Archaeological Sites in Japan
Ishi no Hōden Megalith
A 500-ton megalith carved from rhyolite welded tuff, measuring 6.4m wide, 5.7m high, and 7.2m deep, situated within the grounds of Ōshiko Jinja shrine in Takasago, Hyōgo Prefecture. Recognized as one…
Kagoshima Castle Ruins
Edo-period flatland castle built in 1601 by Shimazu Iehisa, 18th head of the Shimazu clan and first lord of the Satsuma Domain. Uniquely lacked a main keep, reflecting the Satsuma principle that a…
Kameishi
Kameishi (Tortoise Stone) is a massive granite megalith in Asuka village, Nara Prefecture, carved into the shape of a turtle. The stone currently faces south, but legend holds it originally faced…
Naegi Castle Ruins
Naegi Castle was built in 1532 by Toyama Naokado atop Mount Takamori (432m) in Nakatsugawa, Gifu Prefecture, overlooking the Kiso River and the Nakasendo highway. Known as "Red Wall Castle"…
Osaka Castle
One of Japan's most famous castles, built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi beginning in 1583 on the former site of the Ishiyama Hongan-ji temple. The five-story main keep, adorned with gold leaf, and massive…
Oushiko Shrine
Oushiko Shrine is a Shinto shrine located on the slopes of Hōden Mountain in Takasago City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. The shrine enshrines a massive stone structure known as the "Stone Hōden" (石の宝殿),…
Sakafune-ishi Ruins
The Sakafune-ishi Archaeological Site in Asuka village, Nara Prefecture, features a giant granite slab measuring 5.5 metres long, 2.3 metres wide, and 1 metre thick, with circular dents and grooves…
Yonaguni Monument
The Yonaguni Monument is a submerged rock formation off Yonaguni Island, Japan, discovered by diver Kihachiro Aratake in 1986. The rectangular structure measures over 50 metres long and 20 metres…