Shirotori-kofun, Ancient burial mound in Atsuta Ward, Nagoya, Japan.
Shirotori-kofun is a keyhole-shaped burial mound in Atsuta Ward, Nagoya, with a square front section and a rounded rear portion. It sits within an urban neighborhood, surrounded by streets and residential buildings on most sides.
The mound was built in the early 6th century as the burial place of leaders connected to the Owari clan, who held regional power at that time. The shape and scale of the structure reflect the rank of those interred within.
The haniwa, clay figures placed around the mound, show common shapes from that period such as warriors, animals, and houses. Their arrangement around the burial gives a sense of how the site once looked when it was actively used as a place of ceremony.
The site is a short walk from Jingu Nishi Station and easy to reach on foot. It is an open outdoor site with no barriers, so comfortable walking shoes are a good idea.
The eastern section of the mound was lost to urban development and is no longer visible today. Archaeological surveys have shown that the original shape was notably longer than what remains standing now.
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