Shitanoya Site: A Great Jomon Ring Village on the Musashino Plateau
The Shitanoya Site (下野谷遺跡, Shitanoya Iseki) is a ring-shaped settlement of the Middle Jomon period, some 4,000 to 5,000 years ago, in Higashifushimi, Nishitokyo City, Tokyo, designated a national Historic Site in 2015.
According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the Shitanoya Site is a large ring settlement 150 metres across, made up of pits, pit dwellings and post-built structures. The Agency gives the designated area as 14,721.79 square metres.
Why It Was Designated
At the centre, pits thought to be graves are packed into an area 70 metres east to west and 50 metres north to south, ringed by pit dwellings. Post-built structures stand in a narrow semicircle on the west, between the pits and the dwellings.
Across a valley to the east lies another ring settlement of about the same age, and the Agency believes the two formed a closely linked double ring. The ring villages of the Musashino Plateau and Tama Hills are second only to the southern foot of the Yatsugatake range in density, and among them the Shitanoya Site stands out for its size, contents and excellent preservation, unmatched in the heavily developed Tokyo area.
Nishitokyo City says pottery shows the village lasted about 1,000 years, and it is thought to have been a central settlement of the Shakujii River basin.
What to Look For
Part of the site is laid out as Shitanoya Site Park. There are few visible features, but walking with the 150-metre ring in mind helps picture houses surrounding a burial ground.
The city says an autumn Jomon forest festival is held in the park every year, part of lively volunteer-led activities.
Visiting the Shitanoya Site
The Shitanoya Site is an outdoor site; the park area can be visited freely at no charge. It is in Higashifushimi 6-chome, Nishitokyo; enquiries go to the city's community learning section on 042-420-2831.
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Q&A
- What is the Shitanoya Site?
- A Middle Jomon ring-shaped settlement in Nishitokyo, Tokyo, designated a national Historic Site in 2015.
- How large is the Shitanoya Site?
- The ring settlement is 150 metres across, with graves packed at its centre.
- Why is the Shitanoya Site important?
- It is an exceptionally well-preserved ring village, unmatched in the heavily developed Tokyo area.
- What is a double ring settlement?
- A second ring village of about the same age lies across the valley to the east, and the two are thought to have been closely linked.
- Can I visit the Shitanoya Site?
- Yes, part of it is Shitanoya Site Park, open freely.
Basic Information
| Name | Shitanoya Site (下野谷遺跡) |
|---|---|
| Location | Higashifushimi 6-chome, Nishitokyo City, Tokyo |
| Designation | Historic Site |
| Year Designated | Designated 2015/3/10 (Heisei 27) |
| Quantity | 1 site |
| Dimensions | Designated area 14,721.79 square metres; ring settlement 150 metres across |
| Owner | Not listed in the Agency for Cultural Affairs database |
| Public Access | Open freely as Shitanoya Site Park |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs Database: Shitanoya Site (Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/401/00003888
- Cultural Heritage Online: Shitanoya Site (Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/293139
- Nishitokyo City: Shitanoya Site (Japanese)
- https://www.city.nishitokyo.lg.jp/enjoy/rekishi_bunka/bunkazai/kunishitei/sitanoyaiseki.html
Last verified: 2026.09.27