Asuka and Fujiwara together illustrate the emergence of Japan’s first fully centralised state, shaped by the adoption of the ritsuryō system and the introduction of Buddhism as a state supported institution. Located in the southern Nara Basin, the nineteen archaeological components preserve palaces, administrative complexes, temples, and tombs that demonstrate the formation, consolidation, and operation of early Japanese governance between the 6th and early 8th centuries. The Asuka Capital (588–694 CE), centred on Asuka dera, Japan’s first Buddhist temple, embodies the initial establishment of continental political and religious models. The subsequent Fujiwara Capital (694–710 CE) represents the first planned capital city built according to Chinese urban design principles, signalling the maturation of the new state structure.