No Kofun Cluster

The No Kofun Cluster is a group of earthen burial mounds positioned on elevated ground near Ono city. The site contains multiple mounds of varying sizes and shapes, each constructed to serve as a tomb for individuals of different social standing.

These tombs were built between the 4th and 6th centuries, representing burial practices of regional leaders during Japan's tumulus period. They show how power and social organization were expressed through monumental burial structures during those centuries.

The burial mounds display different shapes - circular and keyhole designs - that reflect the social rank of those buried within them. As you walk across the site, these forms reveal how important the interred individuals were in ancient society.

The site is accessible by local bus from Ono Station, with services stopping near the historical area entrance. Visit on a clear day when the ground is dry, as the elevated terrain becomes easier to walk across and views from the mounds are more rewarding.

Underground chambers beneath the mounds once held burial goods including bronze mirrors, iron weapons, and ceremonial objects. These discoveries provide rare insights into the material wealth and religious practices of the regional elite of that era.