• The Journey to Japanese Heritage

    In ancient times, missions from continental Asia would visit the capital of Asuka from Naniwa no Miya,
    sharing advanced technology and Buddhist culture.In the Middle Ages, this route connected to key economic cities,
    and in the early modern period the inn towns were bustling with those making the Ise pilgrimage.
    Each place along this highway has shown a variety of faces through time.
    On the Takenouchi Kaido / Yokooji (Oji highway), Japan's oldest highway,
    visitors can feel the changes of 1,400 years of history through the historical sites nearby.
    In 2017 it was recognized as the first Japan Heritage in Osaka, and as the 3rd in Nara Prefecture.

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400 B.C.E. Road of the Sun / Road of the Dragon
Twice a year, on the spring and autumnal equinoxes, the sun rises from the summit of Mt. Miwa, passes over Mt. Nijo, and sets in Osaka Bay. The trajectory of the sun forms a straight line connecting Mt. Miwa and Mt. Nijo, called the "Road of the Sun. "That road eventually formed the "Road of the Dragon," with Ohmiwa Shrine on Mt. Miwa being the head, and Nagao Shrine on Mt. Nijo as the tail.Ancient royal authorities built various sizes of burial mounds, primarily massive keyhole shaped tumuli, to serve as royal burial sites. These form a cluster of tumuli along this road running east to west, from the foot of Mt. Miwa to Mozuno.Adorned with fukiishi stones and haniwa clay figures, these shining white tumuli were concealed by trees and remolded by the mountains over time.The Shiratori no Misasagi tomb along the road is beautiful with its moats full of water next to the greenery of the tomb, delighting those traveling the road.The Takenouchi Kaido / Yokooji highway was built on these lands, constantly observing the stage of history.

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The Sun Rising from Mt. Miwa