Abuyama Tomb

Abuyama Tomb: A Seventh-Century Grave Without a Mound

The Abuyama Tomb (阿武山古墳, Abuyama Kofun) is a late Kofun-period burial on the slopes of Mount Abu, straddling Nasahara in Takatsuki City and Ai in Ibaraki City, Osaka Prefecture, designated a national Historic Site in 1983.

Takatsuki City places the Abuyama Tomb on a ridge about 210 metres above sea level on the mountainside. It was found by chance in 1934 when Kyoto University was building a seismic observatory.

Why It Was Designated

According to Takatsuki City, the tomb has no earthen mound. Instead, a shallow ditch 2.5 metres wide encircles a raised part of the ridge to mark out a burial area 82 metres across. At the centre is a chamber built of cut granite and thick unglazed tiles, finished inside with plaster.

In the chamber lay a coffin of many layers of hemp cloth hardened with lacquer. Inside was the body of a man of about 60, dressed in brocade, his head on a pillow of blue and green glass beads strung on silver wire. The remains and grave goods were reburied, but analysis of X-rays taken at the time has shown that the man broke ribs in an accident a few months before his death and that a cap embroidered with gold thread had been placed with him.

Takatsuki City says the leading view identifies him as Nakatomi (Fujiwara) no Kamatari, whom the chronicle Tonomine Ryakki records as buried on Mount Ai.

What to Look For at the Abuyama Tomb

There is no mound to see. What you walk is the circular burial area marked out on the ridge; keeping its 82-metre span in mind helps picture how a late-period tomb could be marked without piling up earth.

The chamber has been reburied and cannot be seen. Reconstructions of the cap and bead pillow are shown at Takatsuki City's history facilities.

Visiting the Abuyama Tomb

Takatsuki City advises taking a city bus from JR Settsu-Tonda Station to the Shobosho-mae stop, then walking about 30 minutes (about 2 kilometres, uphill). There is no car park, so use public transport.

The route is a hill path, so wear walking shoes and carry water. Enquiries go to the Takatsuki City Archaeological Research Center on 072-694-7562.