I stumbled on this place when I was visiting the modern art gallery in town (which is also great and has a hot spring!) and found this museum to be AWESOME for the Jomon Period history and culture. I was happy to learn more about the Jomon activity in my area.

Another reason it left a great impression was because it also showcased how people used to live here in the deep snow country. Since I now need to clear snow at my house, I was stunned to find out that the snow clearing machines around the town have only been in place since the 1970s! You can see what it used to look like back in the day when people used to stack up the snow into massive snow walls and create walking mazes around the town. Humans are incredible!

What is Jomon Period?

The Jomon Period in Japan refers to a prehistoric era that lasted from around 14,000 BCE to 300 BCE. It is characterized by the development of a hunter-gatherer culture, with the people of this period known for their distinctive pottery, often decorated with rope-like patterns (hence the name "Jomon," which means "cord-marked"). The Jomon people lived in small, semi-permanent settlements and had a deep connection to nature, utilizing advanced fishing, foraging, and early agricultural techniques.