Kajiyama Kofun

Overview

Kajiyama Kofun is a burial mound from Japan's Kofun period, set in the Okamasu district of Kokufucho in the city of Tottori. It is notable for its rare modified octagonal shape, neither a simple round nor square mound, and has been designated a National Historic Site. Surrounded by quiet farmland and low hills, it offers travelers a window into the history of the ancient Inaba region.

Highlights

• ●A rare modified octagonal mound, neither round nor square
• ●The first colored wall paintings found in the Chugoku region, in 1978
• ●A tomb structure with what is regarded as Japan's oldest square platform
• ●A key ancient Inaba monument designated a National Historic Site

History

The mound drew national attention in 1978, when colored wall paintings were discovered inside its stone chamber, the first such find in the San'in and wider Chugoku region. Later excavations confirmed that it is a modified octagonal tomb equipped with what is considered the oldest square platform in Japan, illustrating how tomb forms shifted from round to square and finally to octagonal shapes over time.

Map

35.4515, 134.2947 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Travel from central Tottori toward the Kokufucho area
2. 2Visit Kajiyama Kofun and observe its modified octagonal form
3. 3Learn about the stone chamber and murals (check public access via official sources)
4. 4Explore nearby Kokufucho historic sites and rural scenery together

Did you know?

💡 The octagonal plan was a form reserved for a select group of powerful figures in ancient Japan, so even a modified octagon like Kajiyama Kofun suggests the person buried here held considerable local standing. The fact that its colored murals were the first found in the Chugoku region further adds to its scholarly importance.

Nearby spots