Nagae Sakurayama Kofun Group: Two Keyhole Tombs Above the Sea
The Nagae Sakurayama Kofun Group (長柄桜山古墳群) consists of two early Kofun-period keyhole-shaped burial mounds (zenpo-koen-fun) on hills straddling Sakurayama in Zushi City and Nagae in Hayama Town, Kanagawa Prefecture, designated a national Historic Site in 2002.
According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the tombs sit on a ridge running east-west from the coast near the base of the west side of the Miura Peninsula, facing Sagami Bay. The ridge roughly marks the boundary between Zushi and Hayama, and both mounds lie across it. Tomb No. 1 stands about 1 kilometre inland, and Tomb No. 2 about 500 metres closer to the sea.
The Nagae Sakurayama Kofun Group came to light in 1999, when a local amateur archaeologist picked up haniwa fragments after trees were felled for a mobile phone relay station. Hayama Town notes that large keyhole tombs had not been thought to exist on the Miura Peninsula, so the discovery rewrote local history.
Why It Was Designated
The Agency records Tomb No. 1 at about 120 metres above sea level: 90 metres long, with a round rear mound 51 metres across and 7 metres high, and a front 39 metres long and 31.5 metres wide. Tomb No. 2, at about 100 metres, is about 88 metres long, with a rear mound 54 metres across and about 7 metres high, and a front 34 metres long, 45 metres wide and about 8.7 metres high, strikingly tall because it sits at the end of the ridge. Haniwa and pottery suggest both were built around the same time in the 4th century.
The Agency notes that both mounds are well preserved and among the largest in Kanagawa Prefecture. The Miura Peninsula faces the Boso Peninsula across the mouth of Tokyo Bay, on the sea route of Yamato Takeru's eastern campaign in the Kojiki, and the tombs likely reflect maritime links between the Yamato court and the Kanto region.
Later work has added detail. Hayama Town says Tomb No. 1 is 91.3 metres long with a rear mound 52.4 metres across, built in 3 tiers at the rear and 2 at the front. A collapse pit 7 metres long in the centre of the rear mound marks where a wooden coffin decayed, and a clay enclosure around the coffin was confirmed. Tomb No. 2 has facing stones, which Tomb No. 1 lacks.
What to Look For
Tomb No. 1 of the Nagae Sakurayama Kofun Group reopened after restoration in April 2024. Hayama Town says steps lead up the mound, the coffin's position is marked on the summit of the rear mound, and replica haniwa and signboards stand there. From the top you can see Enoshima in Sagami Bay and, on clear days, Mount Fuji.
Tomb No. 2 keeps its original appearance among the trees. From the front of the mound, Zushi's inlet lies right below, with Enoshima and Fuji beyond. A hiking trail maintained by Zushi City links the two tombs, so you can walk between them and compare.
Visiting the Nagae Sakurayama Kofun Group
The site is outdoors and free to visit. There is no car park nearby and no toilets by the tombs; Zushi City and Hayama Town suggest using those at the stations or at Roka Memorial Park at the foot of Tomb No. 2.
According to Hayama Town, for Tomb No. 1 take a bus from stop 4 outside JR Zushi Station to the Hazakura terminus (about 8 minutes), then walk west about 6 minutes to the trailhead at the edge of the housing estate. For Tomb No. 2, take a coastal-route bus from Zushi Station to Fujimibashi (about 5 minutes), walk about 5 minutes to the trailhead in Roka Memorial Park, then climb steps for 10 to 15 minutes. The Hazakura trailhead borders homes, so respect residents' privacy.
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Q&A
- What is the Nagae Sakurayama Kofun Group?
- Two early Kofun-period keyhole tombs on hills straddling Zushi and Hayama in Kanagawa, designated a national Historic Site in 2002.
- How large are the tombs of the Nagae Sakurayama Kofun Group?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs gives Tomb No. 1 as 90 metres long and Tomb No. 2 as about 88 metres. Hayama Town, after later investigation, gives Tomb No. 1 as 91.3 metres.
- When was the Nagae Sakurayama Kofun Group discovered?
- In 1999, when a local resident found haniwa fragments after trees were cleared for a mobile phone relay station.
- Is there parking or a toilet at the Nagae Sakurayama Kofun Group?
- There is no car park nearby, and the nearest toilets are at Roka Memorial Park at the foot of Tomb No. 2. Public transport is recommended.
- How do I get to Tomb No. 1?
- Take the bus from JR Zushi Station to the Hazakura terminus (about 8 minutes) and walk west about 6 minutes to the trailhead.
Basic Information
| Name | Nagae Sakurayama Kofun Group (長柄桜山古墳群) |
|---|---|
| Location | Sakurayama, Zushi City, and Nagae, Hayama Town, Miura District, Kanagawa Prefecture |
| Designation | Historic Site |
| Year Designated | Designated 2002/12/19 (Heisei 14) |
| Quantity | 2 tombs |
| Dimensions | Tomb No. 1 90 metres long; Tomb No. 2 about 88 metres long (Agency for Cultural Affairs) |
| Owner | Zushi City and Hayama Town |
| Public Access | Outdoor site; free. No car park |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs Database: Nagae Sakurayama Kofun Group (Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/401/3351
- Cultural Heritage Online: Nagae Sakurayama Kofun Group (Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/192582
- Zushi City: Nagae Sakurayama Kofun Group (Japanese)
- https://www.city.zushi.kanagawa.jp/shiminkatsudo/bunkazai/1004577/1004578.html
- Hayama Town: Nagae Sakurayama Kofun Group (Japanese)
- https://www.town.hayama.lg.jp/soshiki/shougaigakushuu/7/1/1121.html
Last verified: 2026.09.27