Saikū, Imperial palace ruins in Meiwa, Japan.
Saikū is a palace complex in Meiwa that stretches across a large area with the remains of buildings, walls, and gardens along a river. The site shows the layout of a royal residence with visible floor plans and layers of archaeological evidence.
From the 7th to 14th century, this site served as a residence for unmarried imperial princesses who worked as priestesses at a nearby shrine. The complex was eventually abandoned and faded from memory over the following centuries.
The palace buildings used a residential architectural style with Japanese cypress and wooden joints without nails, reflecting the refined craftsmanship typical of imperial dwellings from that era.
A museum at the site displays archaeological finds like pottery and ancient writing tools to help visitors understand the excavations. The ruins are easily accessible from the train station and offer clear pathways for exploring the complex.
Archaeological work in the 1970s uncovered one of Japan's largest clay horse sculptures, which sparked the rediscovery of this long-forgotten complex. This find revealed that the site had completely vanished from local memory for many generations.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
