Kitaema Cave Tombs, Cave tomb complex in Izunokuni, Japan.
Kitaema Cave Tombs consist of more than forty burial chambers carved directly into a hillside of soft rock. The site splits into two main sections, Daishiyama on the western side and Daihoku on the eastern side.
This burial complex dates from the late Kofun era through the early Nara period. During this time, Japanese burial practices shifted as cremation gradually replaced traditional entombment.
The burial chambers show stone sarcophagi and carved details that reveal how the ancient Japanese elite organized their communities and honored their dead. The way these tombs were arranged together suggests strong family and social bonds.
The site can be reached by walking about fifteen minutes from Izu-Nagaoka Station on the Izu Hakone Railway. The path to the tombs is straightforward and well-marked for visitors to follow.
One stone chamber bears the inscription Wakato-nari and extends more than 5 meters (16 feet) into the hillside. This is the largest tomb in the entire complex and hints at the importance of the person buried there.
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