6 Historic sites in Akita worth your time
Japan Gems
6 Historic sites in Akita, with what to see and how to get there.
Akita has 6 historic sites on Japan Gems. Below are the 6 we can tell you the most about — each one written up in English from Japanese sources, with what to see and how to get there. See all historic sites in Akita.
01
Kurumidate Site
AKITA · HISTORIC SITE 胡桃館遺跡
Explore ancient remains of a 9th-century office or temple, buried by a volcanic eruption.
What it is
- Designated historic site in Kitaakita City.
- Dates from the late 9th to early 10th century.
- Believed to be remains of an office or temple.
- Buried by a lahar from the 915 Mt. Towada eruption.
What to see
- Four excavated buildings, fence rows, and post rows.
- Buildings constructed using cedar wood.
- 441 excavated artifacts were found.
- 5 Akita Prefecture Designated Tangible Cultural Properties.
- 436 National Important Cultural Properties.
- A wooden tablet from 2005 with names and rice quantities.
02
Jizouden Site
AKITA · HISTORIC SITE 地蔵田遺跡
Explore Japan's first citizen-developed National Historic Site, spanning Paleolithic to Yayoi periods.
What it is
- A complex archaeological site in Akita City.
- Designated as a National Historic Site.
- First citizen-led historic site development in Japan.
- Discovered and investigated starting in 1981.
What to see
- A Yayoi period settlement enclosed by a wooden palisade.
- Oval wooden palisade measures 61 by 47 meters internally.
- 25 pottery coffin burials and 51 pit burials.
- 4,447 Paleolithic artifacts, 34,000 to 35,000 years old.
03
Ōyu Stone Circles
AKITA · HISTORIC SITE 大湯環状列石
Explore ancient Jomon stone circles, a World Heritage site revealing prehistoric Japanese life.
What it is
- Large stone circles from the Jomon period.
- Discovered in 1931.
- Designated a Special National Historic Site.
- Registered as a World Heritage site in July 2021.
What to see
- Two main stone circles: Nonakadō and Manza.
- Manza site has a maximum diameter of 52 meters.
- Nonakadō site has a maximum diameter of 44 meters.
- Ōyu Stone Circle Museum displays artifacts.
- Excavated pottery, stone tools, and clay figurines.
- Official site
- www.city.kazuno.akita.jp
04
Sugisawadai Site
AKITA · HISTORIC SITE 杉沢台遺跡
Explore a large archaeological site with pit dwellings from the Jomon to Heian periods.
What it is
- A complex archaeological site in Noshiro City, Akita Prefecture.
- Designated a National Historic Site since September 1981.
- Spans from the Early Jomon period to the Heian period.
What to see
- Forty-four pit dwellings, including four large buildings.
- One hundred nine flask-shaped storage pits.
- Early Jomon polished stone axes made from Aotora stone.
- Site covers 35,000 square meters on a plateau.
05
Iwanoyama Kofun Cluster
AKITA · HISTORIC SITE 岩野山古墳群
Explore ancient burial mounds, the northernmost kofun on the Sea of Japan coast.
What it is
- A burial ground from the early Nara to Heian periods.
- Designated an Akita Prefectural Historic Site.
- Discovered in 1960 by a farmer.
- Often called the northernmost kofun group on the Sea of Japan coast.
What to see
- Six kofun confirmed on the northeast slope.
- Twelve structures identified on the northwest slope.
- A1 kofun contained a sword, iron horse bit, and magatama.
06
Isedōtai Site
AKITA · HISTORIC SITE 伊勢堂岱遺跡
Explore a large Jomon-era archaeological site with unique circular stone arrangements and ancient artifacts.
What it is
- A Jomon period archaeological site.
- Discovered in 1992.
- Designated a National Historic Site in 2001.
- Registered as a World Cultural Heritage site in 2021.
What to see
- Four circular stone arrangements.
- Excavated slab-shaped clay figures.
- Other excavated artifacts.
- Isedōtai Jomon Museum.