Yashikiyama Kofun

Overview

Yashikiyama Kofun is a keyhole-shaped burial mound in the Shinjo neighborhood of Katsuragi City, Nara Prefecture. Designated a National Historic Site of Japan, it is valued as a monument that evokes the powerful clans who once held sway over the ancient Katsuragi region. Today it is maintained as a historic-site park, where visitors can trace the contours of the mound up close as they stroll. It is a welcoming local spot, enjoyable both for history lovers and for anyone who simply wants a relaxed walk amid greenery.

Highlights

• ●A keyhole-shaped Kofun-period tomb designated a National Historic Site
• ●A vertical stone chamber known as its burial facility
• ●A mound of high historical value evoking the elites of ancient Katsuragi
• ●A maintained historic-site park where you can walk and trace the mound

History

Yashikiyama Kofun is a zenpo-koen-fun (keyhole-shaped tomb) built during the Kofun period, known to have contained a vertical stone chamber as its burial facility. Although the surrounding area has changed over the centuries, the tomb's historical value was recognized with its designation as a National Historic Site in 1972. The Katsuragi region is remembered as a base of powerful ancient clans, and this tomb is one clue to that history. For detailed excavation findings and theories about who was buried here, on-site explanations and official information offer a deeper understanding.

Map

34.4869, 135.7139 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Arrive at Yashikiyama Kofun historic-site park in Shinjo, Katsuragi, and get your bearings
2. 2Walk around the mound to trace the distinctive keyhole shape
3. 3Read the interpretive panels on the vertical stone chamber and the site designation
4. 4Afterward, extend your visit to Katsuragi town or other ancient-history spots nearby

Did you know?

💡 The keyhole-shaped tomb is a distinctive form of ancient Japanese burial mound with a round rear and a square front, and Yashikiyama Kofun follows this shape. Its vertical stone chamber, in which stones were assembled from above to enclose the body, reflects an older style of burial and conveys the funerary customs of the Kofun period. The name Yashikiyama, meaning residence hill, also hints at how the land became tied to people's lives in later ages.

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