Overview
Hishiage Kofun is a keyhole-shaped (zenpō-kōen-fun) burial mound in Saki-chō, Nara City, Nara Prefecture. It is one of the tombs that make up the Saki-Tatenami Kofun cluster, a concentration of great royal-class mounds, and the Imperial Household Agency designates it as the Narasaka-no-e Mausoleum, the tomb of Empress Iwanohime, consort of the 16th sovereign, Emperor Nintoku. Its large mound, cloaked in deep green woodland and ringed by a calm moat, gives the site a dignified air that carries visitors back to the age of the ancient Yamato court.
Highlights
- ●An imposing keyhole tomb within the royal-class Saki-Tatenami cluster
- ●Designated by the Imperial Household Agency as Empress Iwanohime's Narasaka-no-e Mausoleum
- ●A solemn scene of the mound encircled by its still moat
- ●A treasury of ancient history to explore alongside the Heijō Palace Site and nearby kofun
History
The mound is thought to date from around the 5th century and takes the keyhole form so emblematic of ancient Japan. The Saki-Tatenami cluster, built on the Saki hills along the northern rim of the Nara Basin, gathers tombs of sovereigns and members of the royal family, and Hishiage Kofun stands among its central monuments. The true occupant is not known for certain, but the Imperial Household Agency designates it as the tomb of Empress Iwanohime, a figure remembered in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki as a consort both fiercely jealous and deeply devoted.
Access
The site lies in Saki-chō, Nara City (roughly 34.70°N, 135.80°E), within the Saki and Saki-Tatenami tomb groups that spread north of the Heijō Palace Site. It is within walking distance of Kintetsu Yamato-Saidaiji Station, and many other kofun dot the surrounding area. As a designated imperial mausoleum, the mound itself is closed to entry, but its form can be admired from the outer edge of the moat. Please confirm the latest access details through official information.
Best season
The waterside moat and the wooded mound look their best in the fresh green of early summer and from the clear-aired autumn into winter. The surroundings are lined with expansive historic sites, including the Heijō Palace Site, each season showing a different face. On a clear morning the water is calm, making it a fine time to photograph the silhouette of the mound.
Map
34.7013, 135.8027 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Walk from Kintetsu Yamato-Saidaiji Station toward Saki-chō into the tomb-cluster area
- 2View the mound of Hishiage Kofun (Narasaka-no-e Mausoleum) from the outer edge of its moat
- 3Tour other tombs of the adjoining Saki-Tatenami cluster to sense the power of the ancient court
- 4Continue south to the Heijō Palace Site and reflect on the Nara-period capital
Did you know?
💡 Empress Iwanohime, to whom the tomb is attributed, appears in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki as the consort of Emperor Nintoku and is well known for tales of her jealousy. The origin of the distinctive name “Hishiage” is explained in several ways, and together with the trim shape of the mound seen across the moat, it stirs the imagination of every visitor.
Nearby spots
Traveler reviews0
No reviews yet. Be the first to share!