Chiusu Dike Tombs

Kiusu Earthwork Burial Circles: Hokkaido's Monumental 3,200-Year-Old Jomon Cemetery

Hidden within a deciduous forest in central Hokkaido lies one of the most remarkable archaeological landscapes in Japan. The Kiusu Earthwork Burial Circles, located in Chitose City just minutes from New Chitose Airport, are an extraordinary group of donut-shaped burial mounds built by Jomon-period hunter-gatherers approximately 3,200 years ago. The largest of these earthen rings reaches a staggering 83 meters in outer diameter — a scale that places this site among the most impressive structures ever created by hunter-gatherer societies anywhere in the world.

Designated a National Historic Site of Japan in 1979 and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2021 as a component of the "Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan," Kiusu offers visitors a rare opportunity to walk amid prehistoric monuments that have remained visible on the ground surface for more than three millennia.

What Are "Earthwork Burial Circles"?

The Japanese term shūtei-bo (周堤墓) literally translates as "embankment-encircled grave." These unique funerary monuments were constructed by digging a circular pit into the earth, then piling up the excavated soil in a doughnut-shaped ring around the pit's outer edge. The flat or sloped depression in the center then became a sacred enclosure containing multiple individual burial pits.

This burial style is found nowhere else on Earth. Only around 70 examples have been confirmed across central and eastern Hokkaido, and more than eighty percent of them are concentrated in and around Chitose City — strongly suggesting that this distinctive funerary tradition originated in this very region. While most earthwork burial circles measure between 10 and 30 meters in outer diameter, the Kiusu site is in a class of its own, with several mounds exceeding 50 meters and the largest reaching 83 meters across.

The Site at a Glance

Within the protected area of approximately 11 hectares, nine earthwork burial circles cluster together along a gentle slope at an elevation of 15 to 21 meters, overlooking the Ishikari Lowland. Some of the rings are linked, their embankments merging where they meet. The deepest pit at Kiusu drops 4.7 meters from the top of its surrounding embankment to its base — a depth that would have demanded an immense collective effort.

To put the scale into perspective, archaeologists estimate that constructing the largest mound required moving roughly 5,900 cubic meters of soil. Even with a team of around fifteen people working daily with stone-age tools, the project would have taken an estimated two years to complete. That such labor was organized and sustained by a hunter-gatherer society — without metal tools, draft animals, or agriculture — speaks to a remarkable degree of social cooperation and shared purpose.

Why This Site Was Designated

Kiusu was designated a National Historic Site on October 23, 1979, with additional area added on October 16, 2019. On July 27, 2021, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as one of seventeen component sites of the "Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan."

The reasons for these designations center on the site's exceptional cultural and historical value. Kiusu represents the largest and most concentrated example of earthwork burial circles ever discovered, preserving in remarkable condition a distinctive form of communal cemetery built only during the Late Jomon period. The construction of such monumental graves by a non-agricultural society offers compelling evidence that Jomon people developed complex social structures, sophisticated spiritual beliefs, and the capacity to mobilize community labor for ceremonial purposes — challenging older assumptions about what hunter-gatherers could achieve.

The artifacts unearthed here further illuminate the spiritual world of the Jomon people. A 62-centimeter stone pillar found standing upright at the center of one burial pit is believed to have served as a grave marker. A finely crafted stone rod excavated from the outer rim of Burial Circle No. 4, with incised patterns at both ends and traces of red pigment, suggests ritual use. Many of the burials contain red ochre (bengara), a pigment widely associated with sacred rites in prehistoric cultures around the world.

Highlights and What You Can See

A new Guidance Center opened adjacent to the site in April 2025, transforming the visitor experience. Repurposed from the former Osatsu Elementary and Junior High School building, this facility features dioramas, video presentations, and around 63 archaeological artifacts including the famous stone pillar grave marker. Wooden walkways and observation decks have been installed throughout the site, making the ancient mounds accessible — including for wheelchair users — while protecting the fragile embankments from foot traffic.

Standing inside Burial Circle No. 1, the two-meter-high embankment encircles you completely, blocking out the surrounding landscape and creating a deeply enclosed, almost sacred atmosphere. The interior space spans roughly 990 square meters. Burial Circle No. 2, with its dramatic 5-meter depth, conveys the sheer scale of the undertaking with breathtaking immediacy. The site's setting within a regenerating broadleaf forest of oak, birch, and other native species adds an evocative sense of timelessness — these very tree species would have surrounded the Jomon people who built and used the cemetery.

Free volunteer-guided tours in Japanese, lasting around 30 minutes, are available during the open season. Multilingual pamphlets in English, Korean, and Chinese are available at the Guidance Center for international visitors.

Visitor Information and Access

The site is located along National Route 337 in the Chuo district of Chitose City. There is no public transportation directly to the site, so renting a car is the most practical option for international visitors. The drive from JR Chitose Station takes about 14 minutes (10 km), and from New Chitose Airport about 14 minutes (13 km). From central Sapporo, allow approximately 50 minutes via the Doto Expressway, exiting at the Chitose-higashi Interchange.

The Guidance Center is open from late April to late November, with hours of 9:00 to 17:00 (16:00 in November). Admission to the site and the Guidance Center is free. Please note that the site itself can only be viewed from designated walking paths and observation decks; entering the embankments themselves is restricted to protect the heritage. Walking along the National Route 337 sidewalk to view the site is dangerous and discouraged due to heavy traffic.

Surrounding Attractions

Kiusu makes an excellent starting point for exploring Hokkaido's deep past. The Chitose City Buried Cultural Properties Center, located within the city, displays additional Jomon-era artifacts and provides extensive context. Nearby attractions include the stunning Lake Shikotsu, one of Japan's clearest caldera lakes, and the natural wonders of Shikotsu-Toya National Park.

Travelers interested in the broader Jomon World Heritage trail can continue to other component sites in Hokkaido, including the Kitakogane Shell Midden in Date City, the Irie and Takasago Shell Middens in Toyako Town, and the Ofune and Kakinoshima sites in Hakodate. Together, these locations offer a comprehensive view of more than 10,000 years of pre-agricultural settlement in northern Japan.