Sannai Maruyama Site: Creativity from 5,500 Years Ago

Discover one of Japan’s largest Jomon archaeological sites and a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, where people lived in harmony with nature more than 5,500 years ago.

At Sannai Maruyama Site, we explore the Jomon period not simply as ancient history, but as one of the earliest expressions of human creativity in Japan. The Jomon people lived through hunting, gathering, fishing, and deep observation of the natural world, while creating some of the oldest pottery on Earth.

The name “Jomon” comes from the rope-like patterns found on their ceramics. Many of these designs feel surprisingly modern even today, showing a strong sense of artistic expression thousands of years ago.

Excavations have revealed pit dwellings, long houses, burial sites, large pillar-supported structures, clay figures, stone tools, and everyday objects that help us imagine how people once lived together as a community.

At the site, reconstructed buildings and immersive exhibitions allow visitors to experience the world of the Jomon people and understand how nature, craft, and human life were deeply connected in ancient Aomori.

Aomori Museum of Art: Where Jomon Energy Meets Modern Creativity

Located next to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sannai Maruyama Site, the Aomori Museum of Art explores the deep connection between Aomori’s history, nature, and artistic imagination.

The museum is known not only for its art collection, but also for its striking architecture, designed to resemble an archaeological excavation site. Parts of the building are carved into the earth like the trenches of the nearby Jomon ruins, creating a unique space where ancient history and modern creativity coexist.

The permanent collection features artists strongly connected to Aomori, including the internationally acclaimed Yoshitomo Nara, printmaker Shiko Munakata, and sculptor Tohl Narita, famous for designing creatures from Ultraman. Visitors can also experience the enormous stage backdrop paintings created by Marc Chagall for the ballet Aleko, displayed in a dramatic 19-meter-high (62-foot-high) hall.

Rather than focusing only on contemporary art, the museum presents a broader vision of artistic culture rooted in Aomori — connecting Jomon aesthetics, regional identity, modern art, design, architecture, and performance.

This is a place to discover how the creative spirit of Aomori has continued to evolve from ancient times to the present day.

Enjoy a fun and local lunch experience at Aomori Gyosai Center, where you can design your own seafood bowl. You will walk through the market, choose your favorite fresh sashimi and toppings, and create a fish bowl made just for you. It is a delicious way to experience Aomori’s seafood culture in a casual and interactive style.

If you do not like raw fish or seafood, we can also visit a ramen shop or another local restaurant instead.

WA RASSE is a cultural museum where visitors can experience the creativity, craftsmanship, energy, and spirit of the Aomori Nebuta Festival throughout the entire year.

Located along Aomori’s waterfront near the harbor, the museum showcases the history and evolution of Nebuta, one of Japan’s most dynamic summer festivals and an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. Inside the vast exhibition hall, full-scale festival floats used in recent festivals are permanently displayed, surrounded by the sounds of taiko drums, flutes, shamisen, and traditional Nebuta music.

Nebuta is more than a festival — it is a collective art form created by the community. Massive illuminated floats are designed and built by skilled artisans through months of work involving drawing, construction, paper application, painting, lighting, and performance preparation. Every float combines sculpture, painting, theater, music, and movement into a single immersive artwork.

The museum also explores how Nebuta connects generations of local people and reflects the identity of Aomori. Through its craftsmanship, teamwork, and festival traditions, visitors can understand how creativity becomes part of everyday community life.

Walking through WA RASSE feels like entering a sea of light, color, music, and human energy — the living spirit of Aomori itself.

After exploring Aomori’s cultural and artistic heritage, we take a relaxing coffee break with local apple pie at A-FACTORY while reflecting on the ideas, creativity, and stories discovered throughout the tour.

This is a chance to connect the experiences of Jomon culture, modern art, and the Nebuta Festival through conversation in a comfortable waterfront atmosphere. Guests will also have time to browse local crafts, art goods, and souvenirs.