A group of tombs about ten minutes by car from JR Izumoshi Station. Created between the Yayoi and Kofun periods, the Nishidani Burial Mounds are now administered as a park. There is a great concentration of tombs in the area between Hii and Kando rivers. The rectangular burial mounds with four outward protruding corners are said to be the largest in Japan and are known nationally for being the tombs of ancient Izumo's elite. The slopes of all six mounds are covered with stones and they are surrounded by stone paving and rows of rocks. The inside of the No. 2 Tomb where glass bracelets and funerary pottery have been unearthed can be viewed anytime except during the New Year's holiday.
This is the gravesite of Okubo Nagayasu, the first magistrate of the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine. The grave, built in 1613, lies at the end of a 10-minute walk through bamboo forest along the Ginzan river, starting at the old Omori magistrate office. Nagayasu took up his post here in 1601, and was tasked with surveying the silver mine territory, as well as building roads and the town. As such, he was integral in building the mine shafts, or mabu, that led to huge increases in silver productivity here. The Okubo Mabu shaft was named after him is the largest shaft in the mine. In 1794, his successes were recognized with a monument and five-tiered gravestone, but these were lost along with Daian-ji temple, the family temple.
A 12-minute drive from the Tamashima Interchange on the Sanyo Expressway. This stone burial mound is one of the three largest in the prefecture with a 54-meter diameter and is believed to have been built during the latter half of the 6th century. The tomb features an internal stone chamber made of precisely joined giant stones with a passageway stretching from the entrance to the inner chamber. The overall span of the stone burial chamber is 19.1 meters with the inner chamber measuring 8.4 meters long by 3 meters wide and 3.8 meters tall. In 1901 investigation led to a large number of discoveries including Sue-ware pottery, Haji-ware unglazed pottery, swords, horse tack, gold rings, and Magatama jewelry. Most of the discoveries are preserved in the Tokyo National Museum.
A 15-minute drive from the Okayama-Soja Interchange on the Okayama Expressway. This Yayoi period tomb is embedded on the northern side of the Oubosan Burial Mound, one of the largest grave mounds in Japan. Built in the late Yayoi period this round burial mound is nearly 50-meters in diameter and five-meters tall. Five megaliths are set atop the burial mound and a pebble ring surrounds the slope. Inside a cinnabar covered casket and traces of a wooden exterior casket were discovered. Also discovered were swords and a large number of glass beads and earthenware magatama jewels leading to the belief that the grave was for a local leader who ruled over the Kibi region.
The strait that runs between Yakena Port and Yabuchi Island. The contrast between the emerald green of the sea and the greens of the trees that run along the coastline is a beautiful sight to behold. There's also an observation platform atop a small hill near the entrance and the view of the scenery from the top is superb. Nearby is a mysterious rock out in the sea that points out towards Tsuken Island and Kudaka Island and due to a few added parts, it resembles a lion leading to the locals calling it the Sphinx. We definitely recommend looking in to the local legend.
"This roughly 5,400-square-meter grave complex comprising of a toshi-baka (active graveyard) and four Shiruhirashi-baka (provisional graves) is the largest monchubaka (patrilineal family graveyard) in Okinawa Prefecture. ""Monchu"" (""munchu"" in Ryukyuan) and ""bara (hara)"" refer to patrilineal kin groups. More than 5,000 total descendents of the two groups are said to be interred here. Originally built in 1684, the tombs were comprised of just a single small kamekobaka (turtleback tomb) until 1868. The tomb would later undergo major renovations in 1935 in order to accommodate the growing number of the family's descendants. During these renovations new mausoleums with gabled roofs were added to the existing kamekobaka. While the graveyard is open to the general public, please observe the proper decorum when visiting."
This burial mound is situated in front of the designer Solest Takachiho Hotel near Takachiho Shrine. The mound is said to contain the head of the oni (mythical Japanese ogre) called Kihachi, who, according to legend handed down in Takachiho, was slayed by Mikeiri-no-Mikoto. The legend says that in the time of the gods, Mikeiri-no-Mikoto, the older brother of the first emperor of Japan Emperor Jinmu, slayed Kihachi in order to save Unomehime-no-Mikoto. Kihachi, however, had the ability to come back to life after a single night had passed, and so his head, torso, arms, and legs were cut off and buried in separate places. In addition to this burial mound said to contain Kihachi's head, there are two other burial mounds in Takachiho Town said to contain his body and arms and legs, respectively.
Kumamoto Kumamoto-shi Chuo-ku Kurokami 4-610 Tatsuta Nature Park
The Taisho-ji Temple, the family temple of the Hosokawa family who ruled Higo Domain (now Kumamoto Prefecture), is located in Tatsuda Nature Park on Mt. Tatsuda. The forest-enshrouded temple grounds are the location of a mausoleum containing the graves of Hosokawa Fujitaka, first lord of the Hosokawa family; his wife; Hosokawa Tadaoki, the second lord of the family; and Tadaoki's wife Gracia. On loan to Kumamoto City by the Hosokawa family, today the grounds are a well-known place for local citizens to relax and refresh themselves. Hosokawa Tadaoki was a samurai who was also considered the greatest master of the tea ceremony in his time, and the Koshoken is a teahouse on the grounds which was reconstructed based on blueprints created by the lord. The chozubachi basin in the teahouse is said to have been a favorite of Tadaoki when he lived in Kyoto and is also said to have later been used by the mighty samurai lord Toyotomi Hideyoshi as well as famous tea ceremony master Sen no Rikyu.
A keyhole-shaped tumulus with a total length of 114 meters, estimated to be from the middle of the fifth century. It was designated as a prefectural Cultural Property in 1953. The rear circular portion is 63 meters in diameter and 10 meters high, while the circular portion in front is 62 meters wide and 9 meters high. A roughly 15-meter wide moat extends around the mound in the shape of a shield. Cover stones can be seen on the mound, and house-shaped haniwa earthen objects have been excavated from the top of the rear portion.
A group of ancient burial mounds located in Nishiomuro Town, Maebashi City. The location has been designated as a National Historic Site and includes a number of Kofun burial mounds including the Mae-Futago Kofun, Naka-Futago Kofun, Ushiro-Futago Kofun, and Sho-Futago Kofun which are believed to date back to the 6th century. The area surrounding the burial mounds is maintained as a Historical Park and the burial chambers of the Mae-Futago Kofun and Ushiro-Futago Kofun are open to the public.
The Imaizumi Shimazu family is one of the branches of the Shimazu clan created to assure its unbroken succession. This cemetery is the final resting place of the successive heads of the Imaizumi Shimazu family and their wives starting from its first head, Tadasato. You can feel the stately dignity of the feudal lords who ruled this land from the 14 graves and more than 100 stone lanterns that line the cemetery. The cemetery includes the graves of Atsuhime's father and older brother. No members of the Imaizumi Shimazu family have been interred here since the end of the Edo period.
"The grave of the 12th-century monk Shunkan is located a five-minute drive from Kikai Airport. He was exiled to Kikaijima Island after taking part in the Shishigatani plot to overthrow Tairano Kiyomori, the de facto ruler of Japan at the time. This area is referred to by a name that means ""in the presence of the monk"" in the local dialect, and offerings of flowers and incense are still laid there. The bones of a man thought to be a high-ranking figure from off the island were found near the grave, and these bones bore the marks of a sword, so many people say that these may be the bones of Shunkan himself. The Shunkan Jogging Meet is held every year in March in honor of the ancient virtues of this monk."
This Ryukyu-style grave is located a 20-minute drive from Okinoerabu Airport. The grave was designated a Historic Site by the prefecture in 1966. The grave is occupied by Masajiyo, who ruled Okinoerabu Island as its yononushi (chief) during the reign of the Ryukyu Kingdom, as well as his family. According to legend, the chief, his wife, and children all committed suicide after accidentally attacking a peace vessel sent by the Okinawan kingdom of Chuzan in the 15th century. The fantastic crypt, which still stands today, is surrounded by a stone wall and was built by carving it out of the area's coral.
This pair of memorial towers, located a 20-minute walk from Keikyu Anjinzuka Station and Hemi Station, stands on ground which belonged to Englishman Miura Anjin (William Adams), who gained the trust of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu and served as a diplomatic advisor. A 1905 excavation discovered hair and other relics and determined that this place was the location of his grave. The tuff tower on the right is Anjin's grave, while the andesite tower on the left is the grave of his wife. The graves are located in Tsukayama Park, which boasts fantastic views and which is also a famous destination for cherry blossoms; a festival celebrating Anjin and a cherry blossom viewing event are held in the park in spring.
Three stone five-ring pagodas commemorating the Soga brothers, who are said to have avenged their father's death, Kudo Suketsune, who had accompanied Minamoto no Yoritomo on his hunt for Makigami. The smaller stone pagoda on the right is said to belong to Juro's wife, Toramozen.
Shizuoka Shizuoka-shi Aoi-ku Miyagasakicho 102 Shizuoka Sengen Jinja Keidai
This kofun (burial mound) is within the precinct of Sengen Shrine. It is located past the stone steps behind the shrine. With a diameter of 32 meters and height of 7 meters, this round kofun is the largest horizontal-hole-style stone chamber in the prefecture. It is thought to be for a powerful family from around the 6th century. Although rummaged through by thieves, the burial items unearthed are stored and displayed in the Shizuoka City Cultural Property Museum as precious items. A model has been set up in front of the kofun, so you can learn about the kofun's internal structure. Visitors are not allowed to enter the kofun, but you can get a glimpse from behind the fence, as it is lit with lighting.
Shizuoka Fujieda-shi Nyakuoji 500 Renge Teraike Park
"This collection of kofun (burial mounds) are the oldest in Fujieda City, and are thought to have been made from the end of the 4th century to the end of the 5th century. Roughly 28 mounds, round mounds of various sizes and square mounds, are concentrated in this area. The area is known for the fact that wheel stones, which were rare in eastern Japan, were unearthed, and you can see the artifacts, including as iron swords and magatama (jewels), in the ""Fujieda Provincial Museum"". Now, it is the relaxing place for locals as an ancient tomb square in Rengejiike Park. Visitors can enjoy Shida Plain, Suruga Sea, and even the magnificent views of Mt. Fuji beyond the mountains on the clear days from the square."
A historical site on the site of the Hitoana Sengenjinja Shrine. Here you'll find the Hitoana lava cave formed by the Inusuzumi Yama lava flow as well as over 200 monuments arranged by the Fujiko Shinto devout. The lava cave, the center of the historical site, drops down to a depth of nearly 880 meters. In the Azuma Kagami, a history book compiled by the Kamakura Shogunate, it's stated that this is the residence of the goddess Sengen Daibosatsu, which suggests that the lava cave had a deep connection to the Fujisan faith in those days. It is currently only possible to enter a small portion of the cave where a small shrine, three monuments, and four stone Buddhas have been erected (advance application required).
The site where the remains of stone-floored dwellings were first discovered in Japan in 1925. Located in southwestern Machida City, the Kogasaka Stone Age Ruins consists of three sites that made up a Jomon period village: the Roba Ruins, Inariyama Ruins, and Hachimandaira Ruins. The stone-floor dwellings from the middle Jomon period discovered at the Roba Ruins can be viewed through the glass of a roofed shelter. Designated a National Historic Site, this was the first of the ruins to be discovered and is valuable to archaeological research on ancient habitation structures.
With Yokohama City to the south and Kawasaki City to the west, Miwa-machi in Machida City is known for its many tombs. More than 100 tunnel graves have been found in the surrounding area. Discovered near the Takusanjo Castle Ruins in 1959, the Miwa Shirasaka Tunnel Graves consists of 13 tombs. Simple graves dug horizontally into the cliffside, they are thought to have been made in the seventh century. A fence at the entrance prevents access to the interior, but two of the thirteen graves can be viewed from there.
