Kanayama Megaliths
nature
Kanayama Megaliths
金山巨石群
Overview
Large, curiously shaped boulders sit atop a hill in the quiet forests of Gero’s Kanayama district, their muted appearance belying an extraordinary function.
Large boulders in the forested hills of Gero's Kanayama district serve as a 8,000-year-old solar calendar. Independent researchers discovered in the 1990s that specific stone edges align precisely with the rising and setting sun at the equinoxes and solstices. The site, known officially as Iwaya Iwakage, was designated historically significant by Gifu Prefecture in 1973. Guided tours through the Kanayama Megaliths Research Center help decode the astronomical functions of the three stone clusters. Relics from the Jomon period excavated nearby confirm long human presence at this site.
Practical info
- Japanese name
- 金山巨石群
- Nearest station
- Gero Station (25 min bus)
- Reservations
- not required
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