area,” “Cultural Properties of Ancient Nara,” and “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.”
Asuka’s appeal is not limited to its historical value. Asuka is a quiet mountain village that contains unique rustic landscapes that cannot be seen in either Tokyo or Kyoto.
This two-day and one-night tour will take you to the mountain village of Asuka to visit historical sites associated with the Manyoshu. Accompanied by a scholar and translator, this tour will allow you to learn about the origins of the culture and spirit of ancient Japanese people as described in poems.