Chino City Togariishi Jomon Archaeological Museum is an archaeological museum in Chino City, Nagano Prefecture, dedicated to the rich Jomon culture that flourished around the foothills of the Yatsugatake Mountains.
The museum houses and displays numerous important artifacts excavated from the Togariishi and Yosukeone archaeological sites and surrounding areas. Among its most remarkable treasures are the two National Treasure dogu clay figurines known as the “Jomon Venus” and the “Masked Goddess.”
These artifacts offer a fascinating glimpse into the lives, beliefs, and artistic sensibilities of people who lived here approximately 5,000 years ago. For international visitors, the museum provides an excellent introduction to one of the most distinctive prehistoric cultures in the Japanese archipelago.
The museum’s most famous exhibits are its two National Treasure dogu, or clay figurines. The first is the “Jomon Venus,” excavated from the Tanaibatake Site in 1986 and designated a National Treasure in 1995.
The figurine depicts a woman with a rounded, full-bodied form. It is often interpreted as representing ideas associated with motherhood and fertility, although the precise meaning of Jomon figurines remains uncertain. Its sophisticated form and distinctive appearance have made it one of the best-known symbols of Jomon art.
The second National Treasure is the “Masked Goddess,” excavated from the Nakappahara Site in 2000 and designated a National Treasure in 2014.
Its mysterious face appears almost as if it were wearing a mask, while its carefully balanced proportions give the figure a striking presence. Together, the two figurines demonstrate the remarkable artistic abilities and spiritual world of the Jomon people.
Standing before these ancient works, visitors can appreciate that the people of prehistoric Japan were not simply surviving in their environment. They were also creating sophisticated forms of art and expressing ideas about their world through objects made from clay and other natural materials.
The museum displays approximately 2,000 artifacts, including pottery, stone tools, and ornaments used by Jomon communities. Seeing these original objects up close provides a tangible connection with everyday life thousands of years ago.
Stone tools made from obsidian found around the Yatsugatake foothills are particularly significant. Their presence provides clues about the movement of materials and the networks of exchange and cultural interaction that existed during the Jomon period.
Videos and diorama displays further introduce visitors to the daily lives of Jomon people, including hunting, gathering, community life, and religious practices. The exhibits are designed to be accessible to both children and adults.
The museum also features a Jomon experience area where visitors can learn about prehistoric life through hands-on activities. Depending on the program, experiences include making fire, creating pottery, and making models inspired by the Jomon Venus.
A museum shop offers dogu-themed souvenirs as well as books and other publications related to archaeology, making it possible to take home a reminder of the Jomon world.
Just outside the museum are the Togariishi and Yosukeone archaeological sites, representing one of Japan’s important examples of a middle Jomon-period circular settlement.
The sites are located on a plateau at an elevation of approximately 1,050 to 1,070 meters. Evidence remains of communities that lived here approximately 5,000 years ago, providing valuable information about how Jomon people organized their settlements and interacted with their natural surroundings.
The name “Togariishi” comes from a distinctive stone approximately one meter high located south of the archaeological site. Its triangular, pointed shape is believed to show traces associated with the sharpening of stone tools by Jomon people and has become a symbolic feature of the area.
Today, six reconstructed pit dwellings stand within part of the archaeological site. Walking among these reconstructed houses gives visitors a more vivid impression of what a Jomon settlement may have looked like.
Long-term archaeological excavations conducted by local researchers, including Hideichi Miyasaka, revealed that this was the first Jomon-period circular settlement to be identified in Japan.
Numerous archaeological discoveries, including hearth remains, stone plates, and obsidian tools, have helped researchers understand the practical knowledge and lifestyle of the people who lived here. The site demonstrates how closely Jomon communities were connected with the natural resources of the surrounding mountains and forests.
The museum first opened on November 3, 1955, as the Chino City Togariishi Archaeological Museum. Its first director was Hideichi Miyasaka, who had played a leading role in excavations at the site.
As the museum’s collection grew, it moved to its present location in 1979. On July 20, 2000, it reopened after renovation under its present name, the Chino City Togariishi Jomon Archaeological Museum.
Today, the museum holds approximately 3,000 archaeological artifacts, with a particular focus on discoveries from the foothills of Mount Tateshina and the western foothills of the Yatsugatake Mountains.
These collections occupy an important place in the study of Jomon culture and have attracted attention from researchers in Japan and abroad.
The Jomon Venus and Masked Goddess are both designated National Treasures of Japan. The museum also preserves 47 distinctive Jomon pottery pieces from the Shinshu region that have been designated as Nagano Prefectural Treasures.
These designations reflect the exceptional cultural value of the artifacts and the importance of preserving them for future generations.
Preservation and educational activities extend beyond the museum itself. Local volunteers and community organizations participate in protecting the archaeological sites and sharing knowledge about Jomon culture with the public.
Each autumn, the Togariishi Jomon Festival brings the area to life with activities such as experiences involving Jomon-style food and traditional drumming. The event offers a lively way to encounter the region’s prehistoric heritage beyond the museum exhibits.
The museum is approximately 20 minutes by car from the Suwa Interchange on the Nagano Expressway, making it a convenient stop during a trip around the Yatsugatake and Tateshina Highlands.
It is generally open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is closed on Mondays, or the following day when a public holiday falls on Monday, as well as during the New Year holiday period.
Chino City Togariishi Jomon Archaeological Museum is more than a museum of ancient artifacts. It is a place where visitors can explore the artistic imagination, spiritual beliefs, practical knowledge, and relationship with nature of people who lived in the Yatsugatake region thousands of years ago.
The graceful forms of the two National Treasure dogu offer a particularly memorable introduction to Jomon art. Outside the museum, the reconstructed pit dwellings and archaeological landscape provide another perspective, allowing visitors to imagine how these ancient communities lived.
Surrounded by the magnificent mountains of Yatsugatake, the museum and archaeological sites provide a rare opportunity to experience Japan’s prehistoric heritage in the very landscape where it developed. For travelers interested in archaeology, history, art, or the deeper cultural roots of Japan, this is a fascinating place to connect the present with a world that existed around 5,000 years ago.