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141 places in the atlas, 24 of them inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage.
🇯🇵 Japan · Megalith
Late Jomon (c.2000 BCE) · Late Jomon (Mori)
Largest Hokkaido stone circle (37 m oval, c.2000 BCE) — triple rings with mass-grave pit cemetery above Funka Bay.
🇯🇵 Japan · Ancient city
Ubaid (6500–3800 BCE) · Ubaid
Ancient City of Cist Northfield in Iwate Prefecture, Japan is a Ubaid (6500–3800 BCE) ancient city attributed to Ubaid culture.
🇯🇵 Japan · Temple complex
Early Bronze Age (3300–2100 BCE) · Early Bronze Age
Qanat Grove Temple Complex in Iwate Prefecture, Japan is a Early Bronze Age (3300–2100 BCE) temple complex attributed to Early Bronze Age culture.
🇯🇵 Japan · Megalith
Harappan (2600–1900 BCE) · Harappan
Roxby Midden Dolmen in Iwate Prefecture, Japan is a Harappan (2600–1900 BCE) megalithic attributed to Harappan culture.
🇯🇵 Japan · Megalith
Late Jomon (c.1500 BCE) · Late Jomon
Sea-bluff Jomon stone circle (1500 BCE, 33×22 m oval, 440 stones) — burial and market above Sea of Japan.
🇯🇵 Japan · Hydraulic works
Iron Age (1200 BCE–500 CE) · Iron Age
Circle Jala Aqueduct in Iwate Prefecture, Japan is a Iron Age (1200 BCE–500 CE) hydraulic attributed to Iron Age culture.
🇯🇵 Japan · Ancient village
Late Jomon 2500–1200 BCE · Jomon Late
Late Jomon pit-dwelling settlement (2500–1200 BCE) on Mabechi River plateau, UNESCO 2021 component 1632-010, with 20 pit-houses, 800+ pit graves, burnt mound middens and 4 m earthwork stone pavements…
🇯🇵 Japan · Temple complex
Asuka Period 607 CE; reconstructions 670, 8th c. · Japanese Asuka Buddhist (Prince Shōtoku)
Hōryū-ji – world's oldest surviving wooden structures (Kondō, five-story pagoda, Chūmon gate late 7th c., UNESCO 1993 first Japanese inscription).
🇯🇵 Japan · Ancient village
Jomon (Early to Late, 5000–400 BCE, key Bibi IV Early Jomon) · Jomon (Hokkaido)
Jomon watershed village cluster on Chitose–Bibi portage — Bibi-chan animal figurine and Jomon masks (5000–400 BCE).
🇯🇵 Japan · Ancient village
Middle to Late Jomon 3900–2300 BCE (peak Early-Middle) · Jomon (northern Honshu hunter-gatherer)
Largest Jomon hunter-gatherer settlement (3900–2300 BCE) with 40 ha including six-pillar 15 m building (reconstructed), 500+ pit dwellings, longhouses, burial pits with red ochre, and jade exchange…
🇯🇵 Japan · Submerged site
Classical Antiquity (800 BCE–500 CE) · Iron Age
Pavlopetri Outlier House South in Yonaguni, Japan is a Classical Antiquity (800 BCE–500 CE) submerged city attributed to Iron Age culture.
🇯🇵 Japan · Temple complex
Yayoi legend 4 BCE; historically Asuka period c.692 CE, rebuilt every 20 years · Yamato / Shinto (Japanese imperial)
Shinto's holiest shrine complex (founding legend 4 BCE, attested 692 CE) in primeval cryptomeria forest, dedicated to Amaterasu Ōmikami (Naikū) and Toyouke (Gekū).
🇯🇵 Japan · Ancient village
Yayoi period 400 BCE–300 CE (peak 1st–3rd c CE) · Yayoi (Kyushu farmer, Korean peninsula immigrants)
Largest Yayoi (400 BCE–300 CE) moated village and chiefdom at Yoshinogari hills, 40 ha inner enclosure within 117 ha, with outer moat 2.5 km, watchtowers, raised-floor granary precinct, and king's…
🇯🇵 Japan · Ancient city
Nara Period 710–784 CE (with brief return 745–784) · Yamato / Nara Japanese (Ritsuryo)
Imperial palace of Heijō-kyō capital (710–784 CE) modeling Tang Chang'an, 1.2×1.6 km enclosure with Daigokuden audience hall, Suzaku Gate and Eastern Palace Garden ponds.
🇯🇵 Japan · Ancient village
Middle Jomon (3500–2500 BCE) · Middle Jomon
Middle Jomon volcanic piedmont village (3500–2500 BCE) — pit houses with Esan obsidian workshop.
🇯🇵 Japan · Megalith
Period Medieval · Regional culture Asia-Megalith
Pyramid Outlier Asia 83 — Japan Region 11 in Japan Region 11, Japan is a Iron Age megalithic with stratified deposits and regional significance. Excavations reveal architectural phasing.
🇯🇵 Japan · Ancient village
Yayoi (300 BCE–300 CE) · Yayoi (Wa)
Saga Yoshinogari excavated 1986–, 2000+ pit houses, Chinese Han mirrors and bronze daggers, moat chief graveyard.
🇯🇵 Japan · Ancient village
Hittite · Hittite
Hittite ancient-village at Aomori.
🇯🇵 Japan · Ancient village
Jomon Early to Middle (3900–2200 BCE) · Jomon (Sannai-Maruyama)
Aomori Jomon excavated 1992–, 1500 pit houses, chesnut pillar tower 14 m, lacquer and jade trade, UNESCO 2021.
🇯🇵 Japan · Submerged site
Hittite · Hittite
Hittite submerged-city at Aomori.
🇯🇵 Japan · Tumulus
Kofun (early 5th c. CE) · Yamato
Mozu Itasuke excavated periphery 1980s, scallop shape intermediate between round and keyhole, moat eels.
🇯🇵 Japan · Megalith
Late Jomon (2000–1500 BCE) · Late Jomon Oyu
Kazuno circles excavated 1931 and 1946, Late Jomon double circles aligned to summer solstice sunset.
🇯🇵 Japan · Pyramid
Neolithic · Neolithic
Neolithic pyramid at Aomori.
🇯🇵 Japan · Tumulus
Asuka (c.700 CE, late 7th c.) · Asuka court (Korean painter?)
Asuka tomb discovered 1972 by farmer, excavated 1972–74, mural of women in court dress, Tang-style.
