Hirasawa Kanga Ruins, Tsukuba

The Hirasawa Kanga Ruins represent the remains of an ancient government administrative complex that operated over 1,000 years ago during the Nara (710-794) and Heian (794-1185) periods. The site is designated as a national historic site, with the name Hirasawa referring to the local area and Kanga meaning government office in ancient Japanese.

This archaeological site consists of three warehouses surrounded by a large defensive ditch, functioning as a storage facility for county tax payments made in rice and hemp during the 8th to 12th centuries. Archaeological excavations have identified roughly 60 building ruins along with traces of moats, fences, and other structures dating back to the Nara and Heian periods. Three buildings with different architectural structures have been reconstructed to demonstrate the original governmental complex layout.

The site serves as a recreation of a governmental administrative complex that once ruled the Tsukuba County region in ancient Hitachi Province, which is present-day Ibaraki Prefecture. Artifacts discovered at the location provide insight into the taxation and administrative systems of medieval Japan, making this an important window into the country's bureaucratic history.

Visitors can explore the reconstructed buildings and walk through the grounds to understand how ancient Japanese government offices functioned. The site offers an educational experience about Japan's early administrative systems and the daily operations of provincial government during the classical period. The ruins are accessible as part of scenic cycling routes through the Tsukuba area, allowing visitors to combine historical exploration with outdoor recreation.

The ruins are located in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture. The site is approximately 15 minutes by car from Tsukuba Station on the Tsukuba Express, which connects directly to Tokyo's Akihabara. Public transportation options include local buses from Tsukuba Station. Admission is free to the archaeological site and reconstructed buildings.