Nyūtabaru Kofun Cluster

Overview

The Nyūtabaru Kofun Cluster is the collective name for four groups of burial mounds straddling the Nitta area of Shintomi Town and the Umatsu area of Saito City in Miyazaki Prefecture. The tombs, built from the late Yayoi to the late Kofun period, spread across the site and let visitors sense the ancient history of southern Kyushu. The scenery of mounds dotting the plateau is a highlight.

Highlights

• ●Four groups of mounds across two municipalities
• ●Historic value as a National Historic Site
• ●Construction spanning late Yayoi to late Kofun periods
• ●Varied finds such as haniwa and sueki ware

History

It was designated a National Historic Site in 1944. The mounds were built over a long span from the 3rd century in the late Yayoi period to the latter half of the 6th century in the late Kofun period, and finds such as haniwa, sueki ware, iron ore, unju harness ornaments and ishizuki have been excavated. It is a valuable site conveying centuries of ancient life.

Map

32.1024, 131.4276 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Begin at the mound group on the Shintomi side
2. 2Tour the tombs scattered across the plateau
3. 3Extend your walk to the group on the Saito Umatsu side
4. 4Explore ancient history through finds and explanations

Did you know?

💡 The excavated items include not only haniwa and sueki ware but also unju harness ornaments, hinting at daily life of the era.

Nearby spots