Kameishi Boulder

This granite boulder sits near a residence in Asukamura. It is 3.6 meters long by 2.1 meters wide and 1.8 meters tall. Its period and purpose of construction are still unknown. On the lower section an animal-like face was carved, and as it resembles a turtle the boulder was named Kameishi (turtle rock). The Kameishi currently faces south west but there is legend that when it turns to face the west the whole of the Nara Basin will turn into a sea of mud.