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Unlock the wisdom of a legendary people in this age-old destination.
Perched in a northeastern corner of Akita Prefecture at some 180 meters high sits a Jomon era archaeological site, dating back as far as 4,000 years. Designated as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in July 2021, this spot remains one of 17 “Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan”, found scattered across Hokkaido, Aomori, Akita, and Iwate Prefectures.
Travel here to find two large stone circles: the "Manza Stone Circle”, a 52-meter diameter ring made of some 6,500 stones, and the "Nonakado Stone Circle”, a ring of 2,000 stones measuring 42-meters in diameter at its widest point. One trivia point to note is that each stone circle includes a "sundial stone arrangement" positioned to the northwest of the circle's center. Remarkably, when you connect the center of each stone circle to its corresponding sundial stone arrangement, the line aligns with the direction of the sunset on the summer solstice, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
This intriguing destination gets even better with a stop at the You Stone Circle Museum next door, home to a number of beguiling artifacts and their fascinating explanations on display for a deeper look into the history of this place.
The Manza Stone Circle (left) and Nonakado Stone Circle (right) are arranged in an east-west direction.
A sundial stone arrangement used to measure time by shadow.
Don't miss the Oyu Stone Circle Museum for detailed explanations of the archaeological site.
Frequently Asked Questions have been vetted and answered directly by each listing.
Q
Do you have signs or pamphlets in foreign languages? (If you do, which languages are available?)
Foreign language pamphlets (English, French, Chinese, Korean) and app-based explanations are available. No signboards in the archaeological site itself.
Q
Is it possible to re-enter the premises?
Yes, it is.
Q
Is free WiFi available in the facility?
Yes.
Q
Are coin lockers available?
Yes.
Q
Is there a place to eat on-site?
No dining facilities are available inside the site. Please use nearby places such as Michi-no-Eki Oyu.
Q
Is there a museum shop? Do you offer online sales?
A small shop is available on-site. No online sales.
