Is Japan's Oyu Stone Circle a sacred place from the Jomon period? [Akita Prefecture]

located in Towada, Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture,The Oyu Stone Circles,that were designated a World Heritage Site on July 27, 2021.the "Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku"The Oyu Stone Circles are believed to be a site from the late Jomon period (approximately 4,000 years ago), and theirthe two stone circles (Nonakado Stone Circles and Manza Stone Circles)most distinctive feature is

The World Heritage Site"Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku",8 in Aomori Prefecture, 1 in Iwate Prefecture, and 2 in Akita Prefectureconsists

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What is a stone circle?

The World Heritage Site "Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku" includes two archaeological sites in Akita Prefecture, both of which"stone circles."are

There are 178 stone circles discovered in Japan, about 40% of which are found in Akita Prefecture in the Tohoku region

Stone circles are also"ring-shaped stone arrangements," and depending on the generation, many people may be more familiar with the term "stone circle" than "ring-shaped stone arrangements."

world-famous"stone circles," the mostin England, which utilizes megalithsare Stonehengein the Lake District of Englandthe Swainside Stone Circle.

Stonehenge in England consists of five sets of massive gate-shapedstone structures (trilitons), surrounded by 30 standingstones (menhirs). There are still various theories about the purpose of the site, including that it was a place of worship for sun worship or an ancient observatory.

There are also various stone circles from different eras in other parts of the world, such as in western Mongolia and Africa (Senegambia region), and modern excavations have revealed that, like Stonehenge, they were all used by the people of the time as places of worship and burial sites

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Stone Circles in Akita Prefecture

In the previous chapter, we briefly explained stone circles around the world, but excavations of two stone circles in Akita Prefecture suggest that they may have been used for religious ceremonies, burial sites, and astronomical research

Interestingly, it is said that Stonehenge in England and the stone circles in Akita Prefecture were probably built around the same time, about 4,000 to 4,500 years ago

It is hard to imagine that there was diplomatic relations between Britain and Japan 4,000 to 4,500 years ago, and there are no records of any exchanges whatsoever

Martin Allfrey of English Heritage has, "Japan and the UK are located at roughly the same latitude, so perhaps their ideologies are closer than we imagine?"But is it really possible to create something that closely resembles them?

Although many aspects remain shrouded in mystery, Ithe Oyu Stone Circle Museumhave traveled tothe "mysteries of the world"I hope to explore

Oyu Stone Circle

The Oyu Stone Circles are believed to date back to the late Jomon period (approximately 4,000 years ago) and arethe Nonakado Stone Circles,with a maximum diameter of 52 metersthe Manza Stone Circles,a collective name for two stone circles:

with its largest diameter of 52 meters,the Manza Stone Circle,is the largest stone circle in Japan.

Both of these formations create a double ring, anda "sundial-like arrangement of stones"exists between the outer and inner rings, on the northwest side when viewed from the center of each ring,a sundialand that it may have also served as

This "sundial-shaped stone arrangement" is aligned in a straight line with the center of the two stone circles, and it is known that the sun sets at this position on the summer solstice

Furthermore, 60% of the river stones used in the two stone circles"quartz diorite porphyry,"which is believed to have been transported from the Oyugawa River, located about 2 to 4 km away from the stone circles.

The stone arrangements that make up the Oyu Stone Circle consist of many circular or square clusters of about a dozen stones each, and each of these small clusters is considered a"stone arrangement tomb," while recent excavations"group tomb."suggest that the stone circle as a whole is highly likely to be a

Concentric circles of post-hole buildings, storage pits, and pits containing a concentration of artifacts have been found around the stone circle. Pit dwellings have been found on the edge of the plateau to the northeast and northwest of the Manza stone circle, a group of post-hole buildings arranged in a circle 50 metres northeast, and a group of stone-arranged remains 30 metres south of the Nonakado stone circle

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Let's go to Oyu Stone Circle! (Field Report)

for the lengthy explanation above, but this was my first timethe "Oyu Stone Circle Museum."visiting

Actually, I came at the wrong time of year. When I visited, it was the end of February, and the landscape was completely covered in snow. The reception staff told me, "There isn't much snow this year," but to me, who is from Miyagi, it was a lot of snow. Apparently, normally at this time of year, more than 1 meter of snow accumulates

The "Oyu Stone Circle Museum"opened in April 2002 on land adjacent to the Oyu Stone Circle, an archaeological site dating back to the late Jomon period (approximately 4,000 years ago), as a guidance facility for the site.

There are explanations about the ruins and exhibits of excavated Jomon pottery, and in the Jomon workshop inside the museum you can try your hand at making Jomon pottery and Jomon pendants

At the back of the Upper Jomon Workshop is Manza Hall, where, from March 2023, 4K footage of the Oyu Stone Circle will be shown on three large screens. The footage provides an easy-to-understand explanation of the food and housing of the Jomon period as revealed by the latest science, as well as the history of the stone circle from its discovery to its excavation and maintenance

Admission is free, and screenings are held every 30 minutes from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on opening days, with each film lasting approximately 8 minutes

The latest 4K footage is incredibly impressive! To be honest, 8 minutes is not enough

Oyu Stone Circle Museum and Exhibition Hall

The exhibition hall displays various documents and artworks in an easy-to-understand manner, including information on the period when the Oyu Stone Circle was created and what has been learned from excavations

Various artifacts have been unearthed at the Oyu Stone Circle, but among them, there are"first-class tools,"are thought to be tools used in rituals and ceremonies"second-class tools,".

unearthed from the east sideand the "doban" (clay tablet).

It measures 58mm in height and weighs 48.39g. It has numerous holes of various sizes and U-shaped carvings, and it is said that it was used for counting numbers, astronomy, or perhaps a stone circle used in some kind of ritual. However, the exact reason is still unknown, and the artifact remains shrouded in mystery

With its two separate holes on the left and right of the top and a large hole in the middle, it looks as if it's gazing at the sky, and fans"Doban-kun,"making it a popular exhibit at the Oyu Stone Circle.

The exhibition hall also features holograms of the excavated items, allowing visitors to see every detail of 27 pieces of distinctive pottery and clay tablets excavated from the Oyu Stone Circle, including their bottoms and interiors

After touring the Stone Circle Museum to some extent, I thought, "Okay! Now let's go see the real Oyu Stone Circle!" and asked the Stone Circle Museum staff for directions

"The Oyu Stone Circle will be closed during the winter." I was told. I hadn't checked enough. I was foolish to think that since the Oyu Stone Circle Museum was open, I would be able to visit even though the area was covered in snow

However, "you are free to view the area from the road that runs between the Manza Stone Circle and the Nonakado Stone Circle."

There was still hope! So we decided to visit the Oyu Stone Circle

Walk west on Akita Prefectural Route 66 (North Tohoku Romantic Road) for about 2-3 minutes

The Manza Stone Circle, covered in snow

You can also see the Nonakado Stone Circle, which is also covered in snow

Of course, you can't see anything because of the snow. And because of the snow, it's hard to tell where anything is. It would be pointless to go inside and tour the ruins and step on or destroy them. That's why they close for the winter

After touring the area, I found myself pondering the reason for its winter closure, but the view of the mountains in the distance was refreshing

When I think about how this scenery hasn't changed much since 4,000 to 4,500 years ago, I can understand a little better why the stone circle was placed here

While not everything has been fully explained, the meaning behind the Jomon people"group burials,"with celestial bodies may be much simpler than we initially thought.

It may be that the countless stars in the night sky overlap with deceased family members, and that it has become a sacred place, a place to be carefully managed and passed down as a place of prayer, and that an event known as synchronicity occurred around the world at the same time

was being sold at the sales corner next to the reception desk inside the Oyu Stone Circle building"Doban-kun keychain" thatexcitedly purchased a

Each item is handmade, and every one has a unique and adorable expression. In addition to these,"Doban-kun earrings"and"Doban-kun straps," various other items exclusive to the site are also available for purchase, so be sure to check them out when you visit the Oyu Stone Circle Museum.

I don't know what it's used for, but it might be useful in a survival situation

Oyu Stone Circle Museum

• Address: 45 Manza, Towada Oyu, Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture
• Opening hours　
  • Regular period (April 1st to October 31st)
    • 9:00-18:00
    • No closing days
  • Snowfall season (November 1st to March 31st)
    • 9:00-16:00
    • Closed on Mondays (or the following weekday if Monday is a national holiday) and the New Year holidays (December 29th to January 3rd)
• Usage fee
  • Admission fee: Free
  • Exhibition hall viewing fee
    • Adults: 320 yen (Groups: 250 yen)
    • Children: 110 yen (Groups: 90 yen)
    • *Group rates apply to groups of 20 or more
• Official website　: https://oyustonecircles.explorekazuno.jp/

Visiting the ruins (outdoors)

• [April 8th to September 30th] 9:00-17:30
• [October 1st to October 31st] 9:00-16:30
• [November 1st to November 19th] 9:00-16:00 (closed all day on holidays)
• [After November 20th] Winter closure

*The above opening hours for the ruins are for the 2023 season. There are slight differences from year to year, so please be sure to check the official website each time you visit

Google Map

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