Pottery Museum
“Genshi Kodai Roman Taiken-kan”
Opening Hours and Closures
Opening Hours
9:00 – 17:00
*Interactive programmes end at 15:00
Closed
Mondays (When the Monday is a national holiday, the following weekday)
New Year’s Period (December 28th – January 3rd)
Admission fee and workshop fee
| Adult (High school and above) | 300 JPY |
|---|---|
| Child (Elementary and middle school) | 200 JPY |
| Below school age | Free |
| Jomon Pottery making workshop | 1,000 JPY (Includes cost of admission) |
Payments are accepted in cash only.
Concessions Tickets
| Visitors with Disability Certificate | 50% off standard price |
|---|---|
| Groups (20 or more) | 10% off standard price |
* Please speak to the front desk for concession tickets.
* Groups must make advance reservations.
Exhibition Information
The town of Nagawa was founded on mining.
During the Jomon period, the people of Nagawa were reliant on the obsidian mine of Hoshikuso Pass, something rarely seen in the Jomon period.
According to archaeological remains, the Jomon people were huge traders; people from across the country would travel to Nagawa for obsidian, bringing earthenware pieces to offer in trade. Examples of earthenware from various regions across northeastern Japan have been found throughout the Nagawa region.
The Jomon People Infused their Earthenware with Meaning
One of the earthenware pieces found was this incense burner, featuring three smiling faces. It appears to represent a mother holding her two children.
The Jomon people had no writing system. Instead, they embedded meaning into what they made, expressing their memories and stories through art.
Throughout this exhibition, you can see many Jomon-era earthenware pieces up close. Can you sense what each one was intended to convey?
Life in the Olden Days
As part of this exhibition, we have some historical homes on display, including a restored Jomon-era pit-house, and a thatched house from the early Showa period (1926 – 1989).
How are they different from our modern houses?
Do you want to try living in the Jomon period?
Pottery Museum, you can also try your hand at making your own earthenware piece.
After looking at all of the pieces on display, you’ll feel inspired to give it a go yourself too!
* It will take about 2 months for the piece to be fired and finished
* Shipping will be at an additional cost
Access
Getting here by car :
①Chubu-Odan Expressway: 27km from the Saku-Minami Interchange
②Joshin-Etsu Expressway: 31km from the Saku Interchange
③Chuo Expressway: 36km from the Suwa Interchange
④Nagano Expressway: 33km from the Okaya Interchange