Overview
Tsunozuka Kofun is a keyhole-shaped burial mound located in the Isawa area of Ōshū city, Iwate Prefecture, and is protected as a National Historic Site.
Highlights
- ●The only keyhole-shaped kofun confirmed in Iwate Prefecture
- ●Japan's northernmost known keyhole-shaped kofun
- ●Also known locally as "Tsuka no Yama" and "Ippon Sugi"
- ●Protected as a National Historic Site
History
Also known by the local names "Tsuka no Yama" and "Ippon Sugi," this mound is the only keyhole-shaped kofun confirmed in Iwate Prefecture and is recognized as the northernmost such kofun in Japan. It is regarded as important evidence that Kofun-period culture extended into an area once considered part of the Emishi cultural sphere.
Access
The kofun is situated in the Isawa-Nantoda area of Ōshū city and is protected as a National Historic Site; visitors should check current visiting hours and access routes through official Ōshū city sources before going.
Best season
As an outdoor earthen mound, it can be visited year-round, though spring and autumn make it easier to see the shape of the mound clearly, before summer vegetation grows thick.
Map
39.1415, 141.0938 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Visit the mound in the Isawa-Nantoda area of Ōshū city
- 2Observe the distinctive keyhole shape of the burial mound
- 3Learn about what the kofun reveals about ancient cultural spread
- 4Combine the visit with other historic sites in Ōshū city
Did you know?
💡 Its status as the northernmost keyhole-shaped kofun in Japan makes it a key reference point for understanding how far Kofun-period culture spread northward.
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