Shizuhatagayama Kofun, Ancient burial mound at Shizuoka Sengen Shrine, Japan
Shizuhatagayama Kofun is a circular burial mound with a diameter of 32 meters (105 feet) and a height of 7 meters (23 feet) located at Shizuoka Sengen Shrine. Inside is a stone chamber that can be entered through an 18-meter (59-foot) long tunnel passage.
The mound was built during the 6th century as a burial place containing a house-shaped stone sarcophagus. The stone used for the coffin came from the Izu peninsula, showing connections across different regions of Japan.
The mound was built using 600 boulders from the Abe River, showing the skill of ancient Japanese builders. This way of gathering and placing stones was how people then expressed respect for the deceased.
The mound can be viewed from behind a protective fence and is open daily with no entrance fee required. The site is most comfortable to visit during cooler hours, and good lighting makes the stone details easier to see.
The horizontal stone chamber inside holds the largest chamber of its type in all of Shizuoka Prefecture. This makes it a remarkable example of how burial spaces were designed during this ancient period.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
