A Settlement That Spans the Jomon to Heian Periods
The history of Hiraide reaches back to the early Jomon period and continues through the late Jomon period, with evidence of settlements from different stages of prehistoric and ancient Japanese history.
The site was particularly prosperous during the Middle Jomon period, approximately 4,500 to 5,500 years ago. More than 110 building remains have been identified from this period. Numerous pieces of pottery decorated with intricate patterns and carefully polished stone tools have also been excavated.
These discoveries reveal not only the practical skills of the people who lived here, but also the development of a rich spiritual and cultural life closely connected with the natural environment.
From Farming Culture to Ancient Village Life
No Yayoi-period buildings have yet been identified at Hiraide, but pottery from the period has been discovered. This suggests that the influence of the rice-farming culture that spread across Japan had also reached this region.
During the Kofun period, more than 80 post-built structures were discovered. These buildings are thought to have been used as residences and storehouses. Excavations have uncovered numerous iron agricultural tools, including hoes and sickles, as well as Sue ware pottery.
Together, these discoveries suggest the development of agricultural life and increasingly organized communities in the area.
Among the particularly important discoveries are the Shibamiya Dotaku, a bronze bell dating from the Yayoi period, and a green-glazed water jar believed to have been produced during the early Heian period. Both are designated as cultural treasures of Nagano Prefecture and demonstrate the region’s long-standing cultural importance.
Reconstructed Buildings Bring Ancient Life to the Present
One of the highlights of Hiraide Archaeological Park is its collection of carefully reconstructed buildings representing different historical periods. Rather than simply viewing archaeological remains, visitors can walk through spaces designed to give a visual impression of how people once lived.
Middle Jomon Settlement
Seven buildings with thatched roofs have been reconstructed to represent a Middle Jomon settlement. At the center is an open space featuring a tateishi, or standing stone, believed to symbolize religious or ritual activity.
The setting provides an opportunity to imagine the spiritual world of the Jomon people, whose lives were closely connected with nature and seasonal changes.
Kofun-Period Village
The Kofun-period section includes a large building thought to have been the residence of a local leader, together with a raised-floor granary. These reconstructions provide a glimpse of the agricultural communities that developed during this period.
Fruit trees such as peach trees have also been planted around the buildings, helping recreate the atmosphere of an ancient farming settlement.
Heian-Period Village
Another area recreates a village dating from around the 11th century. Four buildings believed to have housed several families stand alongside a storage building.
Fields and plants used for food and natural dyes have been planted around the settlement, creating an immersive landscape that allows visitors to imagine everyday life during the Heian period.
Learn and Experience History at the Guidance Center
The Hiraide Archaeological Park Guidance Center provides an introduction to the archaeological site and its long history. Inside, visitors can find exhibition displays and a rest area, together with excavated artifacts, reconstructed models, and video materials explaining the development of the settlement and the lives of its inhabitants.
Admission to the Guidance Center is free. It is open from 9:00 to 17:00 and is closed on Mondays and during the New Year holiday period.
Hands-On Archaeological Experiences
The center also offers hands-on educational programs, including fire-making, magatama bead making, pottery making, and glass bead making.
Particularly popular are activities that recreate tools and techniques used by people in ancient Japan. These experiences provide an enjoyable way for both children and adults to learn about the past through practical activities rather than simply reading about it.
The Discovery and Preservation of Hiraide
The modern history of research at Hiraide began in 1947, when a green-glazed water jar was accidentally discovered in a field. The find attracted the attention of Iwao Oba, a professor at Kokugakuin University, and Katō Hara, a local elementary school teacher at the time.
Full-scale archaeological investigations subsequently began. Local students and residents also took part, and in 1950, an academic investigation led by Soga Village revealed numerous remains spanning a remarkably broad period, from the Jomon era through the Heian period.
Hiraide was designated a National Historic Site in 1952. In 1954, the Hiraide Archaeological Museum opened, followed by the development of additional facilities, including the Historical and Folklore Museum in 1979 and the Kawara-tō Hall in 1992.
In 2008, the Hiraide Archaeological Park Guidance Center opened, further developing the site as a cultural facility where archaeological education and hands-on experiences could be enjoyed together.
A Window into Five Thousand Years of Human Life
What makes Hiraide Archaeological Site particularly fascinating is the extraordinary length of time represented in one location. From Jomon hunter-gatherers and early farming communities to villages of the ancient Heian period, successive generations left traces of their lives on this land.
The reconstructed dwellings, agricultural buildings, fields, artifacts, and ritual remains allow visitors to think beyond dates and archaeological terminology and imagine the people who actually lived here.
Hiraide is not simply an excavation site. It is a place where the continuity of human life can be experienced across thousands of years.
Access to Hiraide Archaeological Site
From JR Shiojiri Station, the site can be reached by bus in approximately 10 minutes, followed by a walk of about 20 minutes.
By car, it is approximately 15 minutes from the Shiojiri Interchange, via National Routes 20 and 19. A large parking area is available, making the site convenient for visitors traveling by car.
Experience the Ancient History of Shiojiri
Hiraide Archaeological Site offers a rare opportunity to encounter the history of central Japan on a very personal scale. The remains of homes, tools, pottery, agricultural equipment, and ritual objects reveal how people adapted to their environment and developed communities over thousands of years.
For travelers exploring Shiojiri, a visit to Hiraide provides a different perspective on Nagano beyond its mountains and hot springs. Walk among the reconstructed settlements, explore the museum, and try an archaeological hands-on activity to experience the ancient past in a more immediate way.
Standing on the same land where people lived thousands of years ago, visitors can feel the long continuity of life between ancient Japan and the present day.