Toshima: Local History and Archaeology

History and landscape offer two concrete perspectives for choosing Toshima as a travel destination. The place name refers to the Toshima clan; finds from the early Kofun period are the focus at Toshima-Baba Archaeological Park. In Toshima, early archaeology and the clan’s rule from the Kamakura to the Muromachi period thus come together. There is also a tradition associated with Itsutaro Shrine. If you are looking for a hotel in Toshima, local connections can help you get a sense of the destination.

The Name Toshima and the Toshima Clan

The name Toshima derives from the Toshima clan, which ruled the area from the Kamakura to the Muromachi period. The history of the name is therefore connected to a historical ruling relationship. For the purposes of dating, this connection should be distinguished from the tombs of the early Kofun period: the explanation of the place name points to the Kamakura and Muromachi periods, while the archaeological evidence refers to a different era. This gives Toshima two clearly distinct historical perspectives: one through the clan and the name, the other through the tombs.

Tombs and Glass Bead Molds

More than 100 square tombs with surrounding moats, dating to the early Kofun period, have been identified at Toshima-Baba Archaeological Park. Their number and form give the site a clear profile: it is a large group of tombs, with a square layout and surrounding moat as two specific features. Molds for glass beads, described as the oldest in Japan, were found in some of these tombs. The designation “oldest in Japan” refers to these molds, not to the tombs themselves. This allows the structural features and a distinctive type of find to be considered separately.

Archaeology and Finds at Toshima-Baba Archaeological Park

A Tradition Associated with Itsutaro Shrine

Another historical perspective is offered by the tradition associated with Itsutaro Shrine. According to the tradition, Suzuki Shigeno of Kumano in Kishu and the Toshima clan arranged for Itsutaro Shrine to be transferred to the village of Ōji toward the end of the Kamakura period. The story adds a different perspective to the history of the name: here, the focus is on the transfer of a shrine to Ōji. The Toshima clan thus appears in two distinct historical contexts: in the explanation of the place name and in the shrine tradition. This distinction helps keep the site’s themes clear: the origin of the name, archaeological finds, and the transfer of a shrine.

The dates can also be compared: the tombs date to the early Kofun period, while the transfer of Itsutaro Shrine is placed toward the end of the Kamakura period. The Toshima clan’s rule extended from the Kamakura to the Muromachi period. An archaeological time reference, a more narrowly defined event from tradition, and a broader framework of rule thus sit side by side.

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For the broader travel overview: Tokyo.