Kakinoshima Site
Designated as a historic site on February 7, 2011

Full view of the earthwork mound
This is a settlement located on a coast terrace facing the Pacific Ocean. It reveals that there was long-term settlement, for approximately 6,000 years from the first half of the Initial Jomon period to the latter half of the Late Jomon period (approx. 7,000 – 1,000 BCE).
The world’s earliest lacquerware products were discovered from a pit grave in Kakinoshima Site B, a site from the first half of the Initial Jomon period (approx. 7,000 years ago), when people started settlements. Many artifacts of that time have been excavated, including 17 clay tablets with footprints as burial goods from pit graves of the latter half of the Initial Jomon period (5,000 BCE), a lacquered spouted vessel from the latter half of the Late Jomon period and censer-shaped pottery. These artifacts show a high level of technology, a mature society and a rich spiritual culture at that time.
The U-shaped earthwork mound of more than 190 m in length that was constructed toward the end of the Middle Jomon period to the beginning of the Late Jomon period (around 2,000 BCE) is one of the largest earthwork mounds in Japan. It is considered to have been used as a place for offerings and other rituals. The remains comprise a valuable monument that visually shows the social and spiritual transitions at the time.
Library *Click to enlarge.
Literature
- Jomon [pamphlet , 2005] (PDF:1MB)
- Hakodate Jomon Culture Center [leaflet , 2011] (PDF:479KB)
- Jomon Archaeological Sites in Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku, Historic Kakinoshima Site [June 2019] (PDF:4.41MB)
Basic Information
on an enlarged map.
Site Location
Usujiri-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido
Facility Exhibiting Excavated Articles
Hakodate Jomon Culture Center
Address
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Usujiri-cho 551-1, Hakodate, Hokkaido, 041-1613 |
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Tel
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0138-25-2030 / +81-13-825-2030 |
Website
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Hakodate Jomon Culture Center |
Hours
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April–October: 9:00–17:00 November–March: 9:00–16:30 |
Closed
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Mondays (the next weekday when Monday is a national holiday) Year-end and New Year holidays (Dec. 29 – Jan. 3) Last Friday of each month (facility organization day) |
Admission
fee |
[Individuals] Adults: 300 yen; students: 150 yen [Groups of 20 or more] Adults: 240 yen; students: 120 yen |
Access
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■~60 min. by car form JR Hakodate Station (Hakodate Line) (~80 min. by Hakodate Bus for Shikabe, Furube and Todohokke, 15 min. on foot) ■~40 min. by car from Hakodate Airport ■~50 min. by car from Mori IC on the Hokkaido Expressway Access map in Japanese(PDF:159KB) |
Inquiries
Cultural Properties Division, Lifelong Learning Department, Hakodate Municipal Board of Education
Address
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Shinonome-cho 4-13, Hakodate, Hokkaido, 040-8666 |
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Tel
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0138-21-3563 / +81-13-821-3563 |
Check here, too!
Hakodate City Museum
This facility originated from the former Hakodate Museum which was established in 1879, and it houses a number of valuable materials related to the humanities and natural history. In particular, there are many archaeological materials on the Jomon period that have been designated as precious cultural properties by the Hokkaido Government and Hakodate City.