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

Shirataki Geopark Visitor Center & Engaru Archaeological Center

Discover 20,000 Years of History in Shirataki Obsidian

Explore one of Japan’s largest obsidian sources and see precious Paleolithic artifacts up close.

At the Shirataki Geopark Visitor Center, learn how obsidian was formed by volcanic activity through dynamic videos and informative panels. You can also touch raw obsidian and experience its cool, smooth texture while discovering the geological forces that shaped this natural volcanic glass.

Next, visit the Engaru Archaeological Center to see how obsidian was shaped into tools by human hands. In 2023, the “Excavated Items from the Hokkaido Shirataki Sites” were designated as Japan’s first National Treasure for Paleolithic artifacts. The collection, which includes stone tools made about 20,000 years ago, offers a fascinating glimpse into the skills and ingenuity of people who lived in Hokkaido long ago. The deep black obsidian, with its distinctive glass-like luster and sharp edges, brings the distant world of Paleolithic life vividly to the present.