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Overview
Iwaya Kofun is an ancient burial mound in Fukuoka, Yodoe-cho, Yonago City, Tottori Prefecture. Also known as Mukaiyama No. 1 Tumulus, it has the keyhole shape of a zenpo-koen-fun (a mound combining a square front and a round back). It is one of the tombs of the Mukaiyama Kofun group scattered nearby, and this group is designated a National Historic Site. Said to have been built around the 7th century, it is a precious relic that conveys the lives of the ancient people who dwelt in the San'in region. From this mound resting in the land of Yodoe, visitors can reflect on the activities of the Kofun period.
Highlights
- ●The keyhole-shaped zenpo-koen-fun mound form
- ●Its place as one tomb making up the National Historic Site Mukaiyama Kofun group
- ●A relic conveying San'in's ancient history, built around the 7th century
- ●A historic Yodoe site known by the name Mukaiyama No. 1 Tumulus
History
Iwaya Kofun is a zenpo-koen-fun said to have been constructed around the 7th century. The keyhole form, combining square and round shapes, is a mound type unique to Japan and expresses the status of the interred and the power of the local region. This tomb is one of those making up the Mukaiyama Kofun group, which is protected as a National Historic Site as a group. Several such tombs remain in the Fukuoka area of Yodoe-cho, conveying the reach of Kofun-period culture in the San'in region.
Access
It lies in Fukuoka, Yodoe-cho, Yonago City, around latitude 35.45 and longitude 133.44. Access is generally by car from central Yonago. As it is part of a designated historic tomb group, it is advisable to check official sources such as Yonago City for viewing routes, parking, and access conditions in advance. Visiting it together with the surrounding tomb group deepens understanding.
Best season
As an outdoor historic site, spring and autumn, when walking is comfortable, suit a visit. In seasons with less vegetation the shape of the mound is easier to make out, making the outline of the keyhole tomb clearer to sense. Come prepared for the sun in summer and for uneven footing in winter.
Map
35.4553, 133.4419 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Drive from central Yonago to Fukuoka in Yodoe-cho and first view the Iwaya mound
- 2Trace the keyhole shape on foot to sense its scale
- 3Tour the other tombs of the Mukaiyama group to grasp the spread of the whole
- 4Round off by supplementing your knowledge of ancient history at a Yonago museum or facility
Did you know?
💡 Iwaya Kofun also bears the name Mukaiyama No. 1 Tumulus and forms the Mukaiyama Kofun group with the surrounding tombs. That it is designated a National Historic Site as a group, rather than alone, shows that the graves of powerful ancient figures were concentrated in this land.
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