Oyu Stone Circles: 4000-Year-Old Stone Circles Embodying Jomon People's View of the Universe

The Oyu Stone Circles in Towada-Oyu, Kazuno City, Akita, are two sets of concentric stone rings (Manza and Nonakado) from the late Jomon period, made roughly four thousand years ago. These arrangements of large stones in circular patterns are among the representative stone circle sites of Japan and are designated a Special Historic Site. In 2021 they were inscribed as part of the Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list.

A Stone Circle Conveying Jomon Prayer

The Oyu Stone Circles were built by arranging many stones carried from a riverbed into circular patterns. Especially famous is the sundial-shaped stone arrangement, a distinctive feature of long stones set in a radiating pattern. A line connecting the center of the circles with the sundial-shaped arrangement is said to align with the direction of the summer solstice sunset, and the site is thought to have been a place of ritual and ceremony deeply tied to the movement of the sun and the seasons. Serving as a place of burial and prayer, it hints at the Jomon view of life and death and their beliefs.

Manza, Nonakado, and the Guidance Facility

Of the two rings, the Manza Stone Circle is about fifty-two meters in diameter, among the largest in the country, and its spread is striking to visitors. Together with the Nonakado Stone Circle (about forty-four meters in diameter), reconstructed post buildings can also be viewed, letting you imagine the scenery of a Jomon settlement as you walk. The adjacent Oyu Stone Circle Museum has rich displays of excavated pottery and stone tools and site explanations, and stopping in before your visit deepens understanding. Hands-on programs such as pottery making are sometimes offered.

Access and Basic Information

• Location: Aza-Manza, Towada-Oyu, Kazuno City, Akita
• Nearest station: Towada-Minami Station on the JR Hanawa Line is relatively close, with a car or taxi practical from the station; the Shuhoku bus can also be used from Kazuno-Hanawa Station
• By car: About fifteen minutes from the Towada interchange on the Tohoku Expressway; many visitors combine it with sightseeing at Lake Towada
• The site (historic park) is outdoors and free to view. The adjacent Oyu Stone Circle Museum has closed days such as Mondays, and opening hours vary by season, so check admission and hours on the official site

Practical Travel Notes

• Best season and time: As an outdoor site, spring through autumn is best when the greenery is fine and walking is easy. Around the summer solstice (late June) is especially evocative if you keep the solar alignment in mind. Winter snow makes viewing difficult
• Time needed: About one and a half to two hours for the two stone circles and the guidance facility together
• Avoiding crowds: As a spacious site, crowding is relatively mild. Studying at the Oyu Stone Circle Museum first, then walking the circles, deepens understanding
• Clothing and gear: You walk on grass and earth, so wear comfortable shoes. There is little shade in summer, so bring a hat and water
• Nearby real spots: The World Heritage Lake Towada, the Oirase Gorge (on the Aomori side), and the Oyu Onsen hot spring area can all be toured together
• Budget: Viewing the site is free; the main costs are museum admission, any hands-on program fees, and transport

A Quick Tip

Because you walk the spacious site at a leisurely pace, comfortable shoes are recommended. Viewing the excavated items and explanations at the Oyu Stone Circle Museum first, then walking the circles, brings the world of Jomon prayer much closer. Visiting with the summer solstice sunset alignment in mind adds another layer of interest.

📚 Sources

The information here is based mainly on the public guidance from Kazuno city and the on-site Oyu Stone Circle Museum. Public materials on the Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan, and on-site explanatory exhibits and information boards, are also useful references. Because the museum's admission and hours and the hands-on program reception may change, please confirm the latest details with each facility before you visit.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time needed: About 1.5 to 2 hours for the two stone circles (Manza and Nonakado) and the guidance facility together.
• What to bring: Comfortable shoes, as you walk on grass and earth. Bring a hat and water in summer, as there is little shade. In winter, snow makes viewing difficult.
• Suggested route: First study the finds and explanations at the Oyu Stone Circle Museum, then walk the Manza and Nonakado stone circles and the reconstructed pillar-built structures.