Osaka and Nara mark the terminus of the Silk Road. Long ago new ideas such as Buddhism, advanced culture and technology were carried along the Silk Road to arrive in this part of Japan. Europe and North Africa were the source of a variety of cultural influences that can still be seen in the ancient artifacts that survive in this area.
The ancient Japanese people took the objects and ideas from this international trade and made them unique to this country. The legacies of this early culture continue to live through arts and crafts as well as the World Heritage sites left in the Osaka and Nara of today.
So take a trip around Osaka and Nara; discover the beautiful Japanese styles and culture, which developed with roots in the culture of many other civilizations throughout the world.

World Heritage Sites Main Sightseeing Spots Intangible Cultural Heritage
Osaka Convention and Tourism Bureau TEL: +81-6-6944-7189 FAX: +81-6944-6723
Nara Prefecture Tourism Office TEL: +81-742-27-8482 FAX: +81-742-27-7744