牛塚古墳

Overview

Ushizuka Kofun is a keyhole-shaped burial mound (zenpo-koenfun) located in the Matoba area of Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture. It is one of the tumuli that make up the Matoba Kofun cluster, a group of ancient burial mounds found in the district.

Highlights

• ●The keyhole-shaped mound form combining square and round sections, typical of the Kofun period
• ●Its role as part of the Matoba Kofun cluster alongside neighboring tumuli
• ●An ancient structure preserved within Kawagoe's everyday residential landscape
• ●A close-up opportunity to encounter Kofun-period burial culture

History

Keyhole-shaped mounds, combining a square front section with a rounded rear section, are among the representative tomb forms built across Japan during the Kofun period. Ushizuka Kofun stands as one of the surviving structures within the Matoba Kofun cluster that reflects this ancient burial tradition.

Map

35.9203, 139.4440 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Head to the Matoba area of Kawagoe City to view Ushizuka Kofun's mound
2. 2Take time to observe the shape of the mound and its surroundings
3. 3Continue on to see other tumuli that make up the Matoba Kofun cluster
4. 4Extend the visit toward Kawagoe's historic central townscape

Did you know?

💡 Ushizuka Kofun does not stand alone; it forms part of the Matoba Kofun cluster, a group of tumuli concentrated in the surrounding area. Visiting the nearby mounds together offers a broader sense of the burial culture that once spread through this part of the region during the Kofun period.

Nearby spots