The #1 Mysterious Place Ranking is the 'Yonaguni Monument' in Yonaguni Town, Yaeyama District, Okinawa Prefecture

Wavdash Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, President: Kazumi Shimoyama), which operates the community-created regional support site 'Seikatsu-guide.com' (https://www.seikatsu-guide.com/), has announced the top 5 of its 55th Minna no Ranking: 'Mysterious Places Ranking'.

This ranking was determined by having Seikatsu-guide.com members vote on 'mysterious places' carefully selected by the Seikatsu-guide.com management office—places across the country that make you wonder 'why is something like this here?' or give you the feeling of sensing something mysterious when you go there.

The number 1 spot this time went to the 'Yonaguni Monument (Submarine Ruins)' in Yonaguni Town, Yaeyama District, Okinawa Prefecture.

Off the coast of Yonaguni Island, at a depth of 25 meters on the seabed, sleeps a massive stone structure shaped like stairs, passages, and altars, which seems impossible to be a natural formation. The stones, beautifully crafted as if they could only be the work of human hands, make one wonder if they are traces of an ancient civilization that once flourished and is now lost.

We received comments such as, 'Because I feel a sense of romance in the fact that something rests on the seabed without us knowing whether it is man-made or not' (Male in his 30s), and 'I was drawn to the submarine ruins. I am curious if it is man-made. I want to dive and actually see it' (Female in her 50s).

We also received a comment from a representative of the Planning and Finance Division of the Yonaguni Town Office, which won 1st place this time.

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■ 1st Place Award Comment

We are very pleased that so many people voted for the Yonaguni Monument in the 'Fascinating Mysterious Places Ranking'.

■ About the Yonaguni Monument

The Yonaguni Monument has a shape that makes it easy to imagine people actually living there. Whether it is an artificial 'ruin' created by people who lived on Yonaguni Island, or a natural 'topography' created by the strong tidal currents of the Kuroshio Current passing through Yonaguni Island, it is a mysterious place that fascinates everyone, so please come and see it with your own eyes to make sure. It is a famous spot for diving, and even those who do not dive can actually confirm it by boarding a glass-bottom boat.

■ Introduction to Yonaguni Town

Yonaguni Town belongs to the Yaeyama Islands in Okinawa Prefecture and is located 509km away from the main island of Okinawa. Known as the 'island of islands', it is a town where unique performing arts, culture, and language have blossomed even within Okinawa Prefecture. In addition, it is a scenic town blessed with beautiful landscapes and a rich natural environment, including the Sanninudai, which is a national natural monument and place of scenic beauty, as well as nationally designated cultural properties such as Tindabana, Kuburabari, and Kuburafurishi.

Photo: Monument of the Westernmost Point of Japan / Provided by: Planning and Finance Division, Yonaguni Town Office

Yonaguni Town also holds various events.

The Harvest Festival is held on an auspicious day after June every year and is the liveliest festival among annual events. It gives thanks and celebrates the good harvest of that year, and prays for a good harvest the following year. Each village on the island raises a flag standard, and stick dances and traditional dances are performed. Also, once every two years, a large tug-of-war is held, dividing the participants into east and west.

Photo: Harvest Festival / Provided by: Planning and Finance Division, Yonaguni Town Office

The Round Yonaguni Island Marathon at the Westernmost Point of Japan allows runners to enjoy the dynamic topography as there are many sheer cliffs, and they can see the white sandy beaches and blue sea at the westernmost point of Japan. Furthermore, on Yonaguni Island, the Yonaguni horses, which are a designated natural monument of Yonaguni Town, are pastured, providing healing to the runners.

Photo: Round Yonaguni Island Marathon Tournament at the Westernmost Point of Japan / Provided by: Planning and Finance Division, Yonaguni Town Office

Yonaguni Island is also famous as a filming location for the drama 'Dr. Koto's Clinic', and you can tour the open set (clinic) actually used for the filming. The waiting room and hospital rooms are left exactly as they were, reminiscent of the drama. Please come and visit the charming Yonaguni Island!

Photo: Dr. Koto's Clinic / Provided by: Planning and Finance Division, Yonaguni Town Office

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The mysterious places ranked 2nd to 4th are as follows.

2nd Place: 'Osorezan', Mutsu City, Aomori Prefecture

2nd place was 'Osorezan', one of the three major sacred places in Japan.

Osorezan is located in Mutsu City, Aomori Prefecture. The sacred grounds cannot be seen from the outside, and when you enter the sacred area by crossing the drum bridge, which is said to be a bridge between this world and the afterlife, a landscape unfolds that seems unreal... making you wonder if it is hell or paradise.

3rd Place: 'Lake Kussharo', Teshikaga Town, Kawakami District, Hokkaido

3rd place is the caldera lake where the mysterious object 'Kusshi' swimming on the lake surface was sighted