Introduction to the Nekojima Site
The Nekojima Site preserves traces of a prehistoric village on a low rise beside the Kiso River system in Ichinomiya. Excavations have revealed pit dwellings, storage pits, and pottery fragments dating primarily to the Yayoi period, when wet-rice agriculture spread across the Nōbi Plain. The location offers a rare chance to stand on ground that was actively farmed more than two thousand years ago.
History and Discoveries
Archaeologists first investigated the area in the 1970s during road construction. Finds include carbonized rice grains, stone tools for harvesting, and distinctive Yayoi pottery decorated with comb-mark patterns. Later layers contain medieval ceramics, showing continuous use of the slight elevation as a safe refuge from floods. No large structures remain above ground; instead, visitors walk marked paths that trace the outlines of former dwellings.
What You Will See Today
Low earthen mounds and interpretive signs indicate the locations of excavated houses. A small open-air shelter protects a reconstructed pit dwelling where you can step inside and feel the scale of daily life. Information panels in Japanese and English explain soil layers and artifact distribution. The surrounding fields still produce rice, giving context to the ancient farming practices uncovered here.
Getting There
From Nagoya Station, take the Meitetsu Nagoya Line to Ichinomiya Station (about 20 minutes). Local buses run toward the Kiso River levee; alight at the stop nearest the site entrance and walk five minutes along a farm road. Cyclists can follow the riverside path from Ichinomiya. Parking is limited to a small gravel lot beside the access road.
Best Time to Visit
Spring and autumn provide comfortable temperatures for walking the open fields. Early summer brings lush rice paddies that mirror the landscape of the Yayoi era, while winter offers clear views across the plain with fewer insects. Avoid the site immediately after heavy rain, when paths can become muddy.
Nearby Attractions
- The historic streets of Ichinomiya’s Masumida Shrine district lie ten minutes by car.
- Tagata Jinja, known for its large phallic festival, sits farther north in Komaki.
- The modern Aichi Earth Celebration grounds host occasional outdoor events within a short drive.
