In view of the considerable interest currently manifest in the role played by the northern Pacific area in the peopling of and spread of cultural traits to the New World, recent finds in the north of Japan should prove of interest to American archaeologists and students. While several excellent summaries of Japan's prehistory are available (Munro 1908; Groot 1951; Kraus 1947, 1953) it is felt that many students would appreciate an opportunity to read site reports in the original in order to draw their own conclusions. The scarcity of such reports outside the Japanese language is, to most Americans, an insurmountable obstacle. It is hoped that the present series of articles will, in a small way, help to ameliorate this condition. The explorations described in this series were made during the writer's stay in Japan during 1948 to 1950. Cultural materials collected are deposited in the U.S. National Museum, where additional notes, maps, sketches, and unpublished photographs are available.