Kōshōji Kofun

Overview

The Kōshōji Kofun is an early Kofun-period keyhole-shaped burial mound (zenpō-kōen-fun) in the Kōshōji neighborhood of Umi, Fukuoka Prefecture. Built in the mid-to-late 3rd century, it is one of the older keyhole tombs in Kyushu. Designated a National Historic Site of Japan in 1975, it is carefully preserved as a leading ancient site of the town of Umi.

Highlights

• ●An early Kofun-period keyhole tomb of the mid-to-late 3rd century
• ●Designated a National Historic Site of Japan in 1975
• ●Experience the uniquely Japanese round-and-square mound form
• ●Historically significant as an early keyhole tomb in Kyushu

History

The Kōshōji Kofun was raised in the early Kofun period, in the mid-to-late 3rd century. The keyhole shape, combining a round and a square mound, is a form unique to Japan and is thought to mark the tomb of a powerful chieftain. That such a mound was built in Kyushu at this early date speaks to the presence of an influential group in the area. The site was designated a National Historic Site of Japan in 1975.

Map

33.5779, 130.4999 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Head from Umi Station on the JR Kashii Line to the Kōshōji tomb
2. 2Trace the mound to grasp the full keyhole outline
3. 3Imagine the ancient chieftain from the site's setting and signs
4. 4Afterward, explore Umi's shrines, temples and nearby sites

Did you know?

💡 The term zenpō-kōen-fun ("square-front, round-back tomb") reflects an Edo-period way of reading the mound, treating the square part as the front. Early examples like the Kōshōji Kofun, built in the 3rd century, are valuable clues to how keyhole tombs spread across Japan.

Nearby spots