This particular two-week journey through Japan involved a LOT of public transportation; interesting but tiring. The entire group but us bicycled to the important sights of Asuka once we arrived but I have unfortunately lost whatever balance I once had on a bicycle and we bused there and met them. It is not true that once you learn to ride a bike you never forget.
Asukadera Temple was founded in 596, about 60 years after Buddhism came to Japan and was constructed as Japan’s first full-scale temple. The highlight inside is the Asuka Great Buddha statue in the temple’s main hall which is the oldest known Japanese statue of Buddha in existence.
A wonderful Sushi lunch, walk to a humungous burial mound and it was time to move along…
AloJapan.com