Ōshikakubo Archaeological Site: A Window into Japan's Earliest Settled Community

Nestled in the tranquil farmland of the Yuno district in Fujinomiya City, Shizuoka Prefecture, the Ōshikakubo Archaeological Site (大鹿窪遺跡) stands as one of the most remarkable prehistoric landmarks in Japan. Dating back approximately 12,900 to 12,600 years, this Incipient Jōmon period settlement represents the oldest known open-air village with pit dwellings ever discovered in the Japanese archipelago. While older archaeological sites from the Paleolithic era exist across Japan, none have revealed the kind of organized, permanent community life found here — making Ōshikakubo a place of extraordinary significance for understanding the very origins of settled human civilization in East Asia.

The site was designated as a National Historic Site of Japan (国指定史跡) on March 28, 2008, and following extensive preservation and restoration work, the site was formally opened to the public with completed facilities in March 2025. For visitors who wish to go beyond the well-trodden tourist paths, Ōshikakubo offers an unforgettable journey into the deep past — all within view of the majestic Mount Fuji.

What Is the Ōshikakubo Archaeological Site?

The Ōshikakubo Archaeological Site is a settlement from the Incipient Jōmon period (縄文時代草創期), the very earliest phase of the Jōmon era. The Jōmon period, spanning roughly from 14,000 BCE to 300 BCE, is one of the longest cultural traditions in world history, and its people are renowned for producing some of the oldest pottery on Earth. The Incipient phase marks the critical transition at the end of the last Ice Age, when nomadic hunter-gatherers began to settle in fixed locations for the first time.

Discovered in 2001 during agricultural land improvement work, the site yielded astonishing results: 14 pit dwellings (竪穴住居), the largest number from this period found anywhere in Japan. These dwellings were arranged in a distinctive horseshoe (or crescent) shape around a central open plaza, suggesting a remarkably organized community layout. Post holes were found along the walls and perimeters of the dwellings, and some featured central hearth pits with traces of ash and charcoal — evidence that families gathered around fires for warmth, cooking, and community life.

Excavations also uncovered over 26,000 artifacts, including Jōmon pottery decorated with cord-impressed and raised-line patterns, stone arrowheads (石鏃), spearheads (尖頭器), grinding stones (石皿・磨石), and a distinctive arrow-shaft polisher (矢柄研磨器) characteristic of this period. Notably, obsidian from Kōzushima Island in the Izu chain and from the Shinshū (Nagano) region was also found among the artifacts, revealing that these early settlers already engaged in long-distance trade networks spanning hundreds of kilometers.

Why Was It Designated a National Historic Site?

Before the discovery of Ōshikakubo, evidence of early Jōmon habitation had primarily been found in caves and rock shelters. The assumption was that people in this transitional era still lived largely nomadic lives, taking temporary refuge in natural formations. Ōshikakubo overturned this understanding by demonstrating that open-air, planned settlements with multiple permanent dwellings existed far earlier than previously thought.

The site was designated a National Historic Site because it provides an exceptionally rare example of an open-air settlement from the dawn of sedentary life in Japan. Specifically, the designation recognized that the site preserves not only the dwellings themselves but also the surrounding geological landscape — including lava flows from Mount Fuji and buried valley formations — that shaped the environment in which these early people lived. The lava flow beneath the settlement dates to approximately 17,000 years ago, while the dwellings above it date to around 13,000 years ago, providing a precise geological framework for understanding the site's chronology.

Furthermore, some of the pit dwelling foundations overlap one another, indicating that the community occupied this location over an extended period, rebuilding homes on the same favorable ground. This long-term occupation is a powerful testament to the site's significance as one of humanity's earliest experiments in permanent village life.

Highlights and Things to See

Although the original archaeological remains are preserved underground (reburied for protection at a depth of 1–2 meters), the site has been carefully restored and equipped with interpretive facilities following the completion of a comprehensive preservation plan by Fujinomiya City.

Surrounding Area and Nearby Attractions

The Ōshikakubo site is located in the peaceful Yuno district of western Fujinomiya, surrounded by picturesque rice paddies and the gentle flow of the Shiba River. While the area is rural and quiet, it is well-positioned for combining a visit with some of the region's most celebrated attractions.

Fujisan Hongū Sengen Taisha (富士山本宮浅間大社) — Approximately 15 minutes by car from the site, this is the head shrine of over 1,300 Sengen shrines across Japan and a UNESCO World Heritage component of Mount Fuji. The sacred spring Wakutama-ike within the shrine grounds is a natural wonder fed by Mount Fuji's snowmelt.

Shiraito Falls (白糸ノ滝) — About 25 minutes by car, this UNESCO World Heritage waterfall features spring water cascading from a 150-meter-wide curved cliff face. A designated National Scenic Spot and Natural Monument, it was historically a site of ascetic training for Fuji-kō pilgrims.

Lake Tanuki (田貫湖) — A serene lakeside retreat offering camping, cycling, and one of the most famous "Diamond Fuji" photo spots in Japan, where the rising sun aligns perfectly with the summit of Mount Fuji in late April and mid-August.

Sengoku Historic Site (千居遺跡) — Another nationally designated historic site in Fujinomiya featuring large-scale stone arrangements oriented toward Mount Fuji, dating to a later Jōmon phase. Together with Ōshikakubo, it illustrates the deep connection between Jōmon communities and the sacred mountain.

Fujinomiya Yakisoba — No visit to the city is complete without sampling its famous stir-fried noodles, a B-1 Grand Prix champion beloved for their chewy texture and distinctive flavor.