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The Ishibutai Tomb and the town of Asuka The Ishibutai Tomb is the most impressive of the ancient stone monuments in Asuka. It is believed to be a burial tomb for Soga Umako, a powerful leader of 6th century Japan. Visitors can actually walk inside the tomb and look at the massive rocks from inside. The name Ishibutai means "stone stage", and previously it was thought that the large mound of rocks was used for performances. However, excavations in the 1930s revealed fragments of a sarcophagus, and it is believed that Soga Umako was interred within. The Soga clan was a powerful family that ruled the country for most of the Asuka Period (538-710), while the emperor had become relegated to a mostly symbolic role. The Ishibutai Tomb is maintained by the national government, and it is located within a small park. The tomb is surrounded by a dry moat, and a few steps lead down into the tomb itself. About 30 massive stones make up the tomb, the largest of which is part of the ceiling and weighs about 75 tons. Inside the tomb Any Questions? Ask them in our question forum.

How to get there

The Ishibutai Tomb is located beside the Ichibutai bus stop, which can be reached on the Kame Loop Bus from Asuka Station (13 minutes, 260 yen, one bus per hour). The tomb can also be reached by rental bicycle in about a 15 minutes from Asuka Station. How to get to and around Asuka

Hours and Fees

Hours: 8:30 to 17:00 (entry until 16:45) Closed: No closing days Admission: 250 yen

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Ratings for Ishibutai Tomb: japan-guide.com Rating:   interesting   User Rating (by 20 users): 75/100   recommended Popularity of Ishibutai Tomb: Users who have been to Asuka: 144 Users who have been to Ishibutai Tomb: 56 2nd of 12 most visited sights in Asuka. 454th of 726 most visited sights nationwide. Have you been to Ishibutai Tomb? No - I have not been there yetYes - no ratingYes - highly recommendedYes - recommendedYes - mildly interestingYes - nothing specialYes - not recommended User Feedback We strive to keep japan-guide.com up-to-date and accurate, and are always looking for ways to improve the user experience. If you have any updates, suggestions, corrections or opinions, please let us know:

English Links

Asuka Historical National Government Park Official English website.

Japanese Links

Asuka Historical National Government Park Official website.