Goods featuring Hello Kitty and local mascot promote old pond

Goods featuring Hello Kitty and local mascot promote old pond

TONDABAYASHI, Japan - Products featuring "Sayarin," a local mascot promoting Osakasayama City in Osaka Prefecture, and Hello Kitty were shown at Osakasayama City hall on Sept. 1, 2014. The goods were put on sale to promote the western Japanese city's Sayamaike, Japan's oldest reservoir dating back to the Asuka period (592-710).

Ruins of gov't buildings in Asuka period discovered

Ruins of gov't buildings in Asuka period discovered

FUKUOKA, Japan - A site in Kasuya Town in the southwestern Japanese prefecture of Fukuoka where an administrative office buildings are believed to have stood during the Asuka period (592-710) is pictured in the photo taken on July 14, 2014.

New remains of Japan's oldest garden found in Nara

New remains of Japan's oldest garden found in Nara

KASHIHARA, Japan - A staffer of the Archaeological Institute of Kashihara points at the remains of a pebbled ditch in Kashihara, Nara Prefecture, western Japan, on July 14, 2014, recently found at the site of Japan's oldest garden dating back to the Asuka era (592-710).

Traces of wall pillar holes found at ancient garden site

Traces of wall pillar holes found at ancient garden site

KASHIHARA, Japan - A staffer of the Archaeological Institute of Kashihara stands on the remains of Japan's oldest garden in Kashihara, Nara Prefecture, western Japan, on July 14, 2014, pointing to pillar holes used for walls surrounding it. The remains of the garden dating back to the Asuka era (592-710) were unearthed recently.

Traces of wall pillar holes found at ancient garden site

Traces of wall pillar holes found at ancient garden site

KASHIHARA, Japan - Traces of pillar holes used for walls surrounding Japan's oldest garden are shown to the press in Kashihara, Nara Prefecture, western Japan, on July 14, 2014. Remains of the garden dating back to the Asuka era (592-710) were unearthed recently.

Goods featuring Hello Kitty and local mascot promote old pond

Goods featuring Hello Kitty and local mascot promote old pond

TONDABAYASHI, Japan - Products featuring "Sayarin," a local mascot promoting Osakasayama City in Osaka Prefecture, and Hello Kitty were shown at Osakasayama City hall on Sept. 1, 2014. The goods were put on sale to promote the western Japanese city's Sayamaike, Japan's oldest reservoir dating back to the Asuka period (592-710). (Kyodo)

Ruins of gov't buildings in Asuka period discovered

Ruins of gov't buildings in Asuka period discovered

FUKUOKA, Japan - A site in Kasuya Town in the southwestern Japanese prefecture of Fukuoka where an administrative office buildings are believed to have stood during the Asuka period (592-710) is pictured in the photo taken on July 14, 2014. (Kyodo)

Traces of wall pillar holes found at ancient garden site

Traces of wall pillar holes found at ancient garden site

KASHIHARA, Japan - A staffer of the Archaeological Institute of Kashihara stands on the remains of Japan's oldest garden in Kashihara, Nara Prefecture, western Japan, on July 14, 2014, pointing to pillar holes used for walls surrounding it. The remains of the garden dating back to the Asuka era (592-710) were unearthed recently. (Kyodo)