Niigata Prefecture
Aota Archaeological Site, Shibata City
Beautiful organic remains from a waterlogged Jomon site, Shibata City, Niigata - including laquered wood and thread. Excavated by the Niigata Prefectural Bunkazai Center.
Chojagahara Ruins, Itoigawa
Chojagahara Ruins in Miyama Park, south of Itoigawa, 10 minutes by car from Itoigawa Station, or 10 minutes by car from Itoigawa IC. One of the largest Jomon sites in Japan, a base for the production and trade of jade and stone axes. Contact: Cultural Promotion Division, Itoigawa City Office, tel. (0255) 52-1511, fax (0255) 52-7372. Open 9 a.m. - 4.30 p.m. (April - November). Closed Monday, but open if it is a national holiday. Above link is to city website in Japanese.
Reference: www.pref.niigata.jp (Dec. 2002).
Fujihashi History Plaza, Nagaoka
Remains of a large village, late Jomon period, with dwellings, earthenware, stoneware, at 4157 Nishizu-machi, Nagaoka, 25 minutes by bus from Nagaoka Station. Contact: Nagaoka Science Museum, tel. (0258) 32-0546, fax (0258) 32-0561.
Reference: www.pref.niigata.jp (Dec. 2002).
Mt. Hachiman-yama Ruins, Niitsu
For this latitude, an extremely high altitude site with evidence from Jomon and later periods. At Furutsu, Niitsu†, 10 minutes walk from Niitsu Station. Contact: Lifelong Learning Division, Niitsu City Office, tel. (0250) 22-9666, fax (0250) 22-9616. Link is to city website (Japanese only).
Reference: www.pref.niigata.jp (Dec. 2002).
Inoue Ruins, Nou-machi
Early Jomon and more recent occupation. Coastal site located on bank of the Nou-gawa River, Nou-machi, next to present fisheries high school. For access details contact Nou Board of Education, tel. (0255)66-3111, fax (0255)66-4286.
Reference: www.pref.niigata.jp (Dec. 2002).
Izumi Jomon Park
Recreational Jomon theme park, Niigata 388-1, Inariyama shinden, Nakago-mura. Tel. (0255)74-2414. Fax (0255)74-2414 . Open April to November, closed in winter.
Reference: www.pref.niigata.jp (Dec. 2002)
Muroya Cave, Kamikawa-mura
A lava tube cave, where burial, stone tools, and earthenware from early Jomon, at Oaza Kamiya, Kamikawa-mura, 40 minutes by bus from Tsugawa Station, then 15 minutes walk. Contact: Kamikawa Board of Education, tel. (02549) 5-2705. (Kamikawa-mura homepage inaccessible)
Reference: www.pref.niigata.jp (Dec. 2002).
Okinohara Ruins, Tsunan-machi
An important Jomon site with well preserved remains of more than 100 dwellings, at Okinohara, Tsunan-machi, 15 minutes by car from Tsunan Station. Contact: Lifelong Learning Division, Tsunan Town Office, tel. (0257) 65-3134, fax (0257) 65-4991.
Reference: www.pref.niigata.jp (Dec. 2002).
Saigura Ruins, Kawaguchi-machi
Early Jomon site, at Nishi-kawaguchi, Kawaguchi-machi, 6 minutes by car from Echigo-kawaguchi Station. Contact: Kawaguchi Board of Education, tel. (0258) 89-2119.
Reference: www.pref.niigata.jp (Dec. 2002).
Takashio Prehistoric Remains Nishiyama-machi
A Jomon period site with pottery, at Wanigafuchi, Ishiji, Nishiyama-machi, 15 minutes by bus from Raihai Station, 40 minutes by bus from Nagaoka Station, 20 minutes by car from Nishiyama IC.Contact Nishiyama Board of Education, tel. (0257) 47-4006.
Reference: www.pref.niigata.jp (Dec. 2002).
Teraji Ruins, Omi-machi
A mid- to late Jomon period (c.3500 BP to c.2300 BP) jade quarry, where jade was collected, cut and processed. At Hoka, 2034 Oaza Teraji, Omi-machi, 5 minutes by car or 15 minutes walk from Omi Station, or 10 minutes by car from Oyashirazu IC.
Contact: Lifelong Learning Division, Omi Town Office, tel. (0255)62-2223, fax (0255) 61-7010. Nationally designated historic site, open 24 hours/day, all year, free. Reference: www.pref.niigata.jp
Togasaki Ruins, Kubiki-mura
One of Niigata's most representative middle Jomon ruins (c. 4,500 BP), at Togasaki, Kubiki-mura, 40 minutes by bus from Naoetsu Station. Contact: Kubiki Board of Education, tel. (0255)30-2360. Link above is to Kubiki-mura (Kubiki village) homepage (Japanese). Reference: www.pref.niigata.jp (Dec. 2002)
Tokusho-ji Temple grounds, Yoita-machi
A Jomon pit dwelling on hillside within the grounds of Tokusho-ji Temple, 40 minutes by bus from Nagaoka Station, then 5 minutes walk, in Yoita-machi.Contact: Tokusho-ji Temple, tel. (0258) 72-2423.
Reference: www.pref.niigata.jp (Dec. 2002).
Tsukioka Ruins, Horinouchi-machi
Artefacts and vestiges of middle Jomon dwellings were found at Horinouchi-machi, 20 minutes walk from Echigo-horinouchi Station. Contact: Horinouchi Board of Education, tel. (02579) 4-4111, fax (02579) 4-4210.
Reference: www.pref.niigata.jp (Dec. 2002).
Umataka and Sanju-inaba sites, Nagaoka
The Umataka site, mid- to late Jomon, by the Shinano-gawa River, is famous for the "flame shaped pottery" found there. Also dwellings, fireplaces, clay figures and ornaments. At 1 Sekihara-machi, Nagaoka, 25 minutes by bus from Nagaoka Station. Contact: Nagaoka Science Museum , Nagaoka Board of Education, tel. (0258) 32-0546, fax (0258) 32-0561.
Reference: www.pref.niigata.jp (Dec. 2002).
Uwanpara Ruins, Maki-machi
Settlement site (c. 3,000 BP) that revealed arrowheads, jars, houses. Now converted into grassland, at Takeno-machi, Maki-machi, 15 minutes by car from Maki Station. Contact: Social Education Division, Maki Town Office, tel. (0256) 73-3329, fax (0256) 73-4746.
Reference: www.pref.niigata.jp (Dec. 2002).