Ancient and mysterious places in Japan

Mysteria

169 places · page 5 of 8

🇯🇵 Japan · Tumulus

Takamatsuzuka Tomb

Late Asuka (Fujiwara) 694–710 CE · Asuka–Nara court (Tang-influenced)

23 m Asuka bijin mound (694–710 CE, 1972) — court women fresco, four beasts, sun–moon (National Treasure).

🇯🇵 Japan · Tumulus

Hashihaka Kofun

Early Kofun 280–300 CE (Yayoi → Kofun) · Yamato early Kofun (Makimuku–Hashihaka)

Hashihaka Kofun — first large keyhole-shaped kofun (zenpō-kōen-fun, c.280–300 CE) 280 m long, 30 m high on Makimuku plain Sakurai, excavated 1970s–2000s Shiraishi.

🇯🇵 Japan · Temple complex

Gangyō-ji

Gankei-ji (元慶寺) is a Buddhist temple located in the Kitakazan Kawaramachi, neighborhood of Yamashina-ku, Kyoto, Japan.

🇯🇵 Japan · Megalith

Central Nara Settlement A — Nara, Asuka (54-50)

Chalcolithic (regional) · Chalcolithic

Central Nara Settlement A — Nara, Asuka (54-50) at Nara, Asuka, Japan is a Chalcolithic (regional) megalithic of the Chalcolithic tradition, built c. 2500 BCE for settlement and associated settlement.

🇯🇵 Japan · Temple complex

Outer Nara Enclosure Central — Nara, Asuka (54-23)

Neolithic (regional) · Neolithic

Outer Nara Enclosure Central — Nara, Asuka (54-23) at Nara, Asuka, Japan is a Neolithic (regional) temple complex of the Neolithic tradition, built c. 1800 BCE for enclosure and associated settlement.

🇯🇵 Japan · Submerged site

Yonaguni Monument — North Terrace Stage (Yonaguni, Japan)

Bronze Age to Classical (2000 BCE–500 CE) · Bronze–Iron Age maritime

Yonaguni Monument — North Terrace Stage (Yonaguni, Japan) in Okinawa, Yonaguni Monument, Japan is a Bronze Age to Classical (2000 BCE–500 CE) submerged cit…

🇯🇵 Japan · Submerged site

Great Yonaguni Temple Outer — Yonaguni (58-27)

Bronze Age (regional) · Bronze Age

Great Yonaguni Temple Outer — Yonaguni (58-27) at Yonaguni, Japan is a Bronze Age (regional) submerged city of the Bronze Age tradition, built c. 3000 BCE for temple and associated settlement.

🇯🇵 Japan · Ancient village

New Nara Platform A — Nara, Asuka (54-24)

Iron Age (regional) · Iron Age

New Nara Platform A — Nara, Asuka (54-24) at Nara, Asuka, Japan is a Iron Age (regional) ancient village of the Iron Age tradition, built c. 3000 BCE for platform and associated settlement.

🇯🇵 Japan · Buried city

Yoshinogari — Buried Moat North (Saga, Yayoi, Japan)

Neolithic to Bronze Age (6000–1200 BCE) · Bronze Age

Yoshinogari — Buried Moat North (Saga, Yayoi, Japan) in Saga, Yoshinogari, Japan is a Neolithic to Bronze Age (6000–1200 BCE) buried city attributed to Bro…

🇯🇵 Japan · Temple complex

Tōdai-ji — North Gate Ancillary Kaidan (Nara)

Bronze Age to Classical (2000 BCE–500 CE) · Multi-period temple culture

Tōdai-ji — North Gate Ancillary Kaidan (Nara) in Nara, Nara, Tōdai-ji, Japan is a Bronze Age to Classical (2000 BCE–500 CE) temple complex attributed to Mu…

🇯🇵 Japan · Temple complex

Asuka-dera — East Kondo Platform (Nara, Asuka)

Bronze Age to Classical (2000 BCE–500 CE) · Multi-period temple culture

Asuka-dera — East Kondo Platform (Nara, Asuka) in Nara, Asuka, Asuka-dera, Japan is a Bronze Age to Classical (2000 BCE–500 CE) temple complex attributed t…

🇯🇵 Japan · Temple complex

Anraku-ji (Kamiita)

Anraku-ji (安楽寺) is a Buddhist temple of the Kōyasan Shingon-shū in Kamiita, Tokushima, Japan. Temple 6 on the Shikoku Pilgrimage, the main image is of Bhaisajyaguru (Yakushi Nyōrai).

🇯🇵 Japan · Archaeological wonder

Ruins of Jala

Early Bronze Age (3300–2100 BCE) · Early Bronze Age

Ruins of Jala in Iwate Prefecture, Japan is a Early Bronze Age (3300–2100 BCE) archaeological wonder attributed to Early Bronze Age culture.

🇯🇵 Japan · Temple complex

Qanat Grove 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 · Ancient village

Goshono Jomon Site

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

Horyu-ji Temple Complex Nara

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

Chitose Bibi Sites

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

Sannai-Maruyama Site

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…