Mihakayama Kofun, Keyhole-shaped burial mound in Sanagu, Iga, Japan.
Mihakayama Kofun is a keyhole-shaped burial mound in Sanagu, Iga, consisting of a square front section joined to a circular rear portion that extends roughly 188 meters in total length. The two-tier construction follows the classical design pattern of this burial type.
The mound was built in the 5th century and belongs to the Middle Kofun period, when powerful rulers dominated Japan. Its construction connects directly to the ancient Iga region and the leaders who held authority there.
Haniwa figurines were placed around the burial site to guard and protect the area according to ancient beliefs. These clay objects reveal how people of that era honored their dead and channeled spiritual forces at sacred grounds.
The site sits in an accessible rural area best explored on foot, especially if staying nearby. Wear comfortable shoes, particularly during wet weather, since you can walk on and around the mound itself.
Two smaller square mounds of roughly 10 meters per side stand beside the main mound on its eastern edge. These secondary mounds may have held burials of relatives or attendants of the principal deceased.
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