Kengoshizuka Kofun, Ancient burial mound in Asuka, Japan
Kengoshizuka Kofun is an octagonal burial mound in Asuka with three tiered levels set on a hillside. Inside, two stone chambers carved from massive tuff blocks feature plastered walls and stone doors with metal fittings that show the building skills of the period.
This burial mound was built in the late 7th century as a tomb for important people of that era. Its construction demanded significant effort and resources to position the massive stone blocks in place.
The burial chambers feature plastered walls, coffin platforms, and sophisticated stone doors with metal decorative fittings, demonstrating advanced engineering methods of the period.
This burial mound is open for free during daylight hours, and you can walk around the site independently. If you want to see the stone chambers inside, you should arrange this ahead of time with local volunteer guides.
Inside are two separate burial chambers divided by a center partition wall, which suggests two important people were buried here together. This divided layout is surprisingly uncommon in tombs from this period.
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