Akabori Chausuyama Kofun, Ancient burial mound in Yanai, Japan.
The Akabori Chausuyama Kofun is a burial mound with a distinctive keyhole shape when viewed from above, featuring one squared end and one circular end that stretch across 80 meters. The site consists of two raised sections that are typical of tombs from this era.
This burial mound was built in the late 4th century and received designation as a National Historic Site of Japan in 1948. The official recognition highlights its importance for understanding ancient Japanese society and burial practices.
The mound's name comes from the reddish soil common in the region, reflecting the landscape where it was built and how people named places after their natural surroundings. Visitors walking around the site today can see how such structures were central to how communities honored their leaders.
The site sits on Mount Mukoyama at about 75 meters elevation and can be reached by a 15-minute walk from Yanaiminato Station. The path is well marked, making it easy to find your way up to the mound.
Excavations in 1892 and 1991 uncovered bronze mirrors, iron swords, jade magatama, and jasper beads indicating high social rank of those buried there. The largest bronze mirror found measures about 45 centimeters across and is preserved at the Tokyo National Museum where visitors can see it today.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
