Aomori Exploring for Jomon Archeological Site Lovers

Overview

You shouldn't miss this tour if you're interested in archeological sites, especially in JOMON period. Aomori, together with Hokkaido, Akita and Iwate aim for the designation of 17 Jomon sites as a World Cultural Heritage. Among these, there are 2 sites in Aomori city, Komakino and Sannai-Maruyama.
First we go to the Komakino site which is located in mountainous area. This deep historic site rests large-scale stone circles constructed about 4,000 years ago. You'll learn about a unique stone arrangement and great spirituality of Jomon people.
Next, we head to Sannai Maruyama Site which was a large and long term settlement from about 5,500 to 4,000 years ago. In addition to restored pit dwellings and pillar-supported buildings, a 1,000 year long cross-section of the soil can be seen. Those remains reveal how people lived in the settlement, as well as the natural environment in Jomon era.
Those 2 sites have great museums, so you can see lots of potteries, clay figurines, stone tools, lacquered wares and so on. Sannai Maruyama has also a comfortable restaurant next to the museum. Why don't you explore those archeological sites with an English-speaking guide?

Meeting place

The guide will meet you at the ticket gate of Aomori Station.

Route

1

Komakino Jomon Site

Komakino site consists of 2 areas, the outdoor excavation site and the preservation museum. The core of the Komakino Site is a large-scale stone circle constructed by Jomon people roughly 4,000 years ago. The circle arranged more than 2,800 stones is as large as 55m in diameter, and features a unique stone distribution pattern. Around the circle, pit graves were also discovered. This site has been known as a sacred place since ancient times. Ritual artifacts such as triangular stone plates and clay figurines were also unearthed, and you can see them including Jomon potteries in the museum. You'll learn about their spiritual life, and their great techniques of land development and stone transportation.
2

Sannai Maruyama Jomon Site

First, we visit the outdoor excavation site and see a cross-section of the soil, a pit burial, precisely restored buildings and so on. You'll know how Jomon people lived in harmony with nature at that time and had great spirituality based on rituals. After exploring the site, we go to the museum next to the site and you'll see lots of Jomon potteries, figurines and stone wares unearthed from the site. You'll learn they had extensive trading network. At a craft workshop, you can try your hand at making a Jomon pendant scraping and polishing a stone. It's available to enjoy meals (the menu used the ingredients associated with Jomon era) for lunch and chestnut flavored soft served ice cream at the restaurant!

Details

Location Aomori
Languages English
Max participants Up to 8 people
Activity duration About 5 hours

Things to know

The tour fee does not include transport expenses, admission fees and meals/drinks.
The starting time of the tour and the itinerary can be customized.
Recommend comfortable shoes.

Keywords

Beautiful Scenery
History
Unesco World Heritage