Kutsukawa Kurumazuka Kofun, Ancient burial mound in Joyo, Japan
The Kutsukawa Kurumazuka Kofun is a keyhole-shaped burial mound in the city of Joyo, Kyoto Prefecture. The front section is rectangular and the rear is circular, forming the silhouette that defines this type of ancient tomb.
This burial mound was built in the early 5th century, during the middle Kofun period. It was designated a National Historic Site in 1922, and the protected area was expanded in the following decades.
The site reveals how ancient Japanese people honored their dead through clay figures and stones transported from distant regions. These objects show the craftsmanship and beliefs of that time period.
The mound sits inside Kurumazuka Park and can be reached on foot from nearby stations. On warm days it is better to visit in the morning, as the path offers little shade.
The interior of this mound has never been excavated, so its contents remain completely unknown. This makes it one of the few burial mounds of this size in Japan where the original grave goods may still be untouched.
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