Explore Ancient Japan

www.exploring-japan.com — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 19:49:12 +0000

Travel back in time to the days of samurais and stone burial grounds and visit one of the many historic ruins of Japan. This country, which is rich with culture, can be better understood through a knowledge of its past.The site of the Yoshinogari Remains contains one of the largest collections of archeological remains in the country. It is estimated that remains from this site date back to the 3^rd century BC. The largest tomb mound in Japan is located at this site along with pit dwellings, storehouses and watchtowers. Visitors can view models of all artifacts from this site at the Yoshinogari Exhibition Hall.Hirosaki Park is another noteworthy historical site, which contains the Hirosaki castle ruins. Built in the 17^th century, this castle is surrounded by a triple moat. Paper lanterns lighting up the town and annual events, such as the cherry blossom festival, create a unique and entertaining atmosphere in Hirosaki.Formerly the capital of Japan, the Heijo-kyo area is now a popular historical attraction and the site of the Heijo Palace ruins. The Heijo Palace Site Museum contains many of the artifacts that have been unearthed during the excavation of this site, believed to have dated back to the 8^th Century.The Sumiyoshi-taisha Shrine is the site of millions of visitors every year as it is the headquarters of thousands of Sumiyoshi-sha Shrines throughout Japan. This is also the location of the Otaue Ceremony held every summer, where inhabitants of the area come together to pray for rich harvest. Traditional art and dances are performed and a ceremonial planting of rice seeds by the women takes place at this ceremony.These are just a few of the ancient historical grounds of Japan and additional information on travel and visiting information for these sites can be found on the Japan National Tourism Organization website.

Exploring Japan » Historical Sites

Explore Ancient Japan