17 Historic sites in Okayama worth your time

Explore ancient kilns that produced tiles for Nara's Great Buddha temple.

What it is

• Remains of a kiln that produced tiles for Todai-ji Temple.
• Designated a national historic site in 1927.
• Kilns produced tiles for Todai-ji Temple's reconstruction.

What to see

• Thirteen kiln sites on the western slope of Oterayama.
• New tile kiln sites and building foundation stones.
• Kilns produced round eaves tiles and flat tiles.
• Some tiles were inscribed with 'Todai-ji Temple'.

Getting there

• 400m northeast of Mantomi Station.
• Located on the Oterayama hill.

Read more about Mantomi Todaiji Gayo Site

Washūzan Site is a Paleolithic archaeological site, significant for early stone tool discoveries in Western Japan.

What it is

• A Paleolithic period archaeological site.
• First Paleolithic site discovered in Western Japan.
• Serves as a standard for Paleolithic research.
• Excavation began in 1954.

What to see

• Stone tools found in weathered granite soil layers.
• Excavated tools include long flakes and spearheads.
• Tools made from Sanukite from Kagawa Prefecture.

Getting there

• Near Kojima Station on the JR Honshi Bisans Line.
• 10-minute drive from Seto-Chuo Expressway Kojima IC.

Read more about Washūzan Site

Chisoku Kofun is a unique scallop-shaped burial mound with ancient stone chambers.

What it is

• A scallop-shaped kofun, an ancient burial mound.
• Part of the Tsukuriyama Kofun group.
• Designated as a national historic site.
• A companion mound to the Tsukuriyama Kofun.

What to see

• A scallop-shaped tumulus with a short front part.
• Cylindrical and figural haniwa on the mound surface.
• Two horizontal stone chambers in the rear circular part.
• The first stone chamber, one of the oldest in Kibi region.
• The first stone chamber, with Higo-style characteristics.

Read more about Chisoku Kofun

Explore ancient Yayoi burial mounds, offering a glimpse into Japan's early history.

What it is

• A group of Yayoi period burial mounds.
• Dates to the late 2nd century.
• Designated a Kurashiki City Historic Site in 2005.
• Designated an Okayama Prefecture Historic Site in 2023.

What to see

• Two burial mounds: Tumulus 1 and Tumulus 2.
• Tumulus 1 is oval-shaped with a stone chamber.
• Tumulus 2 is square-shaped with four pit burials.
• Stone chamber of Tumulus 1 is under a protective structure.
• Artifacts are stored at Kurashiki Archaeological Museum.

Read more about Kuromiya Ōtsuka Tumuli

Explore ancient Bizen ware kilns, a National Historic Site preserving centuries of pottery tradition.

What it is

• A National Historic Site in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture.
• Designated for Bizen Pottery Kiln Sites.
• Dates from the late Muromachi to late Edo periods.
• Consists of three main locations.

What to see

• Ibe Minami-Ogama Site with three kilns.
• Largest kiln at Minami-Ogama is 54 meters long.
• Ibe Nishi-Ogama Site with three kiln remains.
• Ibe Kita-Ogama Site with four kiln remains.
• Kilns produced daily necessities and tea ceremony items.

Read more about Bizen old kilns

An ancient ritual site with artifacts from Nara and Heian periods, important for understanding early Japanese history.

What it is

• An ancient ritual site in Kasaoka City.
• Discovered in 1962, it is a designated historic site.
• Suggests multiple national rituals were performed here.
• Important for its connection to Kentoshi envoys.

What to see

• Excavated artifacts are National Important Cultural Properties.
• Artifacts include Nara Sansai, bronze mirrors, and coins.
• See artifacts at Okayama Prefectural Museum.
• See artifacts at Kasaoka City Local Museum.

Read more about Ōbishima Site

Ancient keyhole-shaped tomb, well-preserved, believed to be a prince's burial site.

What it is

• Ancient tumulus in Okayama, Japan.
• Designated as the tomb of Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto.
• Dates to the early Kofun period.
• Managed by the Imperial Household Agency.

What to see

• Keyhole-shaped tumulus.
• Well-preserved mound on Kibi-no-Nakayama hill.
• Two-tiered structure.
• Fukiishi (revetment stones) on the mound surface.
• Mound length is 105 meters.
• Posterior circular part has a 68-meter diameter.

Read more about Nakayama Chausuyama Kofun

Explore an ancient shell mound and settlement, offering a glimpse into Yayoi and Kamakura period life.

What it is

• A large, complex archaeological site.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 1985.
• Dates from the Yayoi period to the Kamakura period.
• Confirmed by local historian Kaoru Nagase in 1933.

What to see

• Two restored pit dwellings from the Yayoi period.
• The shell mound itself, from the Yayoi period.
• Pottery called 'Kadota style' was excavated here.
• Chinese porcelain and Bizen ware were found.

Read more about Kadota Shell Mound

See a rare keyhole-shaped burial mound from Japan's ancient Kofun period.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped burial mound, or kofun.
• Dates to the end of the Yayoi to early Kofun period.
• Excavated between 1990 and 1992.

What to see

• The 35.5-meter-long tumulus mound.
• Fukiishi stones and special pottery on the mound.
• Two burial facilities within the tumulus.
• A vertical stone chamber in the circular part.
• Grave goods: bronze mirror, magatama, glass beads, iron axe.

Read more about Yatōjiyama Kofun

Explore ancient burial mounds, including the largest stone chamber, on a scenic ridge.

What it is

• A cluster of approximately 20 ancient burial mounds.
• Located on a low ridge in Soja City, Okayama Prefecture.
• Three tumuli are designated Prefectural Historic Sites.
• Built between the mid-6th and late 6th century.

What to see

• Tumuli 1, 4, 6, 7, and 8 on the hilltop.
• Tumulus 8 has the largest stone chamber in the cluster.
• Excavated iron products and Sue ware grave goods.

Read more about Midoriyama Kofun Cluster

Explore a Jomon-period shell mound, a National Historic Site with ancient human remains.

What it is

• A shell mound from the late Jomon period.
• Designated a National Historic Site.
• Excavation began in 1915.
• Over 170 Jomon human remains were excavated.

What to see

• Human remains show supine flexed burial.
• Human remains show tooth extraction.
• Jomon pottery from early to late periods.
• Stone arrowheads were excavated.
• Site of the oldest identified shark attack victim.

Read more about Tsukumo Shell Mound

Ancient burial mound with unique architecture and artifacts, offering a glimpse into Japan's past.

What it is

• A circular kofun (ancient burial mound).
• Built around the late 6th century.
• Designated as a National Historic Site.
• One of Okayama Prefecture's three great megalithic tombs.

What to see

• A three-tiered mound, 46 meters in diameter.
• Double-sleeved horizontal stone burial chamber.
• Stone chamber is 19.1 meters long.
• Single phoenix-head hilt is a cultural property.

Read more about Yata Ōtsuka Kofun

Explore a 6th-century burial mound with a stone coffin in a historical park.

What it is

• A tumulus in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture.
• Part of the Obosan Kofun group.
• Designated historical site of Okayama Prefecture.
• Constructed around the late 6th century.

What to see

• The original circular or square mound shape.
• A horizontal stone burial chamber.
• A combination-style house-shaped stone coffin.
• The kofun area, now Obosan-no-oka Historical Park.

Read more about Obosan Kofun

Explore Kumayama, a Nara-period Buddhist ruin built on an ancient worship site.

What it is

• Buddhist ruins in Okayama Prefecture.
• Built in the early Nara period.
• Designated a national historic site.
• Stands on an Iwakura, a primitive worship site.

What to see

• A base and three tiered platforms.
• Structure made of rhyolite, 3.5 meters high.
• Second tier has four square horizontal holes (gan).
• Vertical stone chamber in the center of the platform.

Read more about Kumayama ruins

Explore a large, ancient keyhole-shaped burial mound from the 4th-5th century.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped tumulus in Okayama Prefecture.
• Part of the Mitsuoyama Kofun group.
• Dates to the late 4th to early 5th century.
• Once the largest in Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyushu regions.

What to see

• A 165-meter long tumulus mound.
• The fourth largest tumulus in Okayama Prefecture.
• Two vertical stone chambers.
• Site of grave goods discovery in 1953.

Read more about Kanakurayama Kofun

Explore ancient temple ruins, a National Historic Site, revealing Nara period Buddhist architecture.

What it is

• A Buddhist temple ruin in Okayama City.
• Designated as a National Historic Site.
• Flourished during the Nara period.
• Existed until the 13th century.

What to see

• Foundations of a main hall, pagoda, and west gate.
• Remains of a cloister.
• Pagoda foundation made of tuffaceous rock.
• Site of a tile kiln northeast of the temple.

Read more about Shōda-haiji Temple Ruins

Explore an archaeological site spanning Japan's Jomon, Yayoi, and Kofun periods.

What it is

• A complex archaeological site in Okayama Prefecture.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 1971.
• Spans the Jomon, Yayoi, and Kofun periods.

What to see

• Reproductions of pit dwellings and raised-floor buildings.
• Excavated artifacts displayed in a museum.
• Evidence of early Yayoi period settlement and rice paddies.

Read more about Tsushima Site