Welcome to Episode 265: Japan’s Mysterious Rock Ship, “Masuda Iwafune”. On today’s episode of Let’s Get Haunted, we journey to Japan’s ancient Asuka region to investigate the Masuda Iwafune: an enormous 700- to 800-ton granite monument whose purpose has baffled archaeologists for centuries. We explore the leading theories surrounding the so-called “Rock Ship of Masuda,” from unfinished royal tombs and astronomical observatories to water engineering projects and ritual monuments. Then, we venture into stranger territory, examining connections to Japanese legends of heavenly stone boats, the mysterious Utsuro-bune encounter, and ancient astronaut speculation. We even interviewed a tourist, Eddie, who hiked to the megalith and saw it firsthand! More than 1,300 years after it was carved into a hillside overlooking Nara Prefecture, the Masuda Iwafune remains one of Japan’s greatest unsolved archaeological mysteries.

TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 - HOOK / INTRO

00:04:49 - BETTER HELP AD

00:06:33 - PART I: THE ROCK SHIP

00:32:50 - AN INTERVIEW WITH EDDIE

00:45:35 - PART II: THE THEORIES

01:35:08 - CLOSING CREDITS

Follow Eddie on Instagram: https://instagram.com/moronesaxatilis 

——

THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED!! Find out more about this week’s advertisers below:


  
BETTER HELP: Sign up and get 10% off at https://betterhelp.com/gethaunted #ad 




——

Other Important Stuff:


  
Want to learn more about Patreon? Check out this FAQ vid: https://bit.ly/41KeRDT 



  
Join the Patreon today! https://patreon.com/letsgethaunted 



  
LGH Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/letsgethaunted



  
Buy Our Merch: https://www.letsgethaunted.com   



  
Check out the photo dump for this week’s episode: https://www.instagram.com/letsgethaunted  



  
Send us fan mail: PO BOX 1658, Camarillo, CA 93011



  
Send us your listener stories: www.letsgethaunted.com or LetsGetHauntedPod@gmail.com 




——

AUDIO/VISUAL CREDITS:


  
“Elevator” - Local Forecast, License Dar Golan - Elevator Music - Royalty free music, “Elevator Music (Royalty Free, Infinite Loop)” by Dar Golan, free download link here: https://www.dargolan-free.com/funny-music 



  
“Creepy Doll” by Michael Byrnes



  
“(Free) Horror Ambiance - Ominous Background Music” by ESN Productions, link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAO3x-Uhfoo





  
STOCK VIDEO ASSETS USED IN THIS EPISODE WERE ALL PURCHASED AND LICENSED VIA STORYBLOCKS.COM 



  
ALL OTHER AUDIO ASSETS LICENSED AND PURCHASED THROUGH: https://www.epidemicsound.com/




KEYWORDS: Rock Ship, Masuda Iwafune, Nara, Japan, Prefecture, Mystery, Unsolved, Unresolved, History, Megalith, Giant, Structure, Unknown, Alien, UFO, UAP, Sky Boat, Celestial, Ship, Boat, Folklore, Japanese, Archaeology, Alternative History, Extraterrestrial, Angel, Time Traveler, temple, shrine, sculpture, Utsuro-Bune, Lore, Legend, Religion, God, gods, astronaut, ancient aliens, ancient alien, ancient astronaut
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Let's Get Haunted

Aly & Nat | Daylight Media

Episode 265: Japan’s Mysterious Rock Ship, “Masuda Iwafune”

JUL 8, 2026100 MIN
Let's Get Haunted

Episode 265: Japan’s Mysterious Rock Ship, “Masuda Iwafune”

JUL 8, 2026100 MIN

Description

Welcome to Episode 265: Japan’s Mysterious Rock Ship, “Masuda Iwafune”. On today’s episode of Let’s Get Haunted, we journey to Japan’s ancient Asuka region to investigate the Masuda Iwafune: an enormous 700- to 800-ton granite monument whose purpose has baffled archaeologists for centuries. We explore the leading theories surrounding the so-called “Rock Ship of Masuda,” from unfinished royal tombs and astronomical observatories to water engineering projects and ritual monuments. Then, we venture into stranger territory, examining connections to Japanese legends of heavenly stone boats, the mysterious Utsuro-bune encounter, and ancient astronaut speculation. We even interviewed a tourist, Eddie, who hiked to the megalith and saw it firsthand! More than 1,300 years after it was carved into a hillside overlooking Nara Prefecture, the Masuda Iwafune remains one of Japan’s greatest unsolved archaeological mysteries. TIME STAMPS 00:00:00 - HOOK / INTRO 00:04:49 - BETTER HELP AD 00:06:33 - PART I: THE ROCK SHIP 00:32:50 - AN INTERVIEW WITH EDDIE 00:45:35 - PART II: THE THEORIES 01:35:08 - CLOSING CREDITS Follow Eddie on Instagram: https://instagram.com/moronesaxatilis  —— THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED!! Find out more about this week’s advertisers below: BETTER HELP: Sign up and get 10% off at https://betterhelp.com/gethaunted #ad  —— Other Important Stuff: Want to learn more about Patreon? Check out this FAQ vid: https://bit.ly/41KeRDT  Join the Patreon today! https://patreon.com/letsgethaunted  LGH Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/letsgethaunted Buy Our Merch: https://www.letsgethaunted.com    Check out the photo dump for this week’s episode: https://www.instagram.com/letsgethaunted   Send us fan mail: PO BOX 1658, Camarillo, CA 93011 Send us your listener stories: www.letsgethaunted.com or [email protected]  —— AUDIO/VISUAL CREDITS: “Elevator” - Local Forecast, License Dar Golan - Elevator Music - Royalty free music, “Elevator Music (Royalty Free, Infinite Loop)” by Dar Golan, free download link here: https://www.dargolan-free.com/funny-music  “Creepy Doll” by Michael Byrnes “(Free) Horror Ambiance - Ominous Background Music” by ESN Productions, link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAO3x-Uhfoo STOCK VIDEO ASSETS USED IN THIS EPISODE WERE ALL PURCHASED AND LICENSED VIA STORYBLOCKS.COM  ALL OTHER AUDIO ASSETS LICENSED AND PURCHASED THROUGH: https://www.epidemicsound.com/ KEYWORDS: Rock Ship, Masuda Iwafune, Nara, Japan, Prefecture, Mystery, Unsolved, Unresolved, History, Megalith, Giant, Structure, Unknown, Alien, UFO, UAP, Sky Boat, Celestial, Ship, Boat, Folklore, Japanese, Archaeology, Alternative History, Extraterrestrial, Angel, Time Traveler, temple, shrine, sculpture, Utsuro-Bune, Lore, Legend, Religion, God, gods, astronaut, ancient aliens, ancient alien, ancient astronaut Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices