Beneath the ground of Hokkaido University lie traces of people’s lives from long, long ago, still resting just as they were left.
Why not enjoy learning about life in ancient times by listening to an archaeologist who studies these sites, and by touching real pottery and stone tools?
You’ll even get a rare peek into an actual excavation site, usually off-limits to the public!
Become an archaeologist for a day and help uncover the mysteries of history buried right beneath your feet.

*This event is divided into two parts: ① a lecture talk and ② an excavation site tour.
If you wish to join both, please apply separately for each.

① Lecture Talk
Date and time: Monday, August 17, 2026, 10:00–10:30 AM
Venue: Children’s Forest of Books, Sapporo Hokudai
Who can join: Elementary school students and older
Capacity: 30 people (advance registration required, first-come, first-served)
Fee: Free

Speaker: Katsunori Takase
Director, Center for Buried Cultural Properties Research, Hokkaido University. (Professor, Laboratory of Archaeology, Faculty of Humanities and Human Sciences, Hokkaido University)
He studies life during the Yayoi and Epi-Jomon periods, examining how people in the past used plant and animal resources, through “objects” such as archaeological sites and pottery.
Using small traces left on pottery and excavated artifacts as clues, he continues research that reveals the daily lives of ancient people and their relationship with nature—details that textbooks alone can’t tell us.

Event Schedule
Registration opens Monday, 8/3, at 12:00 AM, first-come, first-served

How to Apply
Go to the reservation page via “Reservations & Admission Info” on the official website, and reserve a spot for the event you’d like to attend.

Please Read Before Applying
・After applying, please come to “Children’s Forest of Books, Sapporo Hokudai” at the scheduled time on the day of the event. Please show staff the confirmation email you receive upon completing your application.
・Photos and videos taken during the event may be used for promotional purposes.

② Behind the Scenes! Excavation Site Tour
Date and time: Monday, August 17, 2026, 11:00–11:30 AM
Venue: Hokkaido University Sapporo Campus (near Kita 12 Nishi 7-chome; exact location will be provided after registration)
Who can join: Elementary school students and older
Capacity: 30 people (advance registration required, first-come, first-served)
Fee: Free

Speakers: Toyohito Moriya and Kaixuan Xu, Center for Buried Cultural Properties Research, Hokkaido University

Event Schedule
Registration opens Monday, 8/3, at 9:00 AM, first-come, first-served (until Monday, 8/10)

How to Apply
Please apply using the URL below.
https://forms.gle/vCfJpQZdzXzTSPCy5

Please Read Before Applying
・Elementary school students or younger must be accompanied by a guardian.
・If the event is canceled due to rain or other circumstances, we’ll notify you by 9:00 AM on the day of the event, using the email address you provided when applying.
・This is an outdoor event. Please take precautions against heat exhaustion.
・Please wear clothing you can move freely in and don’t mind getting dirty.
・As the ground may be uneven, please avoid wearing sandals.

Inquiries:
Children’s Forest of Books Working Group, Hokkaido University Library
✉hon-no-mori@lib.hokudai.ac.jp

※Photos and videos taken during the event may be used for promotional purposes by Hokkaido University and the Children’s Forest of Books, Sapporo Hokudai. Thank you for your understanding.