This site is a web media that delivers all kinds of trivia, from sightseeing and gourmet spots in the six Tohoku prefectures to local, customs, and history.
Kazuno City which borders Aomori and Iwate prefectures, was formerly called "Kamitsuno" rather than "Kazuno.
There are many mountains nearby Hachimantai, Gonomiyadake, Akita Yakeyama, Sannodake, Mikatataka, Shikakudake, Nakadake, Hachimori, Yamagemori, and Towariyama
Among them, there is one mountain that is so man-made that it is no exaggeration to say it may have been created artificially
It is Mount Kuromata also known locally Kuromanta or Kurumanta Mountain"a place where the gods gather" . However, mountains that simply resemble pyramids can be found all over the world. So why is Mount Kuromata attracting worldwide attention? Today, we have actually visited and climbed it, so we would like to share this mystery with you!
Mt. Kuromata, where academic research was also conducted
Mt. Kuromata's "near-cone shape" and "wide, flat summit" seem too artificial. From 1992 to 1994, the Pacific Rim Society's "Kuromata Mountain Comprehensive Research Team," , conducted archaeological research on Mt. Kuromata using ground-penetrating radar, infrared photography, aerial photography, and other methods.
During the survey, stone tools, stonework, pottery, and clay artifacts were found on Mt. Kuromata, as well as iron nails and old coins. In addition, 16 stone inscribed objects made of dacite were found on the summit, slopes, and foot of the mountain
Within a 2km straight-line distance is the Oyu Stone Circle , one of the Jomon Ruins of Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku, This suggests that Mt. Kuromata may have also been a place for mountain religious rituals, but the mysteries surrounding Mt. Kuromata do not end there.
In a 2022 TV program (Ariyoshi's Simultaneous Worldwide Broadcast: Uncovering the Mysteries of Pyramids in Japan and Around the World! Forbidden Investigation Special, TV Tokyo), an investigation using the latest radar equipment was conducted with the cooperation of Tohoku University. A cavity where someone is likely to be buried and a sarcophagus-like object were discovered 10 meters underground at the summit, and it was confirmed that the entire Mount Kuromata is made up of a terraced structure of 7 to 10 stone tiers
In other words, it is difficult to say that this mountain was formed naturally, and it is thought that it may have been created with some kind of purpose
The nearby Oyu Stone Circle is the largest stone circle in Japan, and although its purpose is still unknown, it is to be a "mass grave"a "religious ritual site," suggesting that Mt. Kuromata may have been a burial site for someone of high rank or special importance, and may have been a place for "mountain religious rituals."
I visited at the end of February, so I knew it was snowing. That's right. This time, I went mountain climbing in the snow
First, at the trailhead, Hongu Shrine . There is supposedly a main hall at the summit, but the founding date is unknown. According to the shrine's legend, the four villages of Nakadori built a shrine dedicated to Okuninushi-no-Mikoto in 1659, and another legend says that the shrine was founded when Hongu Tokujiro, a member of Abe Sadato's family, built a Yakushido hall. Incidentally, the name Hongu Shrine is thought to have been adopted after the Meiji period.
I had done some research and found out that there was a Hongu Shrine on Mt. Kuromata, but my heart was set on "climbing the pyramid!", so to be honest, at this point I wasn't sure whether to pray or climb the pyramid... It was a strange feeling, a mix of Japanese and Western
Altitude 280m, let's go
It's a snowy mountain, of course, but you can faintly see the mountain path, and you can also see footprints that look like they belong to a small animal
The area is covered with cedar trees and, of course, the snow has not been removed, so the ground is very slippery. However, the mountain path is easy to follow even in the snow, so it seems to be well maintained
The gentle slope changes into a steep, zigzagging slope. Perhaps because I was imagining a pyramid as I climbed, I got the illusion that although it was steep, I was climbing at a constant angle from halfway up
After about 15 minutes of climbing, we finally arrived at the summit
As mentioned above, the main shrine of Hongu Shrine is located at the summit
Although the inscription on the plaque is unreadable, the principal image at the summit is Yakushi Nyorai. As mentioned earlier, when Tokujiro Motomiya, a doctor and member of the family of Abe Sadato, moved to Kazuno in search of a place to settle down, he carried the Abe clan's guardian deities, Kiyomizu Kannon, Hachiman Daibosatsu, and Taishakuten, on his back, and enshrined Taishakuten on Mt. Kuromata, enshrined Hachiman Daibosatsu in the Kusaki Hachiman Hall in the direction of Tatsumi, and enshrined Kiyomizu Kannon in the grounds of Daienji Temple in the direction of Ushitora. Furthermore, he dedicated his faith to Yakushi Nyorai, the guardian deity of doctors, and built a Yakushi Hall on Mt. Kuromata so that he could visit from afar
The name Hongu Shrine was first used around the Meiji period, and it was named after Hongu Tokujiro, and the Yakushi Hall was built at the top of the shrine to enshrine Yakushi Nyorai
At the top, there is also a small shrine and what appears to be a water basin, although it is hard to see due to the snow
The view is not great because of the trees around it,
It is surrounded by trees and is quiet, so you can spend a peaceful time there
After this we safely descended the mountain
My impression after climbing up was that when I was climbing the mountain path, the angle of the slope seemed constant, or maybe it was just my imagination, but there was almost no pyramid-like feeling to it
However, it is true that there have been various rumors around here for a long time, such as people seeing unknown flying objects in the sky above Mt. Kuromata! And as far back as 1932, a Japanese painter born in Shichinohe, Aomori Prefecture, who was active from the Meiji to Showa periods "Toriya Hatayama," painted a sumi-e (ink wash painting) of the sky above Mt. Kuromata, which also depicts a UFO-like object flying with a tail of light, along with the words "Pyramid Kuromata, commonly known as the Black Manta."
As the saying goes, "There is no smoke without fire," this may be a mysterious place, or perhaps "something" that was built with a clear purpose
We don't know how many years it will take, but we look forward to the mystery of Kuromatayama and the adjacent Oyu Stone Circle being solved.
Kuromatayama Akita Prefectural Route 66 (North Tohoku Romantic Road) as shown in the photo, with a signboard visible.
Nearby is the Oyu Stone Circle, athe Oyu Roadside Station, which is just a 6-minute drive away and has been the site of many UFO sightings, so we recommend stopping by both.
Hot Spring Station Oyu (Oyu Engawa Cafe)Hot Spring Station Oyu (Oyu Engawa Shop)
Mt. Kuromata＜Information＞
Name: Kuromatayama
Address: Towada Oyu Miyanodaira, Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture 018-5421
Altitude: 280.7m
Google Map
Hot Spring Station Oyu <Information>
Name: Yunoeki Oyu
Address: 19 Nakayachi, Towada Oyu, Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture, 018-5421
Phone number: 0186-22-4184
Opening hours of each facility
Oyu Engawa Shop: 9:00-17:00
Oyu Engawa Cafe: 11:00-16:00 (last meal order 15:00)
I'm a member of the Neft editorial team. I love alcohol, music, and traveling, so I indulge in some drinks after work on weekdays, and on weekends, if I have free time, I travel to nearby areas. I work hard every day with the goal of eventually traveling overseas to find connections to Tohoku through NEFT reporting.
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