Tarumi Hyuga Site] The oldest “human footprints” found in Japan are actually in Tarumi.

Did you know that the footprints of Jomon people walking on a tidal flat approximately 7,400 years ago are on display at the “Levante Tarumi 1” (Tarumi Ward, Kobe City)? We went there to report on the fact that these footprints are actually the oldest “human footprints” ever found in Japan.

The Tarumi Hyuga Ruins were discovered during the redevelopment of the area, and a variety of artifacts including Jomon footprints were found. Some of the artifacts are currently on display in the “Sunken Plaza” on the basement floor of “Levante Tarumi 1”.

The plaza is located in front of the Coop and is used as a rest area. I am a local resident, but I did not know that something of such high historical value could be found here.

According to the explanation of the site, this area in front of Tarumi Station was a shallow inland sea about 8,000 years ago, and when the strata were peeled back, human footprints were unearthed.

The footprints were of an adult and a child walking side by side, stopping along the way as they walked across the mudflats. It is deeply moving to think that the same scene that we see today walking along the seashore was seen in the Jomon period.

Furthermore, at this site, leaves found in the soil deposited by a great flood 4,500 years ago and excavated artifacts including “iidako jars,” earthenware used to catch iidako (octopus), are on display.

Why not visit to learn about the history of Tarumi and see the “footprints of history” that are of great value in Japan as a whole?

Detailed Information

Location

Tarumi Hyuga Site
(1-4-1 Hyuga, Tarumi Ward, Kobe City)
Google Map

Hours

9:30-18:30