Japan Travel Yoshinogari Historical Park Ancient Japan...Kyushu, Saga01 The Yoshinogari Historical Park (Yoshinogari Rekishi Kōen) is a remarkable archaeological site in Saga Prefecture. The vast park covers a large settlement from the Yayoi Period (300 BC - 300 AD) where dozens of pit dwellings, elevated store houses and over 2000 tombs were excavated. It is the largest and most important Yayoi Period site in Japan, and the best place for people who want to learn about this era of Japanese history. The settlements unearthed at Yoshinogari are believed to have been some of the largest moat surrounded villages of their time and are speculated to have been the seat of one of the earliest forms of state government discovered in Japan. Today the ancient site has been preserved with impressive reconstructed villages and visitors can explore and learn about Yayoi life and culture. The careful reconstructions include dozens of elevated store houses, pit dwellings, watchtowers, shrines and other structures, many of which can be observed from inside. Some contain tools and implements, while mannequins re-act jobs and ceremonies in others. Of the reconstructed villages, the Minami Naikaku settlement placed at the center of the park which is one of the most important. Enclosed by moats and defensive walls, this is where the Yayoi Period kings were thought to have governed from. Nearby is an exhibition house displays tools and clothes of the Yayoi people as well as artifacts,explaining their agricultural techniques. Another section displays burial jars excavated around the site. The exhibitions include detailed English descriptions. A short walk north is another important enclosed settlement called Kita Naikaku, which is a place for those who were involved in ancient ceremonies. Further north is another museum focusing on the ancient forest that covered the area two thousand years ago. A living center near the East Gate allows visitors to take part in hands-on activities (100 to 500 yen) such as stone carving and building a fire with a bow-drill. Furthermore, the large park includes other recreational areas such as a sprawling open field where people can picnic and play sports, playgrounds, disc golf and miniature golf courses, and agricultural fields where flowers and various display crops are grown. There is a restaurant and souvenir shop. Yoshinogari Historical Park Hours: 9:00 - 17:00 (until 18:00 June - August) Closed: December 31st and the third Monday and Tuesday of January Admission: 420 yen Level of English: Good Access Information: From Fukuoka Via Shinkansen From Fukuoka's Hakata Station, board the Kyushu Shinkansen to Shin-Tosu where you can transfer to a local train for Yoshinogarikoen Station. The one way journey will take around 35 minutes with a cost of about 2500 yen (Fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass and Kyushu Rail Pass.) There are good connections once or twice an hour, but keep in mind that not all Sakura trains stop at Shin-Tosu Station along the way. Via local or limited express train From Fukuoka's Hakata Station, board a local or limited express train to Tosu and a local train for Yoshinogarikoen. The trip takes between 45-75 minutes and with a cost of 840 yen by local or about 1500 yen by limited express train. There are multiple connections every hour. From Yoshinogarikoen Station it is a 10-15 minute walk or 700 yen taxi ride to the park's East Gate. From Nagasaki Via local or limited express train Take a limited express train from Nagasaki to Saga and transfer to a local train for Kanzaki Station. The one way trip takes around two hours with a cost of about 3500 yen (Fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass and Kyushu Rail Pass.) Via only local trains A few direct local trains go all the way in about three hours and for 2130 yen one journey. From Kanzaki Station it is a 10-15 minute walk or 700 yen taxi ride to the park's West Gate. Subscribe link ： http://bit.ly/1y8kAQv Moopon : https://moopon.jp facebook：https://www.facebook.com/jbp365 How to use free Wi-Fi in Japan：http://bit.ly/1w2jdxB

• published: 26 Jan 2015
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