Not much is known about graves and burials during the Nara and Heian periods. However, what is known is that during the Nara period, it was prohibited to build graves within Heijo-kyo (the capital of Nara). As a result, no graves from that period have been discovered within Heijo-kyo. This basic policy appears to have remained unchanged into the Heian period, with even graves for the privileged classes, such as emperors and aristocrats, being built outside Heijo-kyo. As in the Asuka period, graves for commoners were designated as designated areas, and they were to be buried there. The Goanmanki records that "commoners were buried in the mountains, fields, and riverbanks surrounding Kyoto."

Eight generations of emperors reigned in Nara, but in 794, Emperor Kanmu moved the capital to Heian-kyo (the capital of Kyoto), shifting the center of power from Nara to Kyoto and ushering in the Heian period. During the Heian period, "Koyasan burial," in which cremated remains and hair were interred at Mount Koya, became a popular practice. Prince Shoshin, who passed away in 1085, interred his remains at Mount Koya, while Emperor Horikawa interred his hair in 1108. During this period, considered the "Latter Days of the Law," a time closely related to the apocalyptic ideal, the emperor, aristocrats, and other privileged classes likely wished to be interred at Mount Koya, the Pure Land of Maitreya. Mount Koya still exists in Wakayama Prefecture, demonstrating the widespread development of the Kansai region. As Buddhism spread, the custom of cremation, based on Buddhist ideology, spread throughout the Kinki region.

During the history of Japanese Buddhism, during the Heian period, Buddhism received state protection and developed as a religion practiced by the aristocracy. Heian Buddhism, including the Shingon sect of Kukai and the Tendai sect of Saicho, flourished.

Cremation graves from this period are extremely rare. In Kanagawa Prefecture, cremation graves have been discovered mainly in the Yokohama and Kawasaki areas of the former Musashi Province. It is believed that the cremated remains and respectful burials of a handful of powerful people and their families were the ones who were cremated and carefully buried. Cremation graves from this period contain earthenware vessels containing cremated bones in pits. Most of the cremated bones and organs discovered are in Haji ware jars, but there are also cases where Sue ware pots were used. Haji ware and Sue ware bowls have also been repurposed as lids. How the many people living in the settlement were buried remains a mystery.

"Forest scattering" is a natural burial where the remains are returned to nature. It is similar to "tree burial," which involves burial at the base of a tree, but is slightly different. While "tree burial" involves digging a hole in the ground and burying the remains in an urn, "forest scattering" involves grinding the remains into a fine powder beforehand and scattering them in the mountains. The remains are not buried underground, but rather scattered over the ground like the "Grandpa Who Made Flowers Bloom." In the wild, grass grows and bare ground is rarely found, so the white remains are not left in one place. The powdered remains gradually return to the soil as they are exposed to wind and rain. Furthermore, while in a typical "tree burial," the remains are exhumed and interred after a certain number of years, in the case of "forest scattering," the remains cannot be manually retrieved, so they rest there forever. Japan has a long tradition of "mountain worship," which views the entire mountain as a sacred object. ・・・

"Ocean scattering" is a funeral method that has become popular not only in Japan but around the world. Scattering ashes into rivers is not permitted in Japan, so this method seems to be gaining popularity. It is particularly popular as a way to say goodbye to a deceased loved one, and services such as chartering a motorboat or cruiser to scatter ashes offshore are popular. However, the drawbacks of this method include the fact that the ocean is easily affected by weather, which can suddenly result in a cancellation on the scheduled date, and the relatively high cost of chartering a boat. Our company, SANKOTSUYAMA, offers an "Ocean Scattering Plan," which uses our small boat, eliminating the additional cost of chartering a boat. All costs are included in the price. Furthermore, "ocean scattering" does not necessarily require the services of a specialized scattering company. Individuals are not prohibited from scattering powdered ashes into the sea. However, scattering ashes is prohibited near fishing ・・・