Amakashi Hill

Amakashi Hill (甘樫丘, Amakashi no Oka) offers one of the best panoramic views in the Asuka region. From the 150-meter-high lookout point, you can see the famous "Three Mountains of Yamato" — Mount Unebi, Mount Miminashi, and Mount Amanokagu — all celebrated in the Manyoshu, Japan’s oldest poetry collection. Other landmarks, like Kashihara Shrine and ancient palace sites, can also be spotted from here, surrounded by peaceful countryside and rice fields.

The hill also has deep historical roots. It’s believed to be the former site of the residence of Soga Emishi and his son Soga Iruka, powerful figures during the Asuka Period. Their assassination in 645 marked the fall of the Soga clan and a major turning point in Japanese politics. From the hill, you can even see where the imperial palace once stood — now quiet farmland — making this place a rare blend of history and natural beauty.