Walking through Asuka, the cradle of Japan, you’ll stumble upon the resting places of ancient emperors. While these sacred imperial tombs are protected by majestic gates and strictly managed by the government, they sit surprisingly close to daily life—right next to local walking paths and quiet rice fields.

First is the tomb of Emperor Kinmei from the 6th century, a massive earth mound over 450 feet long. Kinmei ruled when Buddhism arrived in Japan, bringing advanced writing and technologies. Building this giant monument required tens of thousands of workers, serving as a powerful symbol of a newly rising nation.

Just a short walk away is the tomb of Emperor Tenmu and Empress Jito. Though you can only view it from behind a designated prayer gate, you can walk a rustic path around the forested perimeter in about five minutes. From the ground, it looks like a simple green hill, but it was designed as a perfect octagon—a sacred shape representing the cosmic center. Tenmu began reshaping Japan’s legal identity, and after his passing, his wife, Jito, took the throne to complete their shared vision of a unified nation.

Standing before the quiet gates, surrounded by the countryside, you can feel the 1,300-year-old roots of Japan still breathing today.