Rather than a museum, the building feels like it used to be an elementary school? At first I was worried whether I was in the right place The parking lot is unpaved but plenty spacious, and the receptionist was polite There was a memorable duck-shaped clay figurine? and a large dugout canoe, and reading the explanations was enjoyable because there was a lot I didn’t know (Maybe I hadn’t seen many clay stamps before) If they had various goods featuring that duck figurine? as a character, they’d make nice mementos for people stopping by on their travels^^;

+2

This facility gives a compact explanation of Hokkaido’s history, from the Jomon period through the Post-Jomon and Satsumon periods and on to Ainu culture. It occupies a renovated, closed elementary school, and you change into slippers at the entrance to look around. The exhibition rooms were once classrooms, but the exhibits are presented so that you wouldn’t realize it. There are rows of Jomon pottery, along with replicas of animal-shaped clay figurines and clay masks, making it very much worth seeing. Space is also devoted to a detailed introduction to キウス周堤墓群. I recommend stopping here before heading to キウス.

+3

I heard there was a びびちゃん exhibit, so I timed my visit for the opening on the 2nd Sunday. It was a replica, though,, The exhibition felt a little small, but I enjoyed the closed school building and the various creative touches. I’d like to visit again when there’s an event.

+1

My first visit was on May 15, 2025. I appreciate the free admission, but it’s open only on weekdays (not Saturdays or Sundays). The main attraction here is, without a doubt, "ビビちゃん". Once you see this unusual shape, you won’t forget it😁! It’s squat and certainly not sleek, but somehow it also feels endearing. ビビちゃん is an "動物形土製品 (どうぶつがたどせいひん〜apparently, human-shaped ones are called "土偶", while the others are called "土製品")" that looks like a turtle, bird, flying squirrel, or seal. It was unearthed at "美々4遺跡", excavated in 1976(S51) during the construction of 新千歳空港. The exhibit is a replica, and the original is apparently kept in a secret location. When 井浦新 came to film the TV show "世界ふしぎ発見" a few years ago, they apparently brought out the original for him (a signed commemorative photo is displayed inside the center). Apparently, they’ve recently been making miniature ビビちゃん models with a 3D printer, so it would be nice if these become merchandise in the future😃. A workshop where you can paint them might be fun too. I also like that the facility repurposes and reuses the former buildings of 長都小学校&長都中学校. I want you to see ビビちゃん at least once.🤗 Outside, next to the parking lot, there was also a miniature of "キウス周堤墓群". Those interested can receive a "北の縄文 ビビちゃんカード" (though apparently only while supplies last; it seems you can get a special case by completing the cards from 5 locations in Hokkaido).

+3

I was surprised that admission was free. It’s small, but I learned a lot. I thought it would have been better to come here first and gain some knowledge before going to キウス周堤墓. During summer vacation, they also had a stamp rally, and I received a stylish folder.