World Heritage- Akita prefecture-Japanese Home Cooking and Sweets Class in Tokyo
Ise-dotai Site (Ise-dotai Iseki) is a ritual site centered on circular stone arrangements (stone circles) from the Late Jōmon period (approximately 4,000 years ago), located in Kitaakita City, Akita Prefecture, Japan.
World Heritage- Akita prefecture-Japanese Home Cooking and Sweets Class in Tokyo
Structure of the Site
Location:
On a fluvial terrace along the Yōwell River (Komogatake River), at an elevation of 42–45 meters.
Circular Stone Arrangements:
Four stone circles are adjacent to each other at the northwest edge of the terrace, with pit graves (burial grounds) located beneath them.
Surrounding Features:
Posthole building remains
Storage pits
Column holes
Stone arrangement structures
Trench-like structures
Excavated Artifacts:
Numerous items including clay figurines (dogū), animal-shaped clay products, stone swords, stone arrowheads, and mushroom-shaped clay products.
World Heritage- Akita prefecture-Japanese Home Cooking and Sweets Class in Tokyo
World Heritage- Akita prefecture-Japanese Home Cooking and Sweets Class in Tokyo
Academic Value
A rare site that enables reconstruction of Jōmon people's worldview and social structure
Believed to have been constructed, maintained, and managed by multiple communities across a wide region
A space combining both a ritual site and a burial ground
Visitor Information
Address:
Ise-dotai, Wakamuro, Kitaakita City, Akita Prefecture, Japan
Access:
Approximately 10–15 minutes by car from JR Takanosu Station
5-minute walk from Jōmon-okakeda Station on the Akita Nairiku Line
5 minutes by car from Odate-Noshiro Airport
Ise-dotai Jōmon Museum:
A guidance facility displaying excavated artifacts from the site.
This site is an extremely important location for understanding Jōmon-period ritual culture and social structure.
https://www.city.kitaakita.akita.jp/isedotai/museum
The Only One in Japan! Four Stone Circles
Four massive stone circles measuring 30 to 45 meters in diameter have been discovered on this single site. These stunning stone structures, built with meticulously arranged natural stones, served as ritual sites and communal burial grounds.
Unique Clay Figurines and Ritual Artifacts
A wide variety of clay figurines (Dogu), including distinctive flat-style figurines, have been excavated here. They offer a rare glimpse into the spiritual world of the Jomon people, reflecting their prayers for safe childbirth, life, and ancestor worship.
Excellent Access from Odate-Noshiro Airport
Located just a 5-minute drive from Odate-Noshiro Airport, it is known as "the closest World Heritage site to an airport in the world."
Note: Due to the rainy weather during my visit, I couldn't get good photos of the stone circles to share here. Please check their official website for images!
