The Lost Pyramid of Japan: Does Mt. Ashitake Hold the Secret to the World’s Oldest Pyramid?

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When you think of pyramids, Egypt’s sandy plains and towering limestone structures likely come to mind. But what if the world’s oldest pyramid wasn’t in Egypt, but hidden deep in the mountains of Hiroshima, Japan? This is the incredible story of Mount Ashitake, a mountain shrouded in mystery, megalithic stones, and a controversial theory that could rewrite ancient history.

A “Pyramid” Unlike Any Other

The theory of Japanese pyramids has been debated since the 1930s, with various mountains across the country, like Mt. Kurokamiyama in Akita, being proposed as potential candidates. But the very first and most famous is Mt. Ashitake, an 815-meter (2,674-foot) peak in Shobara City, Hiroshima.

In 1932, a charismatic Christian missionary and occultist named Katsuoki Sakai declared Mt. Ashitake to be the world’s oldest pyramid, constructed some 23,000 years ago. Sakai’s journey into pyramid research began after a trip to Palestine in 1927. He became obsessed with the idea, eventually connecting it to the Takenouchi Documents, a set of controversial ancient texts. He believed the Japanese word Hiramito found in these documents was a reference to “pyramid,” leading him to boldly claim that the origin of all pyramids was, in fact, Japan.

Sakai’s definition of a pyramid differed from the traditional image of an artificially constructed stone monument. He argued that a pyramid could be a natural mountain, shaped and modified with intentionally placed megalithic stones and structures. Mt. Ashitake fit his theory perfectly. The mountain itself forms a beautiful, smooth, isosceles triangle, and its slopes, from the mid-section to the summit, are dotted with massive stones that appear to have been artificially arranged.

Megaliths, Imperial Legends, and a Lost “Sun Stone”

Sakai’s theory, sensationalized by newspapers, drew crowds of curious visitors to the once-obscure mountain. The mystery deepened with the legends surrounding the adjacent peak, Mt. Kikyozan. Local lore whispered that it might be the tomb of Japan’s mythical first emperor, Emperor Jimmu. A massive rock known as the “Jimmu Iwa” was said to hide the emperor’s treasures, prompting many to try and dig beneath it.

Mt. Kikyozan also features other megalithic structures, including a dolmen-like altar stone. Intriguingly, these structures are perfectly positioned to offer a clear view of Mt. Ashitake, leading to the theory that Mt. Kikyozan served as the haiden (worship hall) and Mt. Ashitake as the honden (main sanctuary) of a massive, ancient sacred complex.

At the heart of Sakai’s theory was the “Taiyo-seki,” or “Sun Stone,” a massive stone that once sat at the summit of Mt. Ashitake. Sakai believed pyramids were not tombs, but ancient energy devices powered by a form of lost technology. The Sun Stone, he argued, was the central “deity body” of this device, a focal point for collecting and channeling this energy.

Tragically, this central piece of evidence is now lost. In the pre-war Showa era, Sakai’s “Japanese Pyramid” theory was treated as a dangerous cult. In an act of suppression, government authorities reportedly destroyed and removed the Sun Stone and its surrounding megalithic circle. The Sun Stone was said to have been thrown into a valley below, and its location remains unknown.

With its key evidence gone, further research into the Mt. Ashitake pyramid theory has stalled. Yet, the mountain remains, its perfect triangular shape and mysterious megaliths standing as a silent testament to a lost chapter of history. Was it truly the world’s first pyramid, a sophisticated energy device from a forgotten civilization? Or is it simply a beautiful mountain shrouded in compelling legends? The truth, like the Sun Stone, may still be waiting to be rediscovered.

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