Revealing the Japanese Megaliths: Graham Hancock Visits the Amazing Ishi-no-Hōden

Photo by Santha Faiia.The amazing image above, posted by Graham Hancock on his Facebook page, shows the Ishi-no-Hōden megalith in central Japan – yet another example that mysterious ancient megaliths can be found right around the world.

Not only is the megalith huge, but as Graham says, the stonework “is so beautifully done that the gigantic stone, surrounded by a water-filled pool, appears to float lightly in the air.”

Here’s some further information about the stone:

The Ishi-no-Hōden megalith is thought to have been cut from its surrounding rock some 1,500 years ago and, if freestanding, would weigh in the region of 500 tons. It sits at the centre of a pond and appears to float above the surface of the water. As with many sacred objects in Japan (including natural objects such as trees) the Ishi-no-Hōden megalith is adorned with a sacred rice-straw rope known as a shimenawa.

And here’s some video of the site found on YouTube:

I haven’t been able to find many authoritative sources with more detail on this ancient megalith – any locals or megalith experts have further information to share with us? I was struck by the similarity in the way it appears to have been cut out of the surrounding rock, similar to these rock churches in Ethiopia (not suggesting a link between the builders, just similarity in appearance).

For more discussion of mysterious megaliths around the world, be sure to pick up a copy of Graham Hancock’s excellent book Magicians of the Gods, which is available from Amazon US and Amazon UK.

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