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Overview
The Arioka Kofun Cluster is a group of ancient burial mounds scattered across the hills of Zentsuji City in Kagawa Prefecture, on the island of Shikoku. Collectively designated a National Historic Site in 1984, the cluster is protected as an important record of the region's ancient past.
Highlights
- ●The cluster's designation as a National Historic Site in 1984
- ●Noda-in Kofun, linked by tradition to Kukai's ancestors
- ●Ohakayama Kofun, notable for its distinctive mound shape
- ●Suriusuyama Kofun and the other mounds forming the cluster
History
The mounds are thought to have been built by a powerful local clan that once governed the area, and tradition holds that this clan were the ancestors of the celebrated Buddhist monk Kukai. The cluster is made up of several individual kofun, including Noda-in Kofun, Ohakayama Kofun, and Suriusuyama Kofun, each differing in scale and shape.
Access
The cluster lies within Zentsuji City, with its constituent mounds spread across a hilly area, so visiting involves moving between several separate sites; it helps to check the layout beforehand.
Best season
Since this is an outdoor site explored on foot across hillside terrain, the milder temperatures of spring and autumn make for easier walking, while summer visitors should be mindful of sun exposure and overgrown paths.
Map
34.2165, 133.7902 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Check the layout of the mounds within Zentsuji City before setting out
- 2Begin the visit at Noda-in Kofun
- 3Move on to Ohakayama Kofun to observe its mound shape
- 4Finish by visiting Suriusuyama Kofun to take in the full spread of the cluster
Did you know?
💡 Rather than being a single mound, the cluster comprises multiple kofun -- among them Noda-in Kofun, Ohakayama Kofun, and Suriusuyama Kofun -- all grouped together under one National Historic Site designation.
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