Exploring the Jomon periodHow did the Jomon poeple live in the estuary of the Shinano river? Learn about the main cultural Assets forming the story.

Tokamachi City

Exploring the Jomon period 04

Tokamachi City

Jomon Ginza! One of the Jomon main streets
in the Shinano River basin.
The overwhelming presence of
the national treasure,"Snow Flame".
This is a story of a large Jomon village.

Large settlements were already formed in the early Jomon period, and the Jomon sites are densely distributed. Especially in this deep-snow area, it is granted that the Jomon culture matured because of the snow. The thrills of exploration never stop in this snow country.

Upper Shinano River basin Incipient Jomon Period artifacts

Cultural Asset No.3

Upper Shinano River basin
Incipient Jomon Period artifacts

The sites of the period when pottery production began are concentrated in the upstream area of the Shinano River. Bottom-pointed pots, a feature of the Incipient Jomon period, are found among the artifacts of Himizo and Unoki Minami sites. The pots that date back about 10,000 years before the period of flame pots are decorated with cord marks.

Sasayama Site Artifacts

Cultural Asset No.11

Sasayama Site Artifacts

Many flame pots, crown-type pots, stone tools and clay figures were excavated from this large village. The materials indicate the characteristics of the flame pot culture in the upstream part of the Shinano River basin. A group of excavated items including the flame pot named as "Jomon Snow Flame" were designated as both the first national treasure in Niigata Prefecture and also the first of the Jomon pots to be a national treasure.

Sasayama Site

Cultural Asset No.27

Sasayama Site

A large Jomon settlement site that existed for about 1,000 years through the middle Jomon to the early phase of the late Jomon period. This is a typical settlement in the Shinano RIver middle basin with pit dwellings located in circle or a horseshoe shape surrounding a ritual plaza. Some pit dwellings of the flame pots period are reconstructed creating the Jomon appearance.

Tashirono Nanatsugama

Cultural Asset No.41

Tashirono Nanatsugama

Seven waterfalls formed along the mountain stream sprung from the Naeba mountain system that feeds into the Shinano River. The scenic view unchanged from the Jomon period is a rare terrain with vertical columnar joints on the left bank and horizontal columnar joints on the right. Waterfalls and pools continue for about 1 km.

Kiyotsu Gorge

Cultural Asset No.42

Kiyotsu Gorge

The magnificent scenery was created by the Shinano River and the Kiyotsu River. The large V-shaped valley with a quay standing across the river is the primary landscape of the Jomon period. This area is one of Japan's three great gorges. The topography of columnar joints seen from the valley tunnel is undisturbed nature, and the area is also a treasure trove for academic works.

Bijinbayashi

Cultural Asset No.49

Bijinbayashi

This beech grove remains on the upper part of the Shinano River. You can feel the Jomon atmosphere here. The beech trees were once cut down in the early 20th century, and started to grow again all at once. Because of the beautiful appearance of these trees, they were named Bijin (beauty). The woods show their beauty not only with fresh greenery and autumn leaves but also with snow.

Museums with
cultural assets

A visit to culture and art born out of snow.

Life, culture and art shined by snow exist in the world’s heaviest snowfall region.
The national treasure pots, the magnificent regional events and everything else belong to a snowy town.

Tokamachi City Museum

Tokamachi City Museum

The museum addresses the snow, textiles and Shinano River that have nurtured the life and culture of the Tokamachi area. The artifacts from the Sasayama Site, including the flame pots designated as the first national treasure in Niigata and the first natural treasure in Japan concerning Jomon pots, are impressive. Important tangible cultural properties, such as "Echigo chijimi weaving implements and related materials", "Items for use during snowy periods from Tokamachi" as well as documents about river fishing, are also must to see.

Address: 1 Nishi-honcho, Tokamachi City google map
Open: 9:00-17:00 (Enter by 16:30)
Closed: Monday, The day after a national holiday, Year-end and New Year
Admission: ¥300 (Group ¥250, Elementary, junior high school students and under are free)
Phone: 025-757-5531

Matsunoyama Folk Museum

Matsunoyama Folk Museum

A 100-year-old house was relocated and made into a museum. The culture of snow country in the Shinano River basin where the flame pots originated, daily tools and agricultural tools unique to a snowy country, and artifacts from Nishinomae Site of the late Jomon period, etc. are exhibited.

Address: 264 Matsunoyama Yuyama, Tokamachi City google map
Open: 9:00-16:00
Closed: Tuesday, Wednesday, Snowy winter period (Mid-November-Late April)
Admission: Adults (High school and above) ¥200, Junior high school and under are free
Phone: 025-596-2041

Cultural heritages and sightseeing spots in the neighboring area

Echigo-Tsumari Art Field 2018 Winter―SNOWART
(Scheduled to be held from January to March 2018)
Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale 2018
(Scheduled to be held from late July to Mid-September 2018)

Echigo-Tsumari Art Field, Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale 2018

The world's largest international art festival is held every 3 years in the vast Echigo Tsumari. “SNOWART” is also held from 2017 during the winter when regional characteristics are best drawn out. Both festivals will be held continuously, so you can enjoy the festivals in both white and green seasons.

Phone: 025-761-7767(Echigo-Tsumari Art Field Information Center)

The Roadside Station Cross 10 Tokamachi

The Roadside Station Cross 10 Tokamachi

Silk fabric crafts unique to textile town Tokamachi, local rice and sake, and fresh agricultural products are sold here. There is also a cafe restaurant where you can enjoy local vegetables and the local snow country cuisine as well as a Japanese craft shop. The huge panel (7 x 5 m) of a flame pot, a national treasure, by photographer Masato Shigesawa decorates the exterior wall giving a great impact.

Address: 6-1-71-26 Honcho, Tokamachi City google map
Phone: 025-757-2323

Grand snow stages.
Impressed by the gigantic snow figures

Tokamachi Snow Festival

Tokamachi Snow Festival

One of Japan’s three biggest snow festivals is held here at the birthplace of the modern snow festival. The festival is held in the middle of February every year. At the snow carnival, the main venue features a fantasy world of sound and light such as live music on a huge snow stage and a magnificent kimono show. The colorful snow fireworks that decorate the finale are especially a masterpiece.

Phone: 025-757-3100 (Tokamachi Snow Festival Executive Committee)

We love Jomon! Feel the breath of Jomon!

Sasayama Jomon Market

Sasayama Jomon Market

A Jomon event that began commemorating the designation of flame pots excavated from Sasayama Site as a national treasure. You never have to be a Jomon freak to enjoy the Jomon performance festival, singing and dancing entertainment, and making Jomon food and accessories.

Address: 3081-2 Nakajo Otsu, Tokamachi City (Sasayama Jomon Plaza, Sasayama Jomon Hall)
google map
Phone: 025-752-2748 (NPO Sasayama Jomon-no-Sato, Nakajo District Community Center)