(1) Arriving at the Yoshinogari Ruins at 10:30 am from Kansai Airport
While riding the JR loop line, I was thinking, "I want to go to Kyushu," then I saw an interesting hanging advertisement.
The "JR West Anywhere Ticket" is a great value ticket that gives you unlimited rides on the Shinkansen and express trains for 3 days for 22,000 yen. After returning home, I checked the locations of the tourist spots in Fukuoka, Nagasaki, and Saga that I was interested in. Hmmm, it might be very hard to go to all the places I want to visit by train.
When I looked up the price of a Peach round-trip ticket from Kansai International Airport to Fukuoka Airport + rental car for 3 days, I found out that it was about the same price as the special JR ticket. Toll fees and gas fees are also required, but considering the time I save and easy footwork, I decided to go by plane + rental car.
As an archeological ruin site fan, I definitely want to visit the Yoshinogari ruins (Yayoi period, 400 BC to 300 AD) in Saga Prefecture and Nagasaki's World Heritage Site Gunkanjima island. I took the first flight in the morning from Kansai International Airport, picked up a rental car at Fukuoka Airport, and drove on the highway. Arrived at the Yoshinogari ruins around 10:30am. It was only 40 minutes to drive.
(2) Exploring Yoshinogari, filled with the romance of the Yayoi period
Click here for the official website of Yoshinogari Historical Park >>> 1843 Tade, Yoshinogari, Kanzaki District, Saga 842-0035
The Jomon and Yayoi periods have a mystique that strongly attracts people. I wonder why. The Yayoi period began around 3000 years ago. Over 1,300 years are allotted for the Yayoi period, while the next Tumulus period (Kofun period) is just under 400 years.
It is still a mystery whether Yamatai Kingdom (Yamataikoku) was in Kyushu or Kinki region. It is still unknown whether there was a queen called Himiko. The Yoshinogari ruins are said to be the largest Yayoi period ruins in Japan.
The parking lot at the historical park was very crowded, so I thought, "This is so popular! Yeah, Yayoi period!", but I was wrong. There is a market going on in the parking lot. When I went to the front door, almost no one was there. I guess I can take time and explore the ruins in detail.
To the left of the entrance is a restaurant and shop. Later, we will eat the limited lunch menu here.
Even looking at the map given at the entrance, I don't really know where to go because it's so big. Those who find it difficult to walk for a long time can take the bus that makes its way around the park. For the time being, I and my companion (a foreigner who is a Japanese history maniac) decided to go to a village with a square called Minami Naikaku (South Inner Enclosure), which was the venue for the Lantern Festival that was being held.
Unfortunately, I can't stay in the park until night, so I can't see the lanterns being lit. Volunteers and people dressed as villagers were preparing for the night event.
The first thing that struck me as soon as I entered this park was the many tall buildings. In the Yayoi period, there were many buildings that were equivalent to modern 3- and 4-story buildings!? In addition, the village was surrounded by several layers of walls and moats. I could tell that they were always prepared for enemy attacks.
There are watchtowers made of thick pillars. I climbed up to see how high I can go up and see the surroundings. The people of the Yayoi period must have seen similar scenery with this.
Yoshinogari Historical Park Photo Gallery 1
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