Fukushima researchers discover 160-million-year-old dinosaur footprints

A research team has discovered dinosaur footprints in Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, that are considered the largest of their kind found in Japan from the Jurassic period. The fossils, dating back approximately 160 million years, were located within the Tochikubo geological formation.

The footprints measure roughly 70cm in length. Researchers believe they belong to a large herbivorous dinosaur, likely a sauropod characterized by a long neck and tail. While dinosaur fossils from the Cretaceous period are relatively common in Japan, Jurassic-era fossils are significantly rarer.

The discovery was made during an excavation project initiated in July 2026 by a team including the Minamisoma City Museum and the Fukushima Prefectural Museum. In total, more than 10 fossilized footprints were identified during the survey. Experts suggest these findings provide critical evidence regarding the presence of large dinosaurs in Japan during the late Jurassic and will offer insights into the terrestrial ecosystems of that era.