Kokubunji Kofun

Overview

Kokubunji Kofun (Hoki Kokubunji Kofun) is an ancient burial mound in Kokufu, Kurayoshi, Tottori Prefecture. It is considered a zenpo-koho-fun, a square-front, square-back keyhole tomb (some accounts suggest a round-back form), and is designated a Municipal Historic Site by Kurayoshi. Its excavated artifacts are valued highly enough to be designated Important Cultural Properties of Japan, making it a precious site that conveys the ancient history of the Hoki region.

Highlights

• ●A burial mound in the uncommon zenpo-koho-fun form
• ●A site that yielded artifacts designated Important Cultural Properties
• ●A clay coffin chamber known as its burial facility
• ●Historical value as a Kurayoshi Municipal Historic Site

History

The tomb is thought to have been built in the old zenpo-koho-fun style, in which both the front and rear sections are square. It contained a clay coffin chamber as its burial facility, and the grave goods unearthed there were designated Important Cultural Properties of Japan. Officially named Kokubunji Kofun, this mound survives on land that bears the name of Hoki Kokubunji temple, making it essential to understanding the region's history.

Map

35.4364, 133.7968 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Travel from central Kurayoshi to the Kokufu area
2. 2Observe the mound and confirm its square-front, square-back shape
3. 3Learn the tomb's historical background from signs and guidance
4. 4Stroll on to nearby historic sites connected with Hoki

Did you know?

💡 Zenpo-koho-fun are less common than the round-back keyhole tombs, and a tomb's shape offers clues to its era and the character of the person buried there. That its artifacts are designated Important Cultural Properties speaks to the academic significance of this mound.

Nearby spots