Chikatsu Asuka: From Prince Shotoku's Eifuku-ji Temple to the Townscape of Tondabayashi Jinaimachi

This tour visits the area known as "Chikatsu Asuka" at the western foot of Mt. Nijo. Walk through the Osaka Prefectural Chikatsu Asuka Museum and its surrounding burial mound hills showcasing the Kofun and Asuka periods, pay your respects at Eifuku-ji Temple where the mausoleum of Prince Shotoku is located, and take the Kintetsu train to Tondabayashi Jinaimachi. This route traces history forward through time, from the resting place of ancient emperors to the preserved streets lined with substantial merchant townhouses.

History and Regional Appeal

While Asuka in Nara is called "Totsu Asuka" (far Asuka), the area around the western foot of Mt. Nijo is known as "Chikatsu Asuka" (near Asuka), where an advanced culture introduced by continental immigrants flourished in ancient times. Numerous kofun (ancient tumuli) were constructed here. Surrounding Eifuku-ji Temple, along with Prince Shotoku's mausoleum, lie the imperial tombs of Emperors Bidatsu, Yomei, Suiko, and Kotoku, as well as the tomb of Ono no Imoko.

Prince Shotoku passed away in the 30th year of Empress Suiko's reign (622) at the age of 49 and was laid to rest in the mausoleum within the grounds of Eifuku-ji Temple alongside his mother and consort. Eifuku-ji Temple became a central site of Shotoku faith alongside Shitenno-ji Temple and Horyu-ji Temple, drawing many pilgrims under the name "Kami-no-Taishi."

Later, in the mid-16th century, the religious autonomous town of Tondabayashi Jinaimachi was established around the Kosho-ji Betsuin temple. From the 17th century onward, it prospered as a commercial hub where agricultural produce from surrounding villages was gathered, and the stately townhouses evocative of those times still form the townscape today.

Key Highlights

• ​Osaka Prefectural Chikatsu Asuka Museum​​: Opened in 1994 and designed by Ando Tadao, this museum focuses on cultural heritage from the Kofun and Asuka periods. At the center of the hall is a 1:150 scale model reconstructing Nintoku-tenno-ryo Kofun as it looked when first built, depicting scenes of daily life among the people who constructed the burial mounds. In the adjacent Chikatsu Asuka Fudoki-no-Oka, there are 102 kofun, 40 of which allow visitors to enter and observe the corridor-style stone chambers inside.
• ​Eifuku-ji Temple​​: Located deep within the temple grounds, Prince Shotoku's mausoleum is a circular burial mound measuring 54.3 meters in diameter. Because three individuals—the Prince, his mother, and his consort—are interred here, it is referred to as "Sankotsu Ichibyo." The Shoryoden hall, rebuilt by Toyotomi Hideyori, and the Tahoto pagoda, reconstructed in the Edo period, are designated national Important Cultural Properties. Every year on April 11 and 12, the Daijoe-shiki Ceremony is held in commemoration of the Prince's death anniversary.
• ​Tondabayashi Jinaimachi​​: This townscape was selected as Osaka Prefecture's only national Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings in 1997. The original town grid of "six avenues and seven blocks" (rokusuji-shichicho) from its founding remains, and the main street, Jonomon-suji Street, is selected among Japan's 100 Famous Roads. Notable features include "atemage" (streets deliberately offset at intersections to obstruct visibility) and the Former Sugiyama Family Residence, a national Important Cultural Property that is open to the public.

Recommended Route and Travel Time

The approximate duration is about 6 hours. The starting point is Kishi Station, about 30 minutes by Kintetsu train from Osaka-Abenobashi Station. From Kishi Station, board the Kintetsu Bus Hannan Line, alight at the "Chikatsu Asuka Hakubutsukan-mae" bus stop, and walk about 10 minutes to reach the museum. After viewing the exhibits, take a walk among the kofun in Fudoki-no-Oka. While the stone chamber of the Prince's actual mausoleum cannot be entered, the museum houses a replica model of its interior, providing a helpful preview before visiting Eifuku-ji Temple.

Eifuku-ji Temple is located about 1.8 kilometers north-northwest of the museum. The nearest bus stop is "Shotoku Taishi Gobyo-mae," with local bus services connecting from Kishi Station and Kaminotaishi Station. After paying your respects, return to Kishi Station and take the Kintetsu train toward Tondabayashi-nishiguchi Station.

Tondabayashi Jinaimachi is about a 10-minute walk from either Tondabayashi-nishiguchi Station or Tondabayashi Station. After strolling along Jonomon-suji Street and visiting the Former Sugiyama Family Residence, taking a break at the Jinaimachi Center or the Jinaimachi Koryukan in town is a pleasant option. For the return trip, it takes about 30 minutes by train from Tondabayashi Station to Osaka-Abenobashi Station.

Experience Summary

Discover ancient royal tombs at a kofun museum, offer prayers at the mausoleum where Prince Shotoku rests, and walk the white-walled streets of Jinaimachi. This single-day journey traces the extensive history of Minamikawachi, leading from the rural landscapes of Chikatsu Asuka to the town of Tondabayashi.