Yoshinogari Autumn Festival: Japan's Largest Archaeological Park Where Yayoi Period Festivals Are Revived

Yoshinogari Autumn: A Historical Park Experiencing Yayoi Culture

"Yoshinogari Historical Park," spanning Kanzaki City and Yoshinogari Town in Saga Prefecture, is a national historical park developed from Japan's largest Yayoi period ruins. Settlements, ritual halls, warehouses, and ring moats of the Yayoi period (approximately 300 BCE – 300 CE) are restored within the park spanning approximately 117 hectares.

Autumn Harvest Festival and Experience Events

"Harvest Festivals" and events reviving Yayoi period rituals are held every autumn (October–November). Experience corners including pottery making, curved bead (magatama) making, and Yayoi costume fitting are substantial, enjoyable from children to adults.

Archaeological Site Highlights

Yayoi period settlement structures including "Kita Naigaku (place where kings and priests lived)," "Minami Naigaku (place where retainers lived)," and "Kita Funkyubo (Yayoi period burial mound)" are restored within the park. The scenery looking down from the watchtower feels like time-traveling to the Yayoi period.

Candidate Site for Yamatai Kingdom

Yoshinogari ruins is attracting attention as one of the candidate sites for the 3rd century Yamatai Kingdom, with research on connections with Queen Himiko also conducted. Numerous artifacts excavated through archaeological surveys can be viewed at exhibition halls within the park.

Access

Approximately 15 minutes on foot from JR Nagasaki Main Line "Yoshinogari Koen Station." Approximately 40 minutes by rapid train from JR Hakata Station.