17 Hachinohe City, Aomori
Korekawa Site
Designated as a Historic Site on July 1, 1957
Stage IIIb (ca.1,000 BCE – 400 BCE) (Historic Site: ca.4,000 BCE – 400 BCE)
This site is located in Hachinohe City in eastern Aomori Prefecture, on a terrace between streams to the north and south at an elevation of 10 to 15 meters along the Niida River. It sits close to rivers where salmon and trout migrate upstream. Deciduous broadleaved forests spread in the hinterland.
The Korekawa Site consists of the Ichioji, Hotta and Nakai sites. The Nakai Site, which dates from the Final Jomon period, has a relatively small settlement, where myriad archaeological remains have been found, including a residential area, a burial area, dumping grounds, stone arrangements and artificial earthen mounds.
From the dumping grounds in a boggy lowland, large numbers of artifacts have been unearthed, including pots of sophisticated design, and clay figurines, wooden artifacts (bows, fish spears, etc.), and lacquerware (lacquered bows, combs, bracelets, containers, etc.). These finds suggest that rituals and ceremonies were actively practiced.
Near a mountain stream, the remains of a watering place have been found, where people used water to soak out the bitterness from Japanese horse chestnuts. Also unearthed have been chestnuts, walnuts, Japanese horse chestnuts, and other nuts, and the bones of deer, wild boar, and other animals, as well as those of Japanese sea bass, tuna, and other fishes. These finds provide insights into the environment at the time and into a livelihood based on hunting, fishing, and gathering.
This component part, dating from the second half of the maturation stage of sedentism, is an archaeological site of a settlement with various archaeological facilities. It is an important archaeological site that attests to a livelihood in a river area, as well as to rituals and ceremonies with a high degree of spirituality.
Site tours
- Location
- Korekawa, Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture
- Access
-
From the Korekawa Archaeological Institution
- Approx. 5 min. on foot
- Remarks
- Temporarily closed due to conservation work
Visitor facilities
- Name
- Korekawa Archaeological Institution (Korekawa Jomon Kan)
- Address
- Yokoyama 1, Korekawa, Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture, 031-0023
- Tel.
- 0178-38-9511 / +81-178-38-9511
- Fax.
- 0178-96-5392 / +81-178-96-5392
- Website
- Hours
- 9:00 – 17:00 (last admission: 16:30)
- Closed
-
Mondays (or Tuesday if Monday is a national/substitute holiday)
The day following a national/substitute holiday (except if that day falls on a Saturday, Sunday or national holiday)
Year-end and New Year's holidays (December 27 – January 4) - Admission
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Note: Admission to the Korekawa Archaeological Institution (Korekawa Jomon Kan) is free, but entry fees apply to exhibitions.
General visitors
- Adults: 250 yen; High school and university students: 150 yen; Elementary and junior high school students: 50 yen
Group of 20+
- Adults: 130 yen; High school and university students: 80 yen; Elementary and junior high school students: 30 yen
– Free admission for elementary and junior high school students living in Hachinohe
– Half-off admission for seniors (age 65+) living in Hachinohe
– Half-off admission for visitors with a physical disability certificate, war injury or illness certificate, intellectual disability certificate (ryoiku techo) or mental disability certificate and one accompanying person - Facility guides
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Volunteer guides (free, in Japanese/English)
- Permanent exhibition: max. 60 min. Reservations are required one week in advance.
- Special exhibition: max. 30 min. Reservations are required one week in advance.
Pocket Curator audio guide app for smartphones and other devices (iOS and Android OS)
- Exhibit explanations in Japanese and English
- Devices and headphones are available for free of charge. (Booking is not required.)
- Facility
information -
- Access
-
From Hachinohe Station (JR Tohoku Shinkansen Line):
- Approx. 15 min. by car
- Approx. 20 min. by Nanbu Bus bound for Korekawa Jomon-kan (in operation only on weekends and national holidays)
From Lapia Bus Terminal/central Hachinohe terminal 3 (approx. 15 min. from Hon-Hachinohe Station on foot):
- Approx. 30 min. by Nanbu Bus (J42/J43) to the Korekawa Jomon-kan bus stop
From Hachinohe IC (Hachinohe Expressway):
- Approx. 10 min. by car
Inorun
Inorun, the official mascot of the Korekawa Archaeological Institution, was inspired by a clay figurine with clasped hands that was unearthed at the Kazahari Site No. 1 and is designated as a National Treasure.
Facility introduction
- Name
- Hachinohe City Museum
- Facility
introduction -
Under the main theme of “a recollected history and a bright future,” this museum systematically introduces the history of Hachinohe in four exhibition rooms each featuring archaeology, history, folk customs or intangible materials.
- Address
- Higashigamae 35-1, Nejo, Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture, 039-1166
- Tel.
- 0178-44-8111 / +81-178-44-8111
- Fax.
- 0178-24-4557 / +81-178-24-4557
- Website
-
Hachinohe City Museum / Historic Site Nejo Square [in Japanese]
CONTACT
Korekawa Archaeological Institution (Korekawa Jomon Kan)
Yokoyama 1, Korekawa, Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture, 031-0023
TEL： 0178-38-9511 / +81-178-38-9511 ／ FAX：0178-96-5392 / +81-178-96-5392
Pamphlets, etc.
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World Heritage Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan, Korekawa Site
[pamphlet in English and Japanese, November 2021]
