笹塚古墳, Keyhole-shaped burial mound in Utsunomiya, Japan.
Sasazuka Kofun is a keyhole-shaped burial mound with a circular rear section spanning about 63 meters across and rising about 10.5 meters high. A rectangular front section connects the two parts, creating an overall length of about 100 meters.
This burial mound was built in the middle of the 5th century, a time when such monumental structures were common across Japan. Shield-shaped moats surround the entire site, marking the boundary of the original complex.
The burial mound shows how the Japanese elite used these structures to display their power and status. It reveals what mattered in funeral practices of the Kofun period, when resources and labor were devoted to honoring important leaders.
The site is accessible by car from the main highway, with parking available nearby. Public transportation from Utsunomiya Station offers a convenient alternative if you prefer not to drive.
Small stones lie scattered around the edges of the mound, likely remnants of the original stone covering that once decorated its surface. These details reveal how the monument originally looked before time weathered it away.
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