Excavated Items from Magose Nagahizuka Kofun: A Window into Eastern Japan's Kofun-Period Aristocracy
Hidden in plain sight inside a regional museum in eastern Aichi Prefecture lies one of the most evocative archaeological collections in central Japan. The Excavated Items from Magose Nagahizuka Kofun (Aichi Prefecture) — designated as a national Important Cultural Property in 2012 — bring together gilt-bronze horse trappings, exquisite glass beads, amber and crystal jewellery, and a remarkable quantity of grey stoneware pottery, all recovered from the largest burial mound in the Toyohashi area. Together, these objects tell the story of a powerful chieftain, his connections to the early Yamato court in Nara, and the rituals that surrounded his tomb for more than two centuries after his death.
For visitors interested in Japan's pre-Buddhist past, the collection — kept and exhibited at the Toyohashi City Museum of Art and History — offers a rare chance to encounter genuine artefacts from the late 6th century in a relaxed, accessible setting next to a castle park.
Historical Background: A Chieftain of the Lost "Ho Province"
Long before Aichi Prefecture existed, the eastern part of present-day Mikawa was known as Ho-no-kuni, or "Ho Province" — a small but strategically important region recorded in early Japanese chronicles. The Magose Nagahizuka Kofun, the source of these excavated items, was built on a terrace east of the Toyo River in the late 6th century, at a moment when local rulers across the Japanese archipelago were negotiating their relationship with the rising Yamato kingship based in Nara.
The tomb itself is a 70-metre-long keyhole-shaped mound (zenpō-kōen-fun) — the largest of its kind in the Toyohashi area and among the largest of its period in the entire Tokai region. Its horizontal stone chamber, opening to the south of the round rear mound, stretches more than 17 metres in length, making it the longest such chamber in Aichi Prefecture. Archaeologists believe the occupant was a Kuni-no-Miyatsuko, a regional chieftain who held the title of Ho-no-Kuni-no-Miyatsuko and ruled Ho Province on behalf of, or in alliance with, the Yamato court.
Excavations of the chamber and its long forecourt yielded a treasure trove of grave goods. Interestingly, much of the discovery happened in unusual circumstances: during the Pacific War, the Imperial Japanese Army considered using the stone chamber as an ammunition depot, and parts of the tomb's contents came to light during that work. Subsequent systematic excavations recovered the full assemblage that is recognised today.
Why It Was Designated an Important Cultural Property
The collection received Important Cultural Property status from the national government on September 6, 2012, on the strength of three intertwined achievements. First, the gilt-bronze-on-iron horse trappings represent some of the finest metalwork of late Kofun-period Japan; the matched set is unusually complete, the gilding is thick and well preserved, and the workmanship is of a very high order. Second, the assemblage as a whole — combining horse gear with abundant beads of amber, crystal and glass, plus vast quantities of sue ware ceramics — gives an exceptionally clear picture of high-status burial in eastern Japan around the year 600.
Third, and perhaps most importantly for archaeologists, the items document funerary rituals that continued at the tomb intermittently from the late 6th century all the way into the 8th century. This long sequence of offerings, layered over more than two hundred years, makes Magose Nagahizuka one of the best places in Japan to study how attitudes toward ancestral tombs evolved as Buddhism spread and the Yamato state matured.
Together, these qualities make the assemblage, in the words of the national designation, "extremely important for understanding the realities of funerary ritual and the state of craft production" in late Kofun-period Tokai.
Highlights of the Collection
The Spiny-Leaf-Shaped Harness Pendants (Kyokuyō-gata Gyōyō)
The single most celebrated objects in the collection are the kyokuyō-gata gyōyō — large pendants of decorated metal that hung from the bridle and chest-strap of a richly outfitted horse. Made of iron sheet covered with thick gilt-bronze, they are decorated with a flowing honeysuckle arabesque pattern (nintō karakusa-mon), one of the most elegant motifs of the era.
What makes these pendants extraordinary is their place in Japanese craft history. Earlier examples of similar pendants — from the Okinoshima ritual site in Fukuoka, or the Uchikoshi Inariyama Tomb in Kumamoto — were imported from the Korean peninsula. The Magose Nagahizuka examples, by contrast, are believed to be among the very earliest domestically produced kyokuyō-gata gyōyō in Japan, marking a pivotal moment in the development of Japanese gold-working technology.
Other Horse Trappings and Their Diplomatic Meaning
Beyond the famous pendants, the assemblage includes saddle fittings, junction fittings (tsuji-kanagu), and hemispherical decorative bosses, all in matching gilt-bronze-on-iron technique. Such elaborate horse gear was not local fashion — it was a prestige good distributed by the Yamato court to its most important regional allies. The presence of this complete set at Magose Nagahizuka strongly suggests that the chieftain buried here was directly tied into the Yamato political network.
Glass Beads, Amber and Crystal
The collection includes an unusually rich set of personal ornaments: large amber jujube-shaped beads (kohaku natsume-dama), crystal cut beads (suishō kiriko-dama), and glass magatama (curved beads). The glass tonbo-dama, or "dragonfly beads", are a particular highlight — some feature combinations of dotted and linear patterns, while others are polygonal, designs that have no parallel elsewhere in Japan. These are believed to be domestic products, and they hint at a specialised local industry as much as at long-distance trade.
Sue Ware Ceramics
The forecourt of the stone chamber yielded a large quantity of sue ware — high-fired grey stoneware originally introduced from the Korean peninsula. These vessels were not used in daily life but offered up in repeated rituals at the tomb. Their dating shows that descendants of the chieftain returned to Magose Nagahizuka generation after generation, performing ceremonies long after the original burial.
Visitor Information
The Excavated Items from Magose Nagahizuka Kofun are kept and periodically displayed at the Toyohashi City Museum of Art and History (Toyohashi-shi Bijutsu Hakubutsukan), located inside Toyohashi Park, the former site of Yoshida Castle. The museum opened in 1979 and combines a fine arts gallery with a regional history collection that includes archaeological material excavated within the city.
Because the assemblage forms part of the museum's collection rather than a permanent stand-alone display, it is best to check the current exhibition schedule on the museum's official website before visiting. Selected pieces appear in the permanent archaeological gallery on the second floor, while major showings tend to coincide with special exhibitions on Toyohashi's archaeology.
The museum is reached easily from JR or Meitetsu Toyohashi Station: take the famous Toyotetsu streetcar (one of only a handful of tram systems still operating in Japan) toward Akaiwaguchi or Undo-Koen-mae, get off at "Shiyakusho-mae", and walk about five minutes. Admission to the permanent exhibition is free; special exhibitions may charge a separate fee.
Visitors with extra time can also explore Magose Nagahizuka Kofun itself, located in the Ishimaki area of northern Toyohashi. The tomb's stone chamber is open and can be entered during daylight hours, although it requires a separate trip by bus from the city centre.
Surrounding Attractions
Toyohashi Park, where the museum sits, is itself a major attraction. Within the park stands Yoshida Castle, a strategic stronghold first built in 1505 and held in succession by Sakai Tadatsugu and Ikeda Terumasa — the same lord who later constructed the World Heritage-listed Himeji Castle. The reconstructed Kurogane Yagura turret offers free interior access (typically Tuesdays through Sundays from 10:00 to 15:00) and pleasant views over the Toyo River.
Just outside the park, the early-Showa-era Toyohashi Public Hall (Toyohashi-shi Kōkaidō), a Nationally Registered Tangible Cultural Property, makes a striking photo subject with its modernist architecture. Nearby Akumi-Kanbe-Shinmei-sha is widely regarded as the birthplace of tezutsu hanabi, the spectacular handheld fireworks tradition that has been performed in eastern Mikawa for more than 450 years.
Riding the Toyotetsu streetcar itself is a charming part of any visit; in summer the line operates a "beer car" and in winter a famous oden-themed car. Food lovers should not leave without trying Toyohashi curry udon, the city's signature local dish.
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Q&A
- Where exactly can I see the Excavated Items from Magose Nagahizuka Kofun?
- They are housed at the Toyohashi City Museum of Art and History at 3-1 Imahashi-cho, Toyohashi, inside Toyohashi Park. Selected pieces are shown in the permanent archaeological gallery, but full displays usually coincide with special exhibitions, so check the museum's website before visiting.
- What is the most important object in the collection?
- The kyokuyō-gata gyōyō, or spiny-leaf-shaped harness pendants, are widely regarded as the highlight. Made of iron sheet covered in thick gilt-bronze and decorated with a delicate honeysuckle arabesque, they are believed to be among the earliest domestically produced examples of this design in Japan.
- Who was buried at Magose Nagahizuka Kofun?
- The occupant is thought to have been the Ho-no-Kuni-no-Miyatsuko — the regional chieftain of the ancient Ho Province in eastern Mikawa — who lived in the late 6th century and maintained close ties with the Yamato court in Nara.
- How do I get to the museum from Tokyo or Nagoya?
- Take a Tokaido Shinkansen to Toyohashi Station (about 80 minutes from Tokyo, 25 minutes from Nagoya). From Toyohashi Station, board the Toyotetsu streetcar to "Shiyakusho-mae" stop and walk about five minutes to the museum inside Toyohashi Park.
- Is the museum suitable for visitors who do not read Japanese?
- English signage is limited, but the visual impact of the gilt-bronze horse trappings, beads and ceramics communicates strongly without text. We recommend reading background information in advance and using a translation app for label panels.
Basic Information
| Name | Excavated Items from Magose Nagahizuka Kofun, Aichi Prefecture (Aichi-ken Magose Nagahizuka Kofun Shutsudohin) |
|---|---|
| Category | Important Cultural Property (Archaeological Material) |
| Designation Date | September 6, 2012 |
| Period | Kofun period (late 6th to 8th century) |
| Owner | Toyohashi City |
| Holding Institution | Toyohashi City Museum of Art and History |
| Address | 3-1 Imahashi-cho, Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture 440-0801 |
| Hours | 9:00 – 17:00 (closed Mondays and December 29 – January 3) |
| Admission | Permanent exhibition free; special exhibitions charge separately |
| Access | About 5 minutes on foot from "Shiyakusho-mae" streetcar stop (Toyotetsu Tokuda main line) — about 10 minutes from JR/Meitetsu Toyohashi Station |
References
- Cultural Heritage Online — Excavated Items from Magose Nagahizuka Kofun, Aichi Prefecture
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/263726
- Cultural Heritage Online — Magose Nagahizuka Kofun Group
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/245821
- Toyohashi City Museum of Art and History — Excavated Items from Magose Nagahizuka Kofun
- https://toyohashi-bihaku.jp/bihaku02/bihaku02/馬越長火塚古墳出土品-2/
- Toyohashi City Museum of Art and History — Magose Nagahizuka Kofun
- http://www.toyohashi-bihaku.jp/?page_id=592
- Toyohashi Tourism and Convention Association — Magose Nagahizuka Kofun
- https://www.honokuni.or.jp/toyohashi/spot/000071.html
- Wikipedia — Magose Nagahizuka Kofun (Japanese)
- https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/馬越長火塚古墳
Last verified: 2026.04.29