Kōbōyama Kofun, Ancient burial mound in Matsumoto, Japan.
Kōbōyama Kofun is a burial mound with two connected rectangular chambers built at about 650 meters elevation on a hilltop and measuring roughly 66 meters in total length. The two-part shape creates a distinctive form that sets it apart from other mounds in the region.
The mound dates to the 3rd century and held remains of people from higher social ranks. Excavations in the 1970s uncovered numerous important objects that reveal details about life during that era.
The name reflects the local family who once managed the burial ground. The simple structure visible today shows how people of that era honored their dead in ways that remain connected to the landscape.
The site is reachable from Matsumoto Station on foot or by bicycle, with bus service available to Koboyama Iriguchi stop. The mound sits on an open hillside path, so good footwear with solid grip is recommended.
The burial chamber was built with stacked river stones rather than cut stone like many similar structures. This approach using natural stones is less common and shows a different method for constructing such graves.
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