Ruin / Grave / Ancient Tomb Spots in Japan

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Category

Travel / Tourism

History / Culture / Tour

Yoshimi-Hyakuana

3.5

81 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Saitama Pref. Hikigunyoshimimachi Kitayoshimi 324

A group of cave graves located in Kitayoshimi, Yoshimi Town, Hiki County. Consisting of 219 caves created some 1,400 years ago during the late Kofun period, this site is the largest of its kind in Japan and has been designated a National Historic Site. A series of tunnels used as an underground military factory during World War II can also be found at the site; in addition, the area is a rare habitat in the Kanto region for luminous moss, a designated National Natural Monument.

吉見町にある遺跡です。多数の穴が並んていて、なかなか面白い場所です。戦時中は防空壕的に使われていたということで、そういう展示もあります。シンプルな観光地ですがなかなか良いです。
Uesugi Clan Mausoleum

4.0

80 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Yamagata Pref. Yonezawashi Gobyou 1-5-30

Just a 5-minute walk from the Gobyo-mae bus stop on the Yamako bus line bound for Onogawa Onsen. This is a cemetery with 11 generations of the Uesugi clan, notably Prince Uesugi Kenshin down to Narisada, interred in beautiful wood structured mausoleums. It is known for being the resting place of Uesugi Kenshin, a famous warrior during Japan's civil war. This cemetery was the 5th to be designated in 1984 as a National Historic Landmark for former feudal lords. During the Uesugi Yukitoro stone lantern Festival illumination, the snow covered stone and paper lanterns are lit making for otherworldly serene atmosphere. The neighboring Houonji Temple was transported from Mt. Kasuga and rebuilt as the Uesugi family temple.

初代上杉謙信公から斉定、そして茂憲の供養塔がある上杉家代々の墓所。特に見たかった謙信公、赤穂浪士で有名な綱憲、名君治憲公の霊廟が見れて感動しました。余談ですが、謙信公の養父で同じく越後春日山から遺骸を運ばれた山内上杉憲政の墓は南米沢駅近くの照陽寺にあります。
Shijimizuka Park

3.5

24 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Shizuoka Hamamatsu-shi Chuo-ku Shijimizuka 4-22-1

This park is built around the National Historic Site-designated Shijimizuka Archaeological Site. The park grounds encompass recreations of the kind of Jomon period homes which once stood here in ancient times; and the Takayama Family Residence, an Edo period home. The Shijimizuka Archaeological Site, which makes up the core of the park, is the site of a village which existed from the late to the end of the Jomon period (approximately 4,000 years ago to 3,000 years ago). The locations of homes, graves, and shell mounds have been discovered in the area, primarily in what is now maintained as an open field in the park. One of the shell mounds is preserved in the same state as when human bones were discovered in it, and visitors can see the mound's accumulated seashells and other relics beyond a glass window. The lush park is also widely used by local residents as a space for rest and relaxation.

夏休み子供向けのイベントが開催されます！勾玉(まがたま)作りや簾作りなど子供が楽しむことができます！詳しくは浜松市博物館(蜆塚公園隣接)のホームページを見てください！
Ishibutai kofun (tomb)

Travel / Tourism

Nara Pref. Takaichigunasukamura Shimashou

One of the largest of its kind in Japan at 50 meters per side, this tomb was built by piling up 30 large boulders. Having lost the soil which once covered it and due to the flatness of the ceiling stone, the tomb is called the Stone Stage. It is not clear to whom the tomb belonged, but due to the fact that a garden which belonged to Soga no Iruka’s grandfather Soga no Umako is located nearby, one leading theory is that it is his tomb. The surrounding area blooms with cherries in the spring and red spider lilies in the fall. The tomb is a nationally designated a Special Historic Site.
Special Historical Site Sannai-Maruyama Site

Travel / Tourism

Aomori Pref. Aomorishi Sannai Maruyama

Here is the largest Jomon village ruins in Japan which was discovered in an exploration conducted in 1992. It was designated as a National Special Historic Site in 2000. The large pillar-supported buildings that suddenly appear in a vast field were built by erecting chestnut wood pillars in holes dug into the ground. It is thought to have been a building of rectangle shape with six pillars with a large, high floor. You can also see pit dwellings and pillar constructions as well as the special feature of many earthen figures.
Honmachida Archeological Park

3.5

16 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Tokyo Machida-shi Honmachida 3455

Historic ruins in the hills to the north of the Machida City area. An excavation as conducted in 1967 and 1968 along with the construction of the Fujinodai Housing Complex. It discovered the remains of four dwellings from the early Jomon period and seven from the middle Yayoi period. The highly valuable compound archaeological site covering both eras has been registered as a municipal Historical Site. Occupying a relatively narrow ridge in the Tama Hills, it is currently an archeological park, and many people visit it along with the adjacent Machida City Museum. The Jomon and Yayoi period dwellings have been restored one by one, and visitors are free to enter.

藤の台団地を作る際に発見された遺跡を元に縄文時代の住居が再現されています。教科書の中だけで見たことのある縦穴式住居の中にも入ることもできます。復元住居の修繕工事を実施している時があるので注意が必要です。
Mori-Shogunzuka Kofun, Chikuma City

4.0

10 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Chikumashi Yashiro 29-1 In the village of the genius in the historical park

This National Historic Site is in Mori, Chikuma City. The roughly 100-meter-long keyhole-shaped tumulus was built in the fourth century. It's thought to be the grave of a king who once ruled the area. It was restored based on an excavation, and today features facilities like Shinano-no-sato Historical Park and the Mori-Shogunzuka Museum.

更埴ICより10分くらいのところにある古墳。古墳時代の様子がわかります。案内もわかりやすく整備もされているので親子でも楽しめると思います。古墳から見る景色は最高です。
Takaidayama Burial Mound

4.0

9 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Osaka Kashiwarashi Takaida Within the 1598-7 historic site Takaida Yokoana Park

This Kofun (ancient tomb) inside Takaidayokoana Park is located in the Ando-cho area of Kashiwara City, Osaka Prefecture. A designated national historical site, the excavated items have been designated tangible cultural properties of Kashiwara City. As a result of an excavation survey carried out in 1990, it became clear that it was a round burial mound from the middle of the Kofun period (250-538), and that there were many funeral items such as irons and mirrors. It is now possible to tour the stone chamber, and you can carefully look inside the room. The actual excavated items are on display at the adjacent historic museum.

JR高井田駅下車、駅の裏手すぐに史跡がある。ぐるっと回るのには1時間程度要する。春になると桜も綺麗なので歴史散策には最適。
Tenjinyama Tumulus

3.5

9 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Gunma Ota-shi Uchigashimacho Ke 1606-1

A burial mound located along Prefectural Route 2 in Uchigashima Town, Ota City. With an overall length of 210 meters it is one of the largest keyhole shaped tumulus in eastern Japan and has been designated as a National Historic Site. Due to the shape of an excavated Haniwa (hollow unglazed terracotta figure) it's believed that the tomb was constructed in the first half of the 5th century. As to who was buried in the tomb it's though that it could have been a former ruler of the Keno Domain but this is uncertain.

前方後円墳というと、巨大な古墳をイメージしますが、この古墳も東日本最大のサイズだそうです。夏場は木が生い茂っているので、冬場の方が全容が分かりやすいです。歩いて登ると三角点があります。ただ落葉がすごい量です。
Saitobaru Burial Mounds

Travel / Tourism

Miyazaki Pref. Saitoshi Miyake Saitohara 5670

Approximately a ten-minute drive from the Saito Interchange, these burial mounds are scattered around Chigogaike Park. Over 300 burial mounds remain over a very large area 2.6 kilometers from east to west and 4.2 kilometers north to south, and preservation activities are being conducted as a special historic park from its academic value. In the park, besides the burial mounds such as the Oni no Iwaya Kofun that can be seen, there is also the Saitobaru Archaeological Museum of Miyazaki Prefecture. In addition, it is a popular flower spot with cherry blossoms and rape blossoms in the spring, and cosmos in the autumn.
Kurokami Buried Shrine Gate

Travel / Tourism

Kagoshima Kagoshima-shi Kurokamicho (Kurokami Junior High School Yoko)
Kitora Tomb

Travel / Tourism

Nara Pref. Takaichigunasukamura Abeyama

This is a special national historical site inside the Kitora-kofun Tumulus in the Asuka Historical National Government Park located in Mt. Abe, Asuka Village. In excavations conducted in 1983, murals were found on the wall of the stone burial chamber and became known as the second mural tomb in Japan. Currently, works continues to restore the site to its original state and the artifacts found are being stored and exhibited in the Kitora Tumulus Mural Experiential Museum Shijinno Yakata. (The murals are open to the public for limited periods of time.)
Koboyama Ancient Tomb

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Matsumotoshi Namiyanagi 2-1000

Eastern Japan's oldest rectangular-shaped ancient tomb, it is located in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture. It has been designated as a national historic site and a cultural property of Nagano Prefecture. A mirror with four beasts, ancient magatama (curved bead ornaments) and other artifacts that were excavated from the ancient tomb are exhibited in the Matsumoto City Archaeological Museum. In addition, it is a famous cherry blossom viewing spot, and bustles with many people who come to see the 2,000 Yoshino cherries and late-blooming yaezakura cherries when they bloom.
Yamashiro Futagozuka Kofun

4.0

5 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Shimane Matsue-shi Yamashirocho 470-1

"Measuring 94 meters long, it is the largest rectangular-shaped kofun ancient tomb in the prefecture. Part of it was removed when a former Army infantry was set up, but it is now been restored. It is famous for being the first tomb to be called a ""rectangular-shaped kofun"" in Japan in 1925. The two-level tomb is surrounded by a moat and dike. There is an observation room in the rear where you can see the real embankment, and you can see that a high level of skill was used to make the tomb. It is thought that the burial chief of the eastern part of Izumo is buried in the tomb because cylindrical haniwa clay images and Sue pottery were excavated from the foot of the mound and the surrounding moat."

山代二子塚古墳のガイダンス施設ですので、見学をする観光地としても人気があります。石室の実物大模型があったり、古墳に関する解説パネルが設置されてますので、学校などの子供の教育の観光地としても有名です。入場料が無料となってますし、大型のバスが止められる駐車場もあります。古代の見物を実際に見ることが出来るので、とても勉強になります。
Hashihaka Ancienct Burial Mound

Travel / Tourism

Nara Sakurai-shi Hashinaka
Torazuka Burial Mound

Travel / Tourism

Ibaraki Hitachinaka-shi

A burial mound and nationally designated Historic Site in Nakane Sashibu, Hitachinaka City. Thought to have been built around the beginning of the 7th century, the key-hole shaped tumulus is 56. 5 meters long. Excavations that began in 1973 revealed a colored mural in the stone chamber, as well as human remains, ancient burial accessories, and other artifacts. There is a conservation facility on-site, and the mural is open to the public twice a year in spring and autumn.
Kameishi Boulder

Travel / Tourism

Nara Pref. Takaichigunasukamura Kawahara

This granite boulder sits near a residence in Asukamura. It is 3.6 meters long by 2.1 meters wide and 1.8 meters tall. Its period and purpose of construction are still unknown. On the lower section an animal-like face was carved, and as it resembles a turtle the boulder was named Kameishi (turtle rock). The Kameishi currently faces south west but there is legend that when it turns to face the west the whole of the Nara Basin will turn into a sea of mud.
Hashihaka Burial Mound

Travel / Tourism

Nara Pref. Sakuraishi Hashinaka

This large-scale burial mound was built around the late third century. One of the oldest and largest national tombs in the shape of a key hole, it is postulated to be the grave of Queen Himiko of Yamataikoku. The Imperial Household Agency manages it as the Mausoleum of Princess Yamato-totohi-momoso-hime-no-mikoto-, the daughter of the seventh generation Emperor Korei. The moat around the tumulus, named the Great Hashinaka Pond, was created in 2010 and selected as one of Japan’s top 100 ponds by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Makimuku Ruins

Travel / Tourism

Sakurai City Nara Prefecture Turned Area

These ruins, the biggest of the Yayoi period, reaches about two kilometers east and west and about 1.5 kilometers north and south of the Makimuku alluvial fan. This group of archeological sites from the first half of the third century is believed to be either the last Yayoi burial mounds or perhaps the oldest kofun tumuli. Visitors can see traces of the area's ancient history amongst its natural beauty created by a mild climate and four seasons.
Ishigaki’s Toujin Grave Site

Travel / Tourism

Okinawa Pref. Ishigakishi Arakawa 1625-9

This tomb is dedicated to the Chinese who met untimely deaths in the S.S. Baun incident. Built in a Chinese style in 1972, it has a glittering appearance despite its sad history. It is dedicated to 128 people from China’s Fujian Province.