Susoezoana Kofun, Ancient burial mound in Ishikawa, Japan
Susoezoana Kofun is a square-shaped earthen burial mound built in Nanao following the patterns of early Japanese funeral architecture. The structure was constructed using local materials and displays the characteristic features of this building tradition.
The mound was built between the 3rd and 7th centuries during the Kofun period, when such structures were standard for important people. The site shows how burial practices shifted and evolved across several generations of early Japan.
The mound reflects how deeply people of early Japan valued social rank and beliefs about the afterlife. Walking around it today, you can sense the enormous effort that went into honoring the dead through such an enduring structure.
The site is accessible on foot and located in a quiet area outside central Nanao. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for unpaved paths, as the grounds remain largely in their natural state.
Unlike many other mounds across Japan, this structure has a square shape instead of the common keyhole form found elsewhere. This distinction makes it a notable example of the variety that existed in burial architecture during this early period.
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