20 Historic sites in Nagano worth your time

Explore an archaeological site revealing continuous settlement from Jomon to early modern periods.

What it is

• An archaeological site in Nakano City, Nagano Prefecture.
• Reveals settlement remains from Jomon to early modern periods.

What to see

• Excavations found Jomon, Yayoi, and Heian period settlement remains.
• Yayoi period remains include pit dwellings and coffin burials.
• 212 Yayoi period artifacts were discovered.
• Artifacts include bronze bells and bronze halberds.
• These artifacts are a National Important Cultural Property.
• Excavated items are stored at the Nakano City Museum.

Read more about Yanagisawa Site

Historic battlefield park commemorating a famous samurai clash, with statues and a notable museum.

What it is

• A park developed around 1969.
• Commemorates the Fourth Battle of Kawanakajima.
• Takeda army reportedly set up their main camp here.

What to see

• Bronze statue of Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin.
• Nagano City Museum is within the park.
• Museum building received an architectural award.
• View Wife's Mountain, where Uesugi's army deployed.
• Souvenir shops line the approach to Hachiman Shrine.

Getting there

• Close to Zenkoji Temple and Nagano IC.

Read more about Old Battlefield of Kawanakajima

Explore a well-preserved Jomon-era village with restored dwellings and unique pottery.

What it is

• An archaeological site in Fujimi Town, Nagano Prefecture.
• A settlement from the Middle Jomon period.
• Designated as a National Historic Site.
• Excavated in 1958.

What to see

• Restored Jomon buildings outdoors.
• Twelve complete pottery vessels from a building trace.
• Middle Jomon pottery: Tochi-style and Idojiri-style.
• Stone tools: concave stones and chipped stone axes.
• Idojiri Archaeological Museum in the park.
• Fujimi Town History and Folklore Museum adjacent.

Read more about Idojiri Site

Explore a significant Jomon period ruin featuring Japan's oldest circular stone arrangement.

What it is

• A Jomon period ruin, designated a National Historic Site.
• Features Japan's oldest known circular stone arrangement.

What to see

• Site on a hill 904 meters above sea level.
• Remains of 30 buildings and 8 square pillar rows from Early Jomon.
• Remains of 20 buildings and pit grave groups from Middle Jomon.
• Large circular stone arrangement from Late Jomon period.
• Stone circle is 120 meters long and 90 meters short.
• Stone circle contains about 200,000 river stones.

Read more about Akyū Site

Explore a rare, ancient burial mound with a unique shape and historical significance.

What it is

• A tumulus (kofun) in Nagano City, Japan.
• Designated as a Nagano City Historic Site.
• A rare tumulus built on a plain in the Nagano Basin.
• Currently owned by the nearby Imoi Shrine.

What to see

• The tumulus: 46 meters long.
• Posterior circular part: 33 meters diameter, 4.8 meters high.
• Anterior square part: 13 meters long, 8 meters wide.
• A Kannon-do hall on the posterior circular part.
• Oldest map in Nagano Prefecture depicting a kofun.

Read more about Nankōzuka Burial Mound

Explore this ancient keyhole-shaped burial mound, a National Historic Site with unique artifacts.

What it is

• A Kofun (ancient burial mound) in Nagano City.
• Designated a National Historic Site since 1977.
• Built around the late 4th to early 5th century.
• Second largest Kofun in Nagano Prefecture.

What to see

• A keyhole-shaped tumulus, 93 meters long.
• Two vertical stone chambers for burial.
• Excavated artifacts are Prefectural Treasures.
• Haniwa cylindrical coffin is a City Cultural Property.
• Numerous bronze mirrors and ritual tools were found.

Read more about Senryū Shōgunzuka Kofun

Explore a rare 6th-century keyhole-shaped burial mound, a designated historic site near Lake Suwa.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped tumulus, a type of ancient burial mound.
• Designated a Nagano Prefecture historic site since 1965.
• Estimated to have been built around the late 6th century.
• It is the only keyhole-shaped tumulus in the Suwa region.

What to see

• The distinct keyhole shape of the tumulus.
• Cylindrical Haniwa (clay figures) found on the surface.
• A horizontal stone burial chamber, opening to the west.
• Views from a hill north of Lake Suwa.

Read more about Shimosuwa Aozuka Kofun

Explore Komagata Ruins, a National Historic Site with Jomon settlement remains and artifacts.

What it is

• A complex of ruins centered on a Jomon period settlement.
• Designated as a National Historic Site.
• Certified as a Japan Heritage component in 2018.
• Designated a National Historic Site on January 16, 1998.

What to see

• Jomon period base settlement ruins.
• Obsidian arrowheads.
• Remains from Paleolithic to medieval periods.
• 106 Jomon pit dwellings and numerous earth pits.
• Paleolithic artifacts.
• Heian period building ruins.

Read more about Komagata ruins

Explore the oldest kofun in the Suwa region, a 5th-century burial mound with unique finds.

What it is

• A kofun (burial mound) from the first half of the 5th century.
• Oldest kofun in the Suwa region.
• Discovered in 1959 during farming.
• Named after the place 'Fune' (boat).

What to see

• A modified square-shaped kofun on a hill.
• Two parallel pit-style main burial chambers.
• Eastern wooden coffin, 60cm wide and 6m long.
• Western wooden coffin, 70cm wide and 5.5m long.
• Numerous grave goods, designated Prefectural Treasure.

Read more about Fune Kofun

Explore Japan's first confirmed Jomon circular village, a significant archaeological site.

What it is

• A Jomon period circular village ruin.
• Designated a Special National Historic Site.
• First reported in 1893, excavated from 1930 to 1952.
• Confirmed Japan's first Jomon period circular village.

What to see

• Site covers 84,280.40 square meters.
• Includes 33 pit dwellings and 53 hearths.
• Portions of pottery are Nagano Prefectural Treasures.
• Located on a plateau at 1050-70 meters elevation.

Read more about Togariishi, Yosukeone Ruins

See a large, ancient keyhole-shaped burial mound from the 6th century.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped tumulus.
• Designated a Nagano Prefecture historic site.
• Dates from the first half to mid-6th century.

What to see

• The tumulus is approximately 58 meters long.
• Rear circular part is 30 meters in diameter, 7 meters high.
• Front rectangular part is 32 meters wide, 7.7 meters high.
• Excavated haniwa include cylindrical and figural types.
• Excavated Sue ware and Haji ware.

Read more about Matsushima Ōhaka Kofun

Explore Nagano's largest square kofun, a 5th-century tomb with unique river stone covering.

What it is

• A square-shaped kofun, an ancient burial mound.
• Designated a Nagano Prefecture historic site.
• Constructed around the early 5th century.
• The largest square kofun in Nagano Prefecture.

What to see

• A kofun 55 meters long, 53 meters wide, 12 meters high.
• Mound surface covered with river stones.
• A surrounding moat 12-20 meters wide.
• Fragments of haniwa and haji pottery were excavated.

Read more about Nakasone Shinnōzuka Kofun

Explore ancient Japan at this National Historic Site, featuring restored dwellings and artifacts.

What it is

• A complex archaeological site in Shiojiri City.
• Designated as a National Historic Site.
• Spans from the Jomon to the Heian period.
• Excavations began in 1950.

What to see

• Restored ancient buildings.
• The Hiraide Museum and a guidance building.
• Over 290 pit dwellings and pillar-supported buildings.
• Earthenware, stone tools, and iron tools.
• Shibamiya Dotaku and a green-glazed ewer.

Official site

hiraide.shiojiri.com

Read more about Hiraide ruins

Explore a large cave ruin in Ueda City, a National Historic Site with artifacts from many eras.

What it is

• A cave ruin in Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture.
• Designated as a National Historic Site.
• Known for Kofun period wind burial remains.
• Complex ruin from Jomon to early modern periods.

What to see

• Cave entrance, 25 meters wide, facing west.
• Cave is 15 meters deep and 15 meters high.
• Excavated artifacts are Prefectural Treasures.
• Artifacts exhibited at Ueda City Maruko Local Museum.

Read more about Tobayama Cave

Explore a Jomon-period rock shelter, a National Historic Site with ancient human remains and artifacts.

What it is

• A Jomon period rock shelter site.
• Discovered in 1965 in Nagano Prefecture.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 1987.

What to see

• Tengu-iwa rock shelter is adjacent.
• Excavated Jomon period human skeletons.
• Pottery, stone tools, and bone tools.
• Animal bones, including Japanese wolf.
• Bone fishing hooks and sewing needles.
• Shark teeth products and cowrie shells.

Read more about Tochibaraiwakage ruins

Explore an ancient keyhole-shaped tomb, a National Historic Site, revealing early Kofun culture in Nagano.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped tomb (zenpō-kōhō-fun).
• Part of the Nakayama Kofun Group.
• A designated National Historic Site.
• Constructed in the first half of the 3rd century.

What to see

• The large burial mound itself.
• A pit-style stone chamber (rekikaku).
• Excavated artifacts: bronze mirrors, beads, weapons, tools.
• Artifacts are designated Nagano Prefectural Treasures.

Read more about Kōbōyama Kofun

Explore a large 5th-century keyhole-shaped burial mound with panoramic views.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped tumulus (burial mound).
• Dates to the early 5th century.
• Designated a historic site in 1980.
• Largest tumulus in Iizuna Town.

What to see

• The 52-meter long keyhole-shaped mound.
• Rear circular part is 31 meters in diameter.
• Rear circular part is 5 meters high.
• Views overlooking Zenkoji-daira.
• Excavated artifacts at Iizuna Rekishi Fureai-kan.

Read more about Kōshinzuka Kofun

Explore 500 ancient burial mounds, including 25 rare gassho-style stone chambers, at this National Historic Site.

What it is

• A designated National Historic Site.
• A group of approximately 500 kofun (burial mounds).
• Designated on July 28, 1997.

What to see

• Most kofun are stacked stone mounds.
• Mounds feature unique gassho-style stone chambers.
• 25 of 40 national examples of this chamber are here.
• The group has five sub-groups.
• The Ōmurodani sub-group is the largest.

Read more about Ōmuro Kofun group

Ancient burial mound from the 5th century, revealing early Japanese burial practices.

What it is

• A large circular burial mound, or kofun.
• Dates to the early 5th century.
• Designated a Nakano City Historic Site in 1983.

What to see

• A circular tumulus, 32 meters in diameter.
• Mound surface has fukiishi and haniwa fragments.
• Burial facility is a split-bamboo-shaped wooden coffin.
• Grave goods include combs, beads, and iron weapons.

Read more about Yamanokami Kofun

Explore a high-altitude Jomon settlement with reconstructed dwellings and ancient artifacts.

What it is

• Jomon period settlement site.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 1966.
• Among Japan's highest altitude Jomon sites.

What to see

• Two reconstructed buildings are on site.
• Excavated 50 pit dwellings.
• Piled stone structures.
• Tens of thousands of Jomon pottery pieces.
• Stone tools.
• Human-faced incense burner type earthenware.

Read more about Ōmiyama ruins