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Q.Why are there no tall buildings in Asuka village?

Published 2026-06-18

Answer

Asuka has no tall buildings or apartment blocks because the entire village is protected by law. On top of the 1966 Ancient Capitals Preservation Law, a special-measures law for Asuka alone (the "Asuka Law") was enacted in 1980, placing the whole village under historic-landscape protection. Its landscape ordinance also keeps homes to two stories as a rule.

The whole village sits on top of ruins

Asuka village is like one big archaeological site, with Asuka-period palace sites, temple foundations and tombs spread beneath it. Ordinary development would risk destroying the ruins and the historic landscape. So an unusually strong preservation framework — covering the entire village — was put in place, something rare even in Japan.

The Ancient Capitals law and the "Asuka Law"

Under the Ancient Capitals Preservation Law (enacted 1966), the entire village was designated a Special Historic-Landscape Preservation District (Class 1 and Class 2) in 1980. That same year, a special-measures law for Asuka alone (the "Asuka Law") was enacted. A law made for a single village is exceptional; it aims to balance preserving the ruins with improving residents' living environment.

1966Ancient Capitals Preservation Law enacted

1980Asuka Law enacted; whole village protected

100%share of the village under historic-landscape protection

Hence low buildings and restrained signage

Since 2011, under a landscape ordinance, the whole village has been a landscape-plan zone. Homes are kept to two stories as a rule, the "full two-story" form (where both floors are the same size) is avoided, and colors and shapes must fit the surroundings. The result is a low skyline that harmonizes with the terraced rice fields, hamlets and ruins.

2stories allowed for homes (as a rule)

2011whole village made a landscape-plan zone

100%share of the village in the landscape-plan zone

Protection is exactly what makes World Heritage possible

It is precisely this thorough preservation that has kept both the underground ruins and the above-ground landscape intact — paving the way for the World Heritage inscription of Asuka-Fujiwara in July 2026. At the same time, strong regulation affects residents' lives and the population. Use the "status of Asuka village" and population datasets below to see both sides — preservation and daily life.

Datasets behind this article

Related reading

Sources