側ヶ谷戸古墳群, Ancient burial mound complex in Omiya, Japan.
The Sobagayato Kofun Group consists of five circular burial mounds spread across the site, with the largest called Inari-zuka measuring roughly 48 meters across. The mounds vary in size and rise from the ground at different heights, creating a layered landscape.
The mounds were built between the 6th and early 7th centuries as final resting places for the dead. This period saw the end of a long tradition of monumental burials in Japan that had lasted for hundreds of years.
The burial ground reflects how people in the late Kofun period honored their dead and was recognized as a historic site by the city in 1957. You can sense the importance these communities placed on their burial customs when walking through the grounds.
The site sits in Omiya Ward and is accessible by public transportation from Omiya Station. Wear comfortable shoes since you will be walking over natural terrain and climbing small hills to view each mound up close.
Many of the mounds contained haniwa, decorative clay cylinders and figurative sculptures that accompanied the dead. These objects today offer glimpses into the artistic skills and beliefs of people from that distant time period.
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