ASUKA Nara Japan Ancient Historical Mysterious Monolith Megalith Site ISHIBUTAI KOFUN Tomb

We rented bicycles for our ASAKA megaliths tour.  This was the last stop and it was unbelievable.

We returned our bicycles near the tomb and took a nearby bus to Asuka train station.

Thirty granite megaliths were used to make the structure.  The largest weighs 77 tons.  

The inside appears dark from the outside (above) but the inside is lit up by sunlight.

How were the megaliths cut and moved?  Who cut and moved them?  No one knows.

The inside is 7.5 meters long, 3.4 meters wide and 4.8 meters high.

The inside was found empty.  There is no real proof it was actually a tomb.

A ditch is next to the inner walls (above) and goes through the middle of the walkway (below).

We were amazed and awed by this structure.  We spent over 90 minutes here.

The photographs were taken December 12, 2017.

Unfortunately most of the related information is only in Japanese.

ASUKA Nara Japan Ancient Historical TACHIBANA Buddhist Temple Stone Megaliths Palace

This temple is part of the cycling route.  Although it is at the top of a hill, it is definitely worth seeing.

The 2 faced stone represents the good and evil nature of humans.

No one knows who carved the faces or when they were carved.

We spent about 1 hour at the temple.  We would have stayed longer but it was getting dark.

Most of the building can be entered.  The 2 photos below were taken from the outside.

There are over 260 hand painted pictures of flowers on the ceiling.

This building with the pictures on the ceiling can be entered.  The pictures appear renovated.

ASUKA Nara Japan Ancient Historical Mysterious Megalith KAME ISHI Turtle Tortoise Stone

This is on the megalith cycling route in a housing section.

You are 1/3 of the way to the end of the megalith cycling route.

When and why was is made?  Who made it?  No one knows.

The granite megalith is 4.2 meters long and 2.7 meters wide.

You are allowed to touch and even sit on the megalith.

The photos were taken December 12, 2017.  We stayed about 15 minutes.

ASUKA Nara Japan ONI NO SECCHIN Mysterious Megaliths Giant Stones Burial Mound Demons Toilet

The megaliths are locate along the cycling route near the top of a steep hill.

There is enough information in English to really raise your curiosity.

These megaliths are said to be part of a burial mound but legends say otherwise.

(Below) This is one of 2 places our compass acted strangely.

Legends say the megalith above was a toilet for giant demons.

No one can explain how the megaliths were carved nor moved.

The megalith above was said to be a cutting board for giant demons.

This is the other place our compass acted strangely.

ASUKA Nara Japan Ancient Mysterious SARU ISHI Megalith Carved Stone Monkey Priest Woman

It is unknown who carved the stones or why and when they were carved.

The stones which are located together are along the cycling route.

The carved stone above is said to be a monkey.  Really?

(Below) The stone next to the so called monkey is a deity.

The photos of the 1 meter high stones were taken December 12, 2017.

ASUKA Nara Japan Historical Mausoleum Emperor Kinmei Burial Mound Tori Gate

There is not much to see because most of the area is surrounded by a fence and trees.

The 2 photos show about everything to see.  The burial mound is not visible.

The burial mound is part of the cycling route.  The photos were taken Dec. 12, 2017.

ASUKA Nara Japan Ancient Mysterious SAKAFUNE Stone Monolith Megalithic Site Bamboo Forest

The path to the SAKAFUNE megalith is steep, long and fairly tiring.

There is little to no English information but then its history is unknown.

This is part of the cycling route and it is near other megaliths.

No one knows who carved it nor when, why or how it was made.

This megalith is quite interesting and it should be visited.

We spent about 15 to 20 minutes at the megalith.

The photos were taken December 12, 2017.

ASUKA Nara Japan Mysterious Ancient SAKAFUNE RUINS Turtle Tortoise Megalith Stone Site

Some information in English is available.

The site is on the cycling route but we took a bus.

The site is awesome but we were too far to really see it.

The site is being reconstructed because of heavy rain.

Visitors are not allowed to enter the site at this time.

The carved stone below is thought to be a turtle.

From our vantage point it did not look like a turtle.

No one knows who made, when it was made or why.

The photographs were taken December 12, 2017.