ARCHAEOLOGIGAL SITE IN YOSHINOGARI

One of Japan’s largest archeological sites straddling three townships in Saga Prefecture in western Japan. The settlements unearthed in Yoshinogari are said to have been founded approximately 2,000 years ago during the Yayoi Period, when the introduction and development of rice cultivation dramatically transformed the people’s lifestyle. Yoshinogari Iseki is characterized by ditches 2 – 3 meters deep that surround the settlements. Many of the original structures have been restored and developed into an ancient theme park, where visitors can enjoy hands-on activities, such as stone carving, building a fire with a bow-drill, and harvesting ancient rice. Standing on a 10-meter-tall watchtower, Ritsu looks over the vast plain with rolling hills in the background, imagining being one of the guards in ancient times looking out for enemies.