Kurube Government Offices Site

The Kurube Government Offices Site is an archaeological location in Yokkaichi that preserves the foundations of an ancient walled administrative complex. The area shows remains of over 80 structures arranged within a rectangular plot, revealing how administration was organized during that period.

The site served as the administrative center for this region in the late 7th century when Japan was building its centralized government system. The location was recognized as a National Historic Site in 2006 after construction work on a highway exposed the remains.

The layout shows how Chinese building styles were adopted in Japan and how the Ritsuryō administrative system worked in practice. Visitors can still see the foundation patterns that reveal how office buildings and living spaces were organized.

The site can be explored on foot since the foundation lines and structures are clearly marked on the ground. The pathways are typically easy to walk, allowing you to understand the complex's scale by crossing through different sections.

The eastern side of the complex contained a separate storage system with granaries arranged in a moated enclosure. These separate buildings show that grain from the region was systematically collected and stored as a form of taxation.