Shirataki Geopark Visitor Center & Engaru Archaeological Center｜What to See & Do｜HOKKAIDO LOVE! -Hokkaido Official Tourism Site

Shirataki Geopark Visitor Center & Engaru Archaeological Center

A 20,000-Year Journey into a World of Glistening Volcanic Glass

At Shirataki, one of the world’s premier obsidian sources, you can witness Japan’s first Paleolithic National Treasures—where prehistoric craftsmanship meets the raw power of the earth.

Your journey begins at the Shirataki Geopark Visitor Center, where you can explore the geological drama that created this "volcanic glass" through immersive videos and panels. A highlight of the visit is the hands-on experience: by touching the cool, smooth surface of raw obsidian, you can feel the mystery of the earth’s dynamism for yourself.

Continue to the adjacent Engaru Archaeological Center to see these stones transformed by human hands. In 2023, the "Excavated Items from the Hokkaido Shirataki Sites" were designated as National Treasures—a historic first for Paleolithic materials in Japan. Crafted about 20,000 years ago, these artifacts are breathtaking in both volume and beauty. The deep black, glass-like luster remains as sharp today as it was millennia ago, offering a profound and vivid connection to the ancient people who once thrived in Hokkaido.