Imashirozuka Kofun, with the Shinike Haniwa Production Site

The True Tomb of Great King Keitai

The Imashirozuka Kofun, with the Shinike Haniwa Production Site (今城塚古墳／附　新池埴輪製作遺跡) is a late Kofun-period keyhole-shaped tomb in Gunge-shinmachi, Takatsuki City, Osaka Prefecture, designated a Historic Site in 1958 together with the associated Shinike haniwa production site.

Takatsuki City describes it as one of the largest keyhole tombs in the Yodo River basin, at the centre of the Mishima plain, with a designated area of about 85,210 square metres.

The city regards it as the true tomb of Great King Keitai, who died in 531, and the only great king's tomb of the Kofun period in the Yodo basin.

The Mound and Excavations

According to Takatsuki City, the mound faces west and is ringed by a double moat, the whole measuring about 350 metres long and 360 metres wide. Japan's largest house-shaped haniwa and finely made warrior haniwa have been found.

A ten-year survey from 1997 showed that the Fushimi earthquake of 1596 caused much of the mound's fill to slide into the inner moat. A haniwa ritual area found on the northern inner bank in 2001 and 2002 drew attention as evidence of haniwa rites at a great king's tomb.

The name Imashirozuka reflects a tradition that it was used as a fort in the Warring States period; Edo-period maps call it Imaki no Misasagi.

What to Look For

Takatsuki City notes that it bought almost the whole site over some fifty years and laid it out as a historic park in a seven-year project from 2004. On the haniwa ritual stage more than 200 figurative haniwa, including houses, people and animals, are set out in order, the only reconstruction of a great king's haniwa rite in Japan.

The associated Shinike site, according to the city, is one of the oldest and largest haniwa workshops known, laid out as the Shinike Haniwa Factory Park with restored workshops and kilns.

Visiting the Imashirozuka Kofun, with the Shinike Haniwa Production Site

Takatsuki City says the Imashirozuka Kofun Park is open all day, every day, free of charge. It is about 25 minutes on foot from JR Settsu-Tonda Station, or 2 minutes from the Imashirozuka Kofun-mae bus stop. The free car park of the Imashirozuka Ancient History Museum, about 35 spaces, is closed on museum closing days.

The Shinike Haniwa Factory Park is open all day, with its exhibition hall open 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., free. Enquiries: Imashirozuka Ancient History Museum, 072-682-0820.