Kanigaya Kofun Group, Ancient burial mound complex in Takatsu-ku, Japan
Kanigaya Kofun Group consists of several circular burial mounds scattered across hillsides in Kawasaki. The site displays different types of mounds positioned together, forming a complete example of burial practices from that era.
These mounds were built over several centuries around the 400s, when such burial sites were common for powerful families. Their construction reflects how Japanese society was organized and valued its deceased leaders during this era.
The name comes from the family buried at the site, reflecting how important such monuments were to ancient society. Walking through the area shows how these mounds were positioned in the landscape to display the status of the deceased.
The site is reached through well-maintained pathways that wind between the various mounds, allowing visitors to explore the entire complex. Information boards are placed at key points to help explain what you are looking at and why each structure matters.
One mound at this site has a special front-and-back shape that is found nowhere else in present-day Kawasaki. This unusual design shows how differently burial traditions could vary even among nearby communities.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
