Hyogo Ishidohyo, Japanse Stenen Paal

In Japan, decorative stone pillars can be seen in all sorts of places. These so-called Ishidōhyō (石道標) are placed partly in the ground and contain a written text that must be read from top to bottom. This text can cover a variety of subjects. It can, for example, indicate the way or a location. Additionally, poetic texts also frequently appear.

This very special old Ishidōhyō has three sides, two of which are decorated with stone-cut Japanese text indicating the direction. On one side is Migi Takarazuka (右 たからづか), which translates to: Right – Takarazuka. This is a city in the Hyōgo prefecture, near Osaka. On the other side of the Ishidōhyō is Hidari Rokkōsan (左 ろっこう山), which can be translated as: Left – Mount Rokkō. This is a mountain range in the Hyōgo prefecture, located between the cities of Kobe and Osaka.