Overview
Umeyama Kofun is a keyhole-shaped burial mound (zenpō-kōen-fun) in the village of Asuka, Nara Prefecture. This large tumulus was raised in the ancient heartland of Asuka and is officially designated by the Imperial Household Agency as the Hinokuma no Sakaai Mausoleum, the tomb of Emperor Kinmei, the 29th sovereign. Surrounded by rice fields and hamlets, it lets visitors reflect on the age of the early Yamato court amid the quiet Asuka countryside, and it pairs well with a tour of other Asuka sites such as the Ishibutai and Kitora tombs.
Highlights
- ●A large keyhole-shaped tomb designated as the mausoleum of Emperor Kinmei
- ●The commanding keyhole form befitting a great chieftain of the Kofun period
- ●The history of Kitashi-hime's reburial recorded in the Nihon Shoki
- ●The quiet presence of a historic site amid the fields of Asuka village
History
The actual occupant of the tomb is not known, but the Imperial Household Agency designates it as the Hinokuma no Sakaai Mausoleum, the resting place of Emperor Kinmei. According to the Nihon Shoki, in the second month of the 20th year of Empress Suiko's reign (612), Kitashi-hime, a consort of Emperor Kinmei, was reburied at this same mausoleum, marking it as a tomb deeply tied to the ancient imperial line. The keyhole shape is characteristic of the burial mounds of great chieftains during the Kofun period, preserving the memory of an era when Asuka lay at the center of Yamato power.
Access
The tomb is located in the village of Asuka in Nara Prefecture. It is convenient to explore the area by loop bus or rental bicycle from Kashiharajingū-mae or Asuka Station on the Kintetsu line. As an imperial mausoleum managed by the Imperial Household Agency, the interior is off-limits, but the keyhole form can be viewed from the outer perimeter. Please check official sources for detailed access.
Best season
Asuka is prized for its rural scenery through the seasons, with fresh sprouting fields in spring and the rice harvest in autumn spreading a gentle satoyama landscape. For touring the sites by rental bicycle, clear days in the milder spring and autumn are especially comfortable.
Map
34.4687, 135.8008 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Start an Asuka tour by rental bicycle from Kashiharajingū-mae or Asuka Station
- 2Visit Umeyama Kofun (Emperor Kinmei's mausoleum) and view its keyhole form from the perimeter
- 3Combine it with nearby Asuka sites such as the Ishibutai and Takamatsuzuka tombs
- 4Ride back to the station enjoying the Asuka countryside to close the day
Did you know?
💡 Its defining feature is its designation by the Imperial Household Agency as the Hinokuma no Sakaai Mausoleum of Emperor Kinmei. The Nihon Shoki records that in 612 the emperor's consort Kitashi-hime was reburied here, adding to the historical intrigue surrounding who lies within the mound.
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