Located in the mountainous area of Ayaori-cho, Tono City, Iwate Prefecture, the "Gohyaku Rakan" (Five Hundred Arhats) is a group of stone Buddha statues erected in the late Edo period. While now a well-known tourist spot in Tono City, its background...
Aomori Prefecture has only a little over 30 Paleolithic sites, which is extremely few compared to other municipalities. The reasons for this are detailed in "[Paleolithic Sites in Aomori Prefecture: Part 2]". Among those, I'd like to highlight...
I was surprised by the news report that "there were lions in Japan too" (announced by the Graduate University for Advanced Studies in January 2026). Originally, Paleolithic artifacts (approximately 125,000) have been unearthed in Aomori Prefecture...
Aomori Prefecture suffered extensive damage from heavy snowfall in the winter of 2026. The average winter temperature is around 2°C even during the day, making it extremely cold. Even 6,000 years ago, during the Jomon period, the average temperature during the coldest winters was around 2°C...
"Japanese fossil tigers were actually lions." In January 2026, a shocking research finding was announced. Furthermore, the research subject was a fossil discovered at Shiriyazaki (Higashidori Village) on the Shimokita Peninsula in Aomori Prefecture...
Bandai Town, Yama District, Fukushima Prefecture, is located northeast of Aizuwakamatsu City, at the southern foot of Mount Bandai. Here, there is a temple called Enichiji, which once flourished as a hub of Buddhist culture in the Aizu region.
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The Innai district of Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture. This quiet mountain village once flourished as a town connected to the Innai Silver Mine, known as the "largest silver mine in the Orient." Today, the remains of other silver mines are hidden in the mountains...
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The official history "Shoku Nihongi" records that in 749 (the 21st year of Tenpyo) during the Nara period, gold dust was presented to the Imperial Court from Mutsu Province. The source of this gold is believed to be Wakuya Town, Toda County, Miyagi Prefecture.
Zuiunzan Kotokuji Temple, located in Sakaemachi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, is an ancient temple belonging to the Myoshinji school of the Rinzai sect of Buddhism. Within its grounds lies the tomb of Gamou Ujisato, a Sengoku period feudal lord who laid the foundations of Aizu.
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Morioka Hachimangu Shrine, the main shrine of Morioka City. Walk south for a few minutes along Miyako Kaido, a road that runs north to south from the main entrance, and you'll see Rakan Children's Park on your left. At first glance, it appears to be an ordinary, quiet residential area...
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