Kagoshima Prefecture Uenohara Jomon no Mori

Kagoshima Prefecture Uenohara Jomon no Mori is a historical park that preserves and showcases the nationally designated Historic Site Uenohara Site, considered one of Japan’s oldest and largest settled village sites from the Jomon period. Located on the Uenohara Plateau with views of Sakurajima, Kagoshima Bay, and the Kirishima Mountains, it tells the story of a village that was settled Approx. 10,600 years ago.

The park is divided into a “Viewing Area” and a “Hands-on Area.” In the Viewing Area, visitors can learn about life in the Jomon period through the Exhibition Hall, Site Preservation Hall, and reconstructed village.

The Exhibition Hall displays earthenware and stone tools excavated in Kagoshima Prefecture, centered on Important Cultural Properties from the Uenohara Site. With the Jomon Theater, dioramas, and video materials, visitors can gain a multidimensional understanding of southern Kyushu’s Jomon culture. At the Site Preservation Hall, pit dwelling sites, stone clusters, and earthen pits are open to the public in their excavated state.

In the “Reconstructed Village,” dwellings have been recreated based on pit dwelling sites found during excavations. A deciduous broadleaf forest has also been recreated nearby, allowing visitors to walk through and experience the atmosphere of a Jomon-period village. At the “Hands-on Learning Center,” visitors can also try making earthenware, making magatama beads, and starting a fire. These activities offer a hands-on way to experience the skills and daily life of people in the Jomon period.

From Observation Hill, visitors can take in views of Sakurajima, Kagoshima Bay, and the Kirishima Mountains, enjoying scenery that feels distinctly Kagoshima alongside a walk through history. Special exhibitions are also held in the Special Exhibition Room Approx. three times a year, offering different archaeological materials and themes depending on when you visit.