Azuchi-Hyōtanyama Kofun, Ancient burial mound in Omihachiman, Japan
Azuchi-Hyōtanyama Kofun is an ancient burial mound shaped like a keyhole when viewed from above, with a rectangular section at one end and a circular portion at the other. The structure contains stone chambers built into the ground to hold the remains and grave goods of important people.
The mound was built in the middle of the 4th century as a burial site for an important local ruler. Archaeological work in the 1930s uncovered its contents and revealed much about how people were buried and honored during this era.
This burial mound embodied the social hierarchy of its time, when such structures symbolized the authority of regional leaders in the Yamato period. Walking around it today, you can observe how the monument's distinctive form dominated the local landscape as a symbol of power.
The site sits in an open area and is easy to walk around to see its shape and scale. Bring comfortable walking shoes and allow time to explore the grounds, as there are no shops or dining options at the location itself.
When first built, the rising waters of Lake Biwa surrounded parts of the mound, making it a peninsula and a natural stronghold. This water connection gave it additional significance as a place that could be seen and recognized from a distance.
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