Ise Provincial Government Office Site

The Seat of Ancient Ise Province

The Ise Provincial Government Office Site (伊勢国府跡) is the site of the ancient provincial government of Ise on a terrace south of the Suzuka River at Hirose-cho and Nishitomita-cho, Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, designated a Historic Site in 2002.

The Agency for Cultural Affairs lists it under the criterion for capital, provincial and district office sites and other political sites; the area was enlarged in 2017.

The Agency notes that the area, known as the Chojayashiki site, had long been known for old tiles scattered over some 600 by 800 metres.

The Remains

According to the Agency, excavations by the Suzuka City board of education from 1992 confirmed the provincial office and two related complexes thought to include the governor's residence. The office lies in the Yashita area at the southern edge, with related buildings about 200 metres north at Nagatsuka and a further 300 metres east at Minamino.

Within an earthen-walled enclosure about 80 by 110 metres, the main hall and rear hall stand one behind the other with side halls to east and west, all linked by corridors. All the buildings stood on stone bases with tiled roofs and platforms that survive about 1 metre high, some foundation stones still visible. The layout resembles that of the Omi provincial office. West of it lies a second enclosure of the same size with a large aisled building.

What to Look For

The Suzuka City Archaeological Museum dates the office to the mid to late Nara period from its tiles. Excavation of the rear hall found the base stones and tile sills almost at their original height, and no other provincial office site in Japan is said to be so well preserved.

The museum notes that the raised platforms of the main hall, rear hall, corridor and part of the east side hall still stand in the woods, and that the close resemblance of the Ise and Omi offices is an important finding for the study of provincial government.

Visiting the Ise Provincial Government Office Site

The raised platforms stand in woodland; check visiting conditions with the Suzuka City Archaeological Museum.

Enquiries: Suzuka City Archaeological Museum, 059-374-1994.