6 Aomori City, Aomori

Sannai Maruyama Site

Designated as a Special Historic Site on November 24, 2000
Stage IIb (ca. 3,000 BCE – 2,200 BCE)　 (Special Historic Site: ca. 3,900 BCE – 2,200 BCE)

Panoramic view of the Sannai Maruyama Site

North mound: This mound features layers of earth seemingly carpeted with pots.

Clay figurines: Most of the figurines unearthed here are flat, like a plate, and in the shape of a cross. They are called "flat clay figurines."

Sannai Maruyama Jomon Culture Center: This facility displays some 1,700 archaeological finds, including a large, flat clay figurine and a Jomon pochette.

This site is located in Aomori City in central Aomori Prefecture, on a coastal terrace at an elevation of approximately 20 meters along the Okidate River at the foot of rolling hills extending from the Hakkoda Mountains. It is on an inland bay and a river mouth area that abound in aquatic resources. Deciduous broadleaved forests extend in the hinterland.

The settlement site is characterized by the planned arrangement of pit dwellings, pillar-supported structures, pit graves aligned in rows, intentionally buried pots, artificial earthen mounds, storage pits, roads, and large-scale structures. Massive amounts of pots and stone tools have been excavated, in addition to nuts (chestnuts, walnuts, etc.) and the bones of various fishes and animals, all of which are indicative of the diet and environment. These finds demonstrate how people at the time ingeniously used natural resources throughout the year. Artifacts unearthed here also include wooden items, bone and antler objects, baskets, lacquerware and other organic materials, as well as numerous trade items, including jade, obsidian and asphalt from afar.

Huge amounts of ritual tools, including over 2,000 clay figurines (the largest number recorded at any site in Japan), have been excavated from the large mounds. This demonstrates that rituals and ceremonies were held here continually, over a long period of time.

This component part is an archaeological site of a large hub settlement that dates mainly from the second half of the development stage of sedentism. It is an important archaeological site that attests to a livelihood of an inland bay area, large hub settlements, and the diversity of rituals and ceremonies.

Site tours

Location

Sannai-Maruyama, Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture

Access

Adjacent to the Sannai Maruyama Jomon Culture Center

Site guides

Volunteer guides (free, for 50 min.)

Guided tours at fixed times: in Japanese, Reservations are not required.
Group of 10+: in Japanese/English, Reservations are required one week in advance.

Tablet guides

For explanations of the site and exhibits, tablet devices are available at the General Information Desk.
(Japanese, English, traditional and simplified Chinese, Korean, and Thai)

Remarks

Hours
October to May: 9:00 – 17:00
June to September and the Golden Week holidays: 9:00 – 18:00
Note: Admission to the Sannai Maruyama Jomon Culture Center is required. (The property is open to the public only when the Center is open.)

Visitor facilities

Name

Sannai Maruyama Jomon Culture Center

Address

Maruyama 305, Sannai, Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture, 038-0031

Tel.

017-766-8282 / +81-17-766-8282

Fax.

017-766-2365 / +81-17-766-2365

Website

Special Historic Site – Sannai Maruyama Site

Hours

October to May: 9:00 – 17:00 (last admission: 16:30)
June to September and the Golden Week holidays: 9:00 – 18:00 (last admission: 17:30)

Closed

Fourth Monday of each month (or Tuesday if the Monday is a national holiday)
Year-end and New Year's holidays (December 30 – January 1)

Admission

General visitors

Adults: 410 yen; High school and university students: 200 yen; Junior high school student or younger: Free

Group of 20+

Adults: 300 yen; High school and university students: 160 yen; Junior high school student or younger: Free

Note: Separate admission fees apply to special exhibitions.

Facility guides

Museum guides for smartphones and other devices (iOS and Android OS)

No app is required. Exhibit explanations are provided by scanning the QR code.

Tablet guides

For explanations of the site and exhibits, tablet devices are available at the General Information Desk.
(Japanese, English, traditional and simplified Chinese, Korean, and Thai)

Facility information

Access

From Aomori Station (JR Ou Main Line):

Approx. 20 min. by car
Approx. 30 min. by Aomori City Bus bound for Sannai Maruyama Iseki
Approx. 40 min. by Aomori Shuttle Bus Nebutan to the Sannai Maruyama Iseki bus stop

From Shin-Aomori Station (JR Tohoku Shinkansen Line):

Approx. 10 min. by car
Approx. 15 min. by Aomori Shuttle Bus Nebutan to the Sannai Maruyama Iseki bus stop

From Aomori Airport

Approx. 30 min. by car

From Aomori IC (Tohoku Expressway):

Approx. 5 min. by car

Sanmaru

Sanmaru is the popular mascot of the Sannai Maruyama Site. It was inspired by a large, flat clay figurine.

Icon Legends

Participatory programs
Cafés / restaurants
Shop
WiFi
Coin Locker
Nursing Room
Wheelchair Rental

Facility introduction

Name: Aomori Museum of Art
Facility introduction: A 10-minute walk from the Sannai Maruyama Site, this facility highlights the artistic culture of Aomori Prefecture.
Address: Chikano 185, Yasuda, Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture, 030-0021
Tel.: 017-783-3000 / +81-17-783-3000
Fax.: 017-783-5244 / +81-17-783-5244
Website: Aomori Museum of Art

Name: Aomori Prefectural Museum (temporarily closed)
Facility introduction: This facility houses collections of excellent objects that illustrate the history, nature and culture of Aomori Prefecture. They can be viewed online at the Aomori Prefectural Digital Museum.
Address: Honcho 2-chome 8-14, Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture, 030-0802
Tel.: 017-777-1585 / +81-17-777-1585
Fax.: 017-777-1588 / +81-17-777-1588
Website: Aomori Prefectural Digital Museum [in Japanese]