Chitose Kurumazuka Kofun

The Chitose Kurumazuka Kofun is a keyhole-shaped burial mound near Kameoka that stretches about 82 meters in length. It combines a square front section with a round rear portion, both surrounded by two concentric moats that remain visible in today's landscape.

This burial mound was built during the first half of the 6th century and ranks as the largest tomb in the Tamba region. Its scale and design demonstrate the importance of the person entombed there in early Japanese society.

The burial mound once displayed rows of clay figures and decorative stones around its perimeter, reflecting how people honored the dead. These exterior ornaments show what ancient builders thought was important to include in tombs for the afterlife.

The mound sits in an accessible area near Kameoka town center and can be explored on foot from nearby streets. The visible moats help visitors understand the distinctive keyhole shape of the monument.

Researchers found that the clay used to make the decorative figures came from a production site in distant Takatsuki, not from local sources. This discovery suggests strong ties to Yamato leadership and reveals how far-reaching power networks extended in that era.