Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan Mark 5th Anniversary of World Heritage Registration

Explanation

July 27, 2026 marks 5 years since the 'Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan' were registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. The site consists of a total of 17 locations — 6 in Hokkaido, 8 in Aomori Prefecture, 1 in Iwate Prefecture, and 2 in Akita Prefecture — including the Sannai-Maruyama site (Aomori) and the Oyu Stone Circles (Akita).

What makes this group of sites so remarkable? Its value as a World Heritage site lies in the fact that 'humans who had not yet begun farming maintained settled life for more than 10,000 years.' World history often explains that 'humans settled down with the start of agriculture,' but the Jomon people achieved long-term settled living without agriculture, through gathering, fishing, and hunting. This is rare even by global standards and challenges common assumptions in human history.

This anniversary year is seeing a series of commemorative events across the region. A commemorative event will be held at the Sapporo Red Brick Government Building on July 26, and the Hokkaido Museum will hold a commemorative exhibition from July 17 to November 29. Hakodate City is also hosting a series of events where visitors can experience Jomon culture firsthand.

A sustainable society that lasted 10,000 years — the Jomon sites are also being read as a hint for the present day, which faces environmental problems. It might be worth a visit during the summer vacation.