AkitaTravel

UNESCO World Cultural Heritage from approximately 4,000 years ago, family mystery-solving about the stone ring

About this spot

A stone circle from the late Jomon period approximately 4,000 years ago and one of Japan's largest, designated as both a Special Historic Site and a component asset of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site "Jomon Heritage Sites of Hokkaido and Northern Honshu." It consists of two stone circles: Manza and Nonakado, with the larger Manza Stone Circle exceeding 50 meters in diameter. The sight of river stones meticulously arranged in rings spreading gently across a wide grassland is breathtaking in its grandeur. Particularly noteworthy is the "sundial-shaped stone arrangement," where long stones radiate from the center, suggesting that the Jomon people were conscious of the sun's movement. Standing before this mysterious site—whether it was a cemetery or a festival ground remains unclear—and speculating with your family about "why they made this" will immerse you in the ancient romance befitting an exploration day.

Tips

Adjacent to the Oyu Stone Circle Museum, a short walk from the museum's parking lot. Since the site is an outdoor grassland, comfortable walking shoes and a hat are recommended. Two stone circles, Manza and Nonakado, are separated by a prefectural road; be careful of traffic when visiting both. In winter, there may be periods when the site is inaccessible due to snow.