Eta Anakannon Kofun
A ancient tomb in Kumamoto — vast tombs of ancient rulers.
Overview
The Eta Anakannon Kofun is a circular burial mound located in Eta, Nagomi Town, Tamana District, Kumamoto Prefecture. Believed to date from the late Kofun period, it has been designated a National Historic Site of Japan.
Highlights
- ●A circular mound containing a horizontal stone burial chamber
- ●The legend of the Kannon statue behind the name "Ana Kannon"
- ●A National Historic Site designated in 1944
- ●A mound preserving the burial-facility style of the late Kofun period
History
The mound contains a horizontal stone burial chamber, preserving the style of burial facilities used in the late Kofun period. It is said to have come to be called "Ana Kannon" (cave Kannon) because a statue of the bodhisattva Kannon was once enshrined in the chamber's passageway. The site was designated a National Historic Site in 1944.
Access
The mound is located in Eta, Nagomi Town, Tamana District, Kumamoto Prefecture, an area where several other kofun mounds are also found nearby. Visitors are encouraged to check local signage or municipal materials for the latest access information.
Best season
As this is an outdoor historic site, care should be taken when visiting during the height of summer heat or in snowy conditions. The mild spring and autumn seasons are well suited to a leisurely walk around the site and its surroundings.
Map
32.9768, 130.6059 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Take in the exterior of the mound and observe its circular shape
- 2View the entrance area of the horizontal stone chamber
- 3Read the local signage to learn the origin of the name "Ana Kannon"
- 4Extend the visit to other historic sites scattered around Nagomi Town
Did you know?
💡 The nickname "Ana Kannon" is said to derive from a statue of Kannon once enshrined in the passageway of the stone chamber — an unusual case where the mound's very name preserves a trace of religious devotion.
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