Hebizuka Kofun, Ancient burial mound in Uzumasa, Japan.
Hebizuka Kofun is an ancient burial mound in Uzumasa with a distinctive keyhole-shaped form and a horizontal stone chamber inside. The construction shows advanced building techniques of the period and ranks among the most notable examples of this type in the Kyoto region.
This burial mound was built in the 5th century and contains the largest horizontal stone chamber in the Kyoto area. The structure testifies to the technological capabilities and resources available during that earlier period.
The name means Snake Mound in Japanese, connecting to local stories about serpents that once inhabited the stone chamber of this ancient tomb. Such tales shape how people in the region understand the place today.
The site is easy to reach by taking a seven-minute walk south from Katabiranotsuji Station on the Keifuku Electric Railroad. Getting oriented before you start helps you reach the mound without any confusion.
The stone chamber stands apart from similar structures by using sedimentary rock instead of the granite typically found in other kofun constructions. This material choice makes the site notably different from its counterparts elsewhere.
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