Kutsukawa Kofun Group: A Royal Necropolis of Ancient Yamashiro
Tucked into the residential streets of Joyo City in southern Kyoto Prefecture lies one of the most remarkable concentrations of ancient burial mounds in western Japan. The Kutsukawa Kofun Group (Kutsukawa Kofun-gun) is a vast cemetery of more than 100 tumuli built between roughly the 3rd and 7th centuries, when the rulers of the southern Yamashiro region were consolidating their power and forging ties with the central Yamato court. Four of the most important mounds — Kutsukawa Kurumazuka Kofun, Maruzuka Kofun, Bashōzuka Kofun, and Kuze Elementary School Kofun — are designated together as a National Historic Site, offering visitors a rare opportunity to walk through a 1,500-year-old landscape of power, ritual, and craftsmanship.
What Is the Kutsukawa Kofun Group?
The kofun (key-hole and round tumuli) of this region were the burial monuments of the most powerful chieftains of southern Yamashiro Province, the corridor that linked the early imperial capitals of Asuka and Nara to the rest of central Japan. Spread across the low terraces and hillsides on the right bank of the Kizu River in northern Joyo City, the group contains tombs of every shape and size — square, round, scallop-shaped, and the iconic keyhole form known as a zempō-kōen-fun.
The four mounds protected as a National Historic Site under the name "Kutsukawa Kofun Group" represent the apex of the cemetery during the Middle Kofun period in the 5th century. Together they tell the story of a powerful local dynasty that supported — and was supported by — the emerging Yamato kingship.
Kutsukawa Kurumazuka Kofun: The Great Keyhole Tomb
The crown jewel of the group, Kutsukawa Kurumazuka Kofun is the largest keyhole-shaped mound in the entire Yamashiro region. Built in the early 5th century, the burial mound measures approximately 180 meters in length, and with its surrounding double moat extends to a total of 272 meters. The tumulus was constructed in three stepped tiers, the slopes lined with fukiishi (covering stones) and the level surfaces dotted with rows of cylindrical haniwa terracotta figures.
In 1894, an undisturbed stone coffin was unearthed in the round rear mound — a discovery that astonished archaeologists of the Meiji era. The chamber contained a magnificent nagamochi-gata sekkan (chest-shaped stone coffin) carved from Ryūzan tuff quarried in distant Hyōgo, accompanied by seven bronze mirrors, five sets of armor and helmets, and a wealth of jade and glass beads. The grave goods strongly resemble those of the great royal tombs in the Kawachi Plain, indicating that the chieftain buried here played a leading role in Yamato regional governance.
Maruzuka Kofun: The Scallop-Shaped Mound
A short walk east of Kurumazuka stands Maruzuka Kofun, an early 5th-century tomb of the rare hotategai-shaped (scallop-shaped) form, in which the front rectangular projection is unusually short. The mound itself measures about 80 meters, and including its surrounding moat reaches 104 meters in total length. Excavations have recovered cylindrical haniwa, morning-glory-shaped haniwa, and figural haniwa shaped like houses, sunshades, and armor — including a remarkable house-shaped haniwa standing approximately one meter tall. The deceased is thought to have been a high-ranking lieutenant who supported the great chieftain buried at Kurumazuka.
Bashōzuka Kofun: The Last of the Great Keyhole Tombs
Located in Hirakawa Chayaura, Bashōzuka Kofun was built somewhat later in the mid-5th century. This keyhole-shaped tomb features a two-tiered mound 114 meters long, surrounded by a moat that brings the total length to 161 meters. The mound surfaces were once covered in fukiishi and crowned with haniwa rows. Archaeologists believe Bashōzuka was the burial place of the great chieftain who succeeded the lord of Kurumazuka, making it the final large keyhole tomb of the entire Kutsukawa group and a marker of the dynasty's twilight years.
Kuze Elementary School Kofun: A Tomb in a Schoolyard
Perhaps the most charming of the four, Kuze Elementary School Kofun (also known as Shibagahara No. 9 Mound) sits in the middle courtyard of a public elementary school. Built in the mid-5th century, this round mound measures 27.5 meters in diameter and rises in two tiers covered with stones and haniwa figures. Excavations have produced haniwa shaped like houses, sunshades, armor, and quivers, as well as a small Korean-made stoneware jar with handles — tangible evidence of cross-sea exchange. The tomb was preserved on the school grounds in 1969 thanks to passionate advocacy by local residents, a gesture of community pride that continues to this day.
Why Was It Designated a National Historic Site?
The Kutsukawa Kurumazuka and Maruzuka mounds were first designated as a National Historic Site on January 19, 1979. In October 2016, the Agency for Cultural Affairs added Bashōzuka Kofun and Kuze Elementary School Kofun to the listing and renamed the site "Kutsukawa Kofun Group" — only the second time a kofun group as a whole has received this status within Kyoto Prefecture.
The expanded designation recognizes that the four tombs together illustrate the changing structure of political power in the Middle Kofun period. The pairing of a paramount keyhole tomb with subordinate scallop-shaped or round mounds reflects a hierarchical society in which the chieftain ruled with a council of supporting elites — a pattern mirrored in the great royal tombs of the Yamato heartland. As a complete and legible window into 5th-century power relations, the group is regarded as a touchstone of Japanese archaeology.
Beyond the mounds themselves, the seven bronze mirrors recovered from Kurumazuka are designated as Important Cultural Properties and are housed at the Sen-oku Hakukokan Museum in Kyoto. The nagamochi-gata stone coffin is likewise an Important Cultural Property and is on display at the Kyoto University Museum.
Highlights and What to Look For
The Sheer Scale of Kurumazuka
Walking around Kutsukawa Kurumazuka Kofun, visitors quickly appreciate how immense the structure must have appeared in its day. Even though the JR Nara Line now cuts through the mound, the tree-covered rear circle still rises dramatically above the surrounding houses, and the outline of the inner moat is clearly visible. Recent excavations of the western projection (tsukuridashi) — a ritual platform attached to the mound — have revealed the largest such platform yet investigated in Japan, with traces of monumental house-shaped haniwa and offerings of food-shaped clay figurines.
The Charm of Maruzuka
Maruzuka offers a more intimate experience. Its compact form is easier to grasp visually, and informational signage helps visitors imagine the rows of haniwa that once lined its tiers. The replica large house-shaped haniwa unearthed here is a treasure of early Japanese ceramic art.
Bashōzuka from a Country Lane
Because Bashōzuka stands on private land, visitors view it from the surrounding lanes — but this only adds to its quiet, hidden-treasure atmosphere. The tree-cloaked silhouette glimpsed through fields of vegetables and tea bushes is a vivid reminder that Joyo's ancient past coexists with everyday life.
A Small Jewel Inside a School
Kuze Elementary School Kofun can be viewed from outside the school grounds. The surreal sight of a 1,500-year-old burial mound surrounded by a children's playground is one of the most distinctive scenes in Joyo and a powerful illustration of how Japanese communities live in continuous dialogue with their heritage.
Around the Site: Other Things to Explore
The Joyo City Museum of History and Folklore (also known as Gorigori-kan) is the natural starting point for any visit. Permanent and rotating exhibits explain the story of the Kutsukawa group, with replicas of the long stone coffin and reproductions of the bronze mirrors. The museum also displays the unique bronze bracelet excavated from Shibagahara Kofun, the only complete example of its kind in Japan.
For a deeper experience, the Yamashiro Kodō (Yamashiro Old Path) — a scenic walking trail connecting Kyoto and Nara — passes through the area and links many of the visible mounds. Tea fields, small shrines, and historic farmhouses line the route. Visitors with extra time can also reach the Kuni-kyō Palace ruins to the south or the legendary temples of Uji to the north.
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Q&A
- Can I enter the burial mounds?
- The mounds are protected as a National Historic Site, and burial chambers are not open to the public. However, the exterior of Kurumazuka, Maruzuka, and Kuze Elementary School Kofun can be viewed from public paths and roads. Bashōzuka Kofun stands on private property, so please observe it from the surrounding lanes only.
- Where are the famous mirrors and stone coffin from Kurumazuka now?
- The seven bronze mirrors are kept at the Sen-oku Hakukokan Museum in Kyoto's Sakyō Ward, and the long stone coffin is on display at the Kyoto University Museum. Both have been designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan.
- When is the best time to visit?
- Spring (late March to April) brings cherry blossoms to several of the mounds, while autumn (November) offers crisp weather and colorful foliage. The Kuze Elementary School Kofun is best seen on weekends or school holidays when the schoolyard is quiet.
- How long does it take to visit all four mounds?
- A leisurely walking circuit of all four designated tombs takes about two to three hours, plus another hour if you visit the Joyo City Museum of History and Folklore. The mounds are spread across roughly two square kilometers.
- Is there English-language information at the site?
- Some interpretive panels at major mounds include English captions, and Joyo City publishes a free walking map of the site. English-language brochures may be available at the city museum, but advance enquiry is recommended.
Basic Information
| Site Name | Kutsukawa Kofun Group (Kutsukawa Kurumazuka Kofun, Maruzuka Kofun, Bashōzuka Kofun, Kuze Elementary School Kofun) |
|---|---|
| Location | Hirakawa and Kuze, Joyo City, Kyoto Prefecture |
| Designation | National Historic Site (originally designated 1979; expanded and renamed 2016) |
| Period | Early to Middle Kofun period (early 5th to mid-5th century) |
| Largest Mound | Kutsukawa Kurumazuka Kofun — keyhole-shaped, mound length approx. 180 m, total length with moat approx. 272 m |
| Other Designated Mounds | Maruzuka Kofun (scallop-shaped, 80 m), Bashōzuka Kofun (keyhole, 114 m), Kuze Elementary School Kofun (round, 27.5 m diameter) |
| Notable Cultural Properties | Seven bronze mirrors and one nagamochi-gata stone coffin from Kurumazuka (both Important Cultural Properties) |
| Access | Approximately 10 minutes on foot from Kutsukawa Station on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line; approximately 5 minutes on foot from Joyo Station on the JR Nara Line for Kurumazuka |
| Admission | Free to view from public roads and paths; museum admission may apply at related facilities |
| Notes | Bashōzuka Kofun is on private land — view from surrounding roads only. Kuze Elementary School Kofun is best viewed outside school hours. |
References
- Kutsukawa Kofun Group — Wikipedia (Japanese)
- https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/久津川古墳群
- Kutsukawa Kurumazuka Kofun — Wikipedia (Japanese)
- https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/久津川車塚古墳
- Maruzuka Kofun (Joyo City) — Wikipedia (Japanese)
- https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/丸塚古墳_(城陽市)
- Visitable Kofun in Joyo City — Joyo City Official
- https://www.city.joyo.kyoto.jp/0000006270.html
- Historic Site Kutsukawa Kofun Group — Ocha no Kyoto
- https://ochanokyoto.jp/spot/detail.php?sid=179
- Long Stone Coffin Excavated from Kutsukawa Kurumazuka Kofun — Cultural Heritage Online
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/168935
- Kutsukawa Kofun Group — Cultural Heritage Online
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/138764
Last verified: 2026.05.07