Visiting Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan
The Jomon Prehistoric Sites are a collection of archaeological sites found in Hokkaido and the Northern Tohoku region (Akita, Aomori, and Iwate Prefectures) of Japan. There are 17 unique sites that make up the Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Settlements, earthen mounds, stone circles, intricate pottery and figurines, are all hidden treasures of the Jomon people, a hunter-gatherer culture that dates back over 10,000 years.
Learn more about the Jomon Prehistoric Sites, its people, and the locations I visited while touring specific sites in Northern Japan.
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The Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was inscribed in 2021.
According to UNESCO, there are 17 archaeological sites ranging from Southern Hokkaido to the Northern Tohoku region of Japan. The Northern Tohoku region includes the Japanese Prefectures of Akita, Aomori, and Iwate.
The Jomon Sites around Northern Japan and Hokkaido include settlements, burial mounds, ritual and ceremonial sites, stone circles, and many recovered artifacts like pottery and weapons.
Who Were the Jomon People?
The Jomon people is a name given to the prehistoric inhabitants of Japan during the Jomon period, 14,000 BCE to 300 BCE.
The Jomon people were hunter-gatherers who lived a semi-sedentary lifestyle. This is known because of archaeological evidence found at many of the settlements.
The Jomon people lived in settlements made of many pit dwellings. The structures varied in size from small rooms to huge longhouses like the one at Sannai Maruyama.
According to the museums visited, the Jomon people used stone tools, bone tools, and even fished using nets.
They used weapons and had arrow and spearheads. Honestly, it reminded me of arrowheads like the Native Americans used. It’s crazy to me how close the tools and weapons were comparing two different cultures on opposite sides of the planet.
Jomon Pottery and Artifacts
The Jomon people are most known for their pottery. The pottery was of course handmade and characterized by the patterns made by cord markings.
Cord markings is a technique used by the Jomon people where ropes or cords were pressed into the clay to make patterns.
The pottery was multi-functional and was used for cooking, decoration, and storage and came in all shapes and sizes.
The thing that fascinated me the most was the figurines or Dogu. They’ve uncovered many of these figurines which resemble humans.
The Dogu are made from clay and are believed to be ritual objects and not children’s toys like I initially thought.
The Google-Eyed Dogu are my favorite. The Google-eyed figurine from the Kamegaoka Burial Site is the most famous and is currently at the Tokyo National Museum.
Jomon Sites in Northern Japan
The Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan are a must-visit for any traveler visiting Japan that is interested in history and looking to explore parts of Akita, Aomori, and Hokkaido.
Recognized as a UNESCO site in 2021, the Jomon Sites are are historically significant and well worth visiting.
Although there are many more sites, 17 are listed and protected under UNESCO. I managed to visit 4 major Jomon Sites across Akita, Aomori, and Hokkaido Prefectures. Below you can find more information on the particular sites I visited.
Sannai Maruyama Site
Located in Aomori Prefecture just outside the city of Aomori is the Sannai Maruyama Archaeological Site.
Sannai Maruyama was the most significant and largest of the Jomon sites I visited in Northern Japan. You could literally spend a whole day here between browsing the museum and walking the grounds.
Sannai Maruyama has it all: Mounds, remains of pathways, storage pits, burial areas, reconstructed dwellings and structures, and so much more!
There are multiple routes to walk on the grounds of Sannai Maruyama, We just took the standard route. There were many reconstructed dwellings, you can even access them to see what the inside most likely looked like.
Don’t forget to spend time in the museum to get a better understanding of the Jomon people and see many of their pottery and artifacts on display.
For more information on the Sannai Maruyama Site to include opening hours and admission fees, view the official website.
Kamegaoka Archaeological Site
Nearly an hour drive from Sannai Maruyama is the Kamegaoka Archaeological Site. Kamegaoka Archaeological Site is most famous because of the iconic Shakoki Dogu (Goggle-Eyed figurine) that was discovered at the site.
According to a sign posted at the site, the figurine found here named Shakoki Dogu gets its name because Shakoki means snow goggles and its eyes resemble snow goggles, I prefer Goggle-Eyed.
The Google-Eyed figurine, Shakoki Dogu was moved to the Tokyo National Museum.
Omori-Katsuyama Archaeological Site
Omori Katsuyama Archaeological Site consisted of stone circles that date back to 1,000 BCE. The site was most likely a burial and ceremonial area.
According to signage at the site, there are no other stone circles in the surrounding areas. It is thought that several settlements jointly used Omori Katsuyama.
We visited Omori-Katsuyama in the evening hours and it was so peaceful walking around. The trails were nicely maintained and well marked.
Goshono Archaeological Site
Located in Iwate Prefecture just south of the town of Ichinohe is Goshono Archaeological Site.
Goshono Archaeological Site is a preserved Jomon site that dates back over 4,000 years ago. On the grounds here, you can find reconstructed pit dwellings, burial mounds, and a large museum.
The picture above is actually the covered walkway that acts as an entrance to the site. After the walkway, you enter the museum area where you can freely walk around before going outside to walk the grounds.
Conclusion
Visiting the Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan is both a journey through Japan’s incredibly beautiful landscapes but it’s also a step back in time to one of the oldest known civilizations.
I had no idea that the Jomon Period even existed until living in Japan. Come to learn that the Jomon people created highly intricate pottery and had semi-stationary settlements.
From viewing the pit-dwellings at Sannai Maruyama to the seeing the Google-Eyed Dogu at Kamegaoka Archeological Site, these UNESCO World Heritage Sites offer a glimpse into the lives, spiritual beliefs, and artistic abilities of the Jomon people.
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