After the Jomon period came the Yayoi period. It is common knowledge of Japanese history that everyone has learned about in social studies classes. However, did you know that the Yayoi period did not actually exist in Hokkaido? Evidence that Hokkaido has had its own unique history is carved into the Fugoppe Cave in Yoichi Town. What on earth is this? In Honshu, rice cultivation was introduced before Christ, and this marked a transition from the Jomon period to the Yayoi period. However, Hokkaido's climate was not suitable for rice paddies, and people living in Hokkaido naturally continued the Jomon lifestyle of relying on hunting and fishing. This is how the unique line of post-Jomon culture was born. In addition to pottery and stone tools, many animal and fish bones and shellfish have been found in the Fugoppe Cave. There are also carvings of people on boats on the rock walls. This is the best evidence that food was plentiful at the time, and that people practiced hunting and fishing. The Fugoppe Cave, which gives us a glimpse into the life of the post-Jomon culture, was discovered in 1950. Fragments of pottery were found there, and they were collected by a junior high school student from Sapporo who was visiting the area for a swim in the sea. After that, in 1951 and 1953, a full-scale academic survey was carried out by an assistant professor from Hokkaido University, and a cave ruin with carvings, one of the largest in Japan, was discovered. The interior of Fugoppe Cave was designated as a national historic site in 1953, and anyone can now view it by paying an admission fee. In order to preserve these precious ruins, they are open to the public under strict management. Because the rock walls are sensitive to strong light, the lighting inside is kept quite dim. Therefore, before entering the cave, we recommend that you first check out the full-scale replica of the rock carvings at the entrance and study the location of the carvings. As your eyes gradually get used to it, you can see various carvings through the glass. The carving of people on a boat mentioned above is similar to the one found in North Asia. It is known that the Post-Jomon culture lasted longer than the Yayoi period on Honshu. A large number of late Hokkaido-style thin-weave Jomon pottery vessels used between the 1st and 5th centuries have been excavated from the Fugoppe Cave, proving once again that Hokkaido developed its own unique culture. It is also said that Fugoppe Cave was not a residence, but a place where religious ceremonies were held. The mysterious Fugoppe Cave conveys the image of ancient Hokkaido to the present day. There are several other interesting carvings to see, so be sure to take the time to reflect on the passage of time. ▼For more information, please see the Domingo spot page. Fugoppe Cave *The facility is currently temporarily closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. For more information, please see the Yoichi Town official website. <Fugoppe Cave> Location: 87 Sakaemachi, Yoichi-cho, Yoichi-gun, Hokkaido Phone: 0135-22-6170 Closed: Every Monday (if Monday is a public holiday, the museum will be open and closed the following day) Closed during winter: Mid-December to early April Opening hours: 9:00-16:30 Admission fee: 300 yen for adults, 100 yen for elementary and junior high school students Yoichi Town Official Website: https://www.town.yoichi.hokkaido.jp/machi/syoukai/fugoppe.html <Interview cooperation> Yoichi Town Board of Education, Social Education Division, Yoichi Fisheries Museum Address: 21 Irifune-cho, Yoichi-cho, Yoichi-gun, Hokkaido Phone: 0135-22-6187 (direct)