KYOTO CITY
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Looking over northern Kyoto City, from Arashiyama. In the foreground, bare ground marks the location of a feeding station for wild macaques, the first primates to reach Japan (late summer, 2006) |
Kyoto City was established a little more than 1200 years ago, but human occupation of the mountain valley where this city is located is much older. In the southwestern part of the city, near Katsura and further south, there are many Jomon period sites. During the Yayoi period, the main focus of settlement shifted northwards in the valley, to higher ground where rice cultivation was more easily pursued.
Center for Archaeological Operations at Kyoto University exhibits Jomon materials from sites on the university campus (in Kyoto city) and elsewhere. To see this at the Sonjou-dou building, an appointment is needed. Phone 075 753-7691 (fax 075 753-7689). Address is Yoshida-honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi.
Doshisha University Historical Museum - covers Jomon period and more. Contact: Doshisha University Historical Museum, 1-3 Miyakodani Tatara Kyotanabeshi Kyoto, 610-0394 Tel. (0774) 65-7255. Fax 81-0774-65-7257. E-mail: jt-reksi@mail.doshisha.ac.jp, access map. The nearest railway stations are Doshisha-mae(JR) and Kodo (Kintetsu). Free, open Monday-Friday (10-11:30 am, 12:30-4 pm).
Kyoto City Archaeological Museum - specialises in the archaeology of Kyoto City, with fragments of Jomon earthenware available for touching; a small and interesting museum.
Kyoto National Museum displays archaeological artifacts (earthenware, stoneware, metalware) from the Palaeolithic, Jomon, Yayoi and Kofun periods, and excavated from sites throughout Japan.
Kyoto University Museum - has Jomon and other materials from Kyoto Prefecture.