Tsunan Town
Exploring the Jomon period 05
The rich natural environment Jomon people
chose was on the river terrace
of the Shinano River.
Magnificent terrain created by the Naeba foothills and Shinano River erosion.
Clear snow-melt water flows on Japan’s largest river terraces,
the forests are in full leaf and creatures abound.
You will be thrilled to encounter nature unchanged from the Jomon period.
Cultural Asset No.18
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.
Cultural Asset No.20
Many pit dwellings in good condition were found in Dodaira Site from the mid-Jomon period. Flame pots and crown-type pots were excavated in nearly perfect condition. They are excellent materials that represent the upstream basin of the Shinano River. The finds also include pot groups from Gunma to Nagano prefectures, and even the Tohoku district, suggesting a wide range of communications.
Cultural Asset No.31
Uwano site from the mid-Jomon period is known for pit dwellings and a large clay figure. Normally in the mid-Jomon period, solid figures are made from a mass of clay, The clay figure with swollen stomach found here is hollow instead. It might be that a figure of a pregnant woman was made and deliberately broken to pray for safe delivery. We can catch a glimpse of the Jomon people’s spirit.
Cultural Asset No.40
These multiple-stair terraces were formed by the Shinano River and the earth through a stunningly long period of 400,000 years. The Jomon culture developed on this river terrace topography with scattered springs. People selected this terrace in Tsunan which is the largest in Japan to gather and settlements grew to a large scale where they made flame pots in their daily lives.
Cultural Asset No.43
Ryugakubo is a pond where water springs out. Located at an altitude of 450m on the river terrace, beech, Japanese cypress and magnolias grow densely in the surroundings. With Jomon sites nearby, the landscape looks as if unchanged from the Jomon period. Water originating from heavy snow fall springs out at 30 tons per minute. The water in this pond is always clear and transparent because the cold water, 7 degrees Celsius even in summer, is all replaced daily.
Cultural Asset No.51
This unexplored area is at the tributary of the Shinano River with mountain villages scattered in the Nakatsu River basin. A Jomon villages were located on the same spot as the present village in Akiyama between Tsunan Town in Niigata Prefecture and Sakae Village in Nagano Prefecture. The beautiful natural landscape that would have been reflected in the eyes of the Jomon people is still unchanged. Also, the culture and customs of a heavy snowy area described in "Akiyama Journey" by Bokushi Suzuki in the Edo period are kept on today.
Museums with
cultural assets
Enjoy real natural wealth in the heart of nature that nurtured Jomon lives. Encounter severe, gentle and deep snow country culture.
Jomon people lived in harmony with nature. Here you can learn their philosophy and wisdom. We provide programs on Jomon life, folk customs and nature throughout the four seasons. Since it became apparent that agriculture started in the Jomon period, before the Yayoi period, we also provide agriculture experience programs.
| Address: | 835 O-aza Shimo-funato Otsu, Tsunan Town, Naka-uonuma-gun google map |
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| Open: | 9:00-17:00 |
| Closed: | Monday (Open if Monday falls on a public holiday, but closed the next day) Year-end and New Year |
| Admission: | Free (Experience program has a fee) |
| Phone: | 025-765-5511 |
The natural environment of the heavy-snow area is the background of Tsunan's history and cultures, represented by Jomon culture and the mountain folk culture based on Jomon tradition. Archeological materials such as a flame pot from Dodaira Site, Jomon pots from Okinohara Site and ethnological materials such as tools from Akiyama and surrounding mountain villages are exhibited.
| Address: | 827 O-aza Naka-fukami Otsu, Tsunan Town, Naka-uonuma-gun (Funayama) google map |
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| Open: | 9:00-16:30 |
| Closed: | Monday (Open if Monday falls on a public holiday, but closed the next day) Winter period (December 28-March 10) |
| Admission: | Adults ¥210, Minors and students ¥100 |
| Phone: | 025-765-2882 |
This suspension bridge is one of the 50 selected bridges of Niigata Prefecture, connecting Mikura Village inside Naeba-Sanroku Geopark and Ketto Village on the other side of the river. The emerald green Nakatsu River and the forest’s fresh green and autumn leaves seen from the bridge are a masterpiece. This scenic spot is used for movie and TV drama locations.
| Phone: | 025-765-5585 (Tsunan Town Tourism Association) |
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The virgin forest of horse chestnuts in Naeba-Sanroku Geopark is a spot where you feel the surroundings through your five senses. You will wonder if the scenery is as much the same as that Jomon people saw when they lived in the forest. The great horse chestnut tree that symbolize the richness of the forest especially bears a divine atmosphere. The tree was selected as one of the 100 forest giants by the Japan forestry agency.
| Phone: | 025-765-5585 (Tsunan Town Tourism Association) |
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This hot spring for day trips is located close to Ryugakubo and is one of the best hundred natural water sources by the ministry of the environment. The salty spring quality is reputed to prevent chill after bathing. The spa "Jomon Hot Spring" has an open air wooden bath in the image of a sacred forest, and the hot water gushes through a flame pot shaped spout.
| Address: | 7031 O-aza Yachi, Tsunan Town, Naka-uonuma-gun google map |
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| Phone: | 025-765-5888 |
Please visit our official website for more information.
http://www.ryugakubo.com/
What to see! Turn around and find the Jomon!
The sunflowers bloom under the summer sun in a vast field just like an ocean! Next to this moving scenery is Okinohara Site, which represents the Jomon circular settlement in the upstream of the Shinano River. Stand in the sunflower field and turn around; you are in a scene of Jomon people’s lives.
| Phone: | 025-765-5585 (Tsunan Town Tourism Association) |
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Jomon design!
Need a bit of Jomon taste
Branded with flame pot design.
Western-style rice crackers with gentle and sweet flavor
Ideal for a souvenir.
| Phone: | 025-765-4703 (Sumire Kobo, Support for continuous employment Type B) |
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The cherry d'amande is named after Okinohara Site, and is in the shape of the pit dwelling plan. A fireplace in the center surrounded by post holes.
| Phone: | 025-765-2053 (Matsuya) |
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