Mitsujō Kofun: Compare 3 Ancient Burial Mounds on Foot
A Kofun Cluster Built at the Tip of a Hill
The Mitsujō Kofun Cluster (Mitsujō Kofun) consists of Mound No. 1, Mound No. 2, and Mound No. 3—a total of 3 burial mounds—built using the tip of a hill extending from Hachimanyama to the south in Saijō Chūō, Higashihiroshima City.
The surrounding area is now maintained as a park, where you can compare differences in the shapes and heights of the mounds at close range while considering local society from the early 5th century through the early 6th century.
Historic Site Designation and Conservation Work
The 3 mounds were designated as a Historic Site on June 3, 1982. From fiscal 1990 through fiscal 1993, conservation and restoration work was carried out based on the excavation findings.
It is important not to assume that the haniwa clay figures and fukiishi stones visible on site remain exposed exactly as they were found. View them as part of the site's presentation designed to convey the survey findings.
Start by Understanding the Construction Dates
Mound No. 2 came first in the early 5th century, Mound No. 1 is also thought to date from around the early 5th century, and Mound No. 3 from around the early 6th century, so the numerical order does not match the construction order.
| Mound | Shape and Size | How to Read the Construction Date | Main Features to Observe |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 | Keyhole-shaped kofun, about 92 m long | Around the early 5th century | 3-tier mound, fukiishi, haniwa, tsukuridashi platforms, surrounding moat |
| No. 2 | Round mound, about 25 m in diameter | Preceding No. 1: early 5th century | Fukiishi, absence of haniwa, traces of a burial facility |
| No. 3 | Oval, about 8 m along its long axis | Around the early 6th century | Its location inside a ditch and its small mound |
Mound No. 1: Experience Its 92 m Scale in Three Dimensions
One of Hiroshima Prefecture's Largest Keyhole-Shaped Kofun
Mound No. 1 is a keyhole-shaped kofun measuring about 92 m in total length. Its round rear section is about 62 m in diameter and about 13 m high, while the tip of the front section is about 66 m wide.
Rather than simply walking a circuit, look in order at the widths of the front and rear sections, the changes in height, and the narrow waist connecting them. This makes its scale as a massive earthen structure easier to grasp.
The 3-Tier Mound and Fukiishi
The mound was built in 3 tiers and its slopes were covered with fukiishi, so look beyond the outline of the piled earth to the visual effect created by each tier's horizontal line and stone surface.
Look up at the round rear section from a low point, then move around the side and follow the terraced construction. The height of about 13 m comes across more clearly than it does in a flat photograph.
Ritual Space Revealed by the Tsukuridashi and Moat
At the narrow waists on both sides were square tsukuridashi platforms thought to have served as altars. Around the mound ran a surrounding ditch about 1 m deep—in other words, a dry moat.
The tsukuridashi were more than small projections attached to the mound. To understand them as clues to rituals held at the kofun, examine their positions in relation to the narrow waist.
See the Span of Time Through Mounds No. 2 and No. 3
Mound No. 2: The Earlier Round Kofun
Mound No. 2 is a round burial mound about 25 m in diameter and about 4 m high. Its slopes were laid with fukiishi, but no haniwa have been confirmed.
Although it is numbered 2, it is thought to have been built before Mound No. 1, making it the first of the group’s mounds and an important starting point for understanding the cluster.
What the Burial Facility Does—and Does Not—Reveal
There was 1 burial facility at the top, believed to have been a box-shaped stone coffin. However, because its stone materials had been lost at an early stage, the excavation reportedly could not determine the details.
At the site, avoid filling gaps with speculation. Separating the confirmed structure from what remains unknown helps you appreciate the Historic Site accurately.
Mound No. 3: A Small Kofun About 1 Century Later
Mound No. 3 was built inside the ditch separating the southern hill from Mound No. 2. It is oval, measuring about 8 m along its long axis, about 4 m along its short axis, and about 1 m high.
Comparing its early 6th-century construction date and small scale with Mounds No. 1 and No. 2 offers a starting point for considering how the same place may have been remembered over time and reused as a burial area in a different era.
Read Authority and Ritual Through the Haniwa Arrangement
More Than 1800 Haniwa Surrounded the Mound
At Mound No. 1, more than 1,800 haniwa are believed to have been used across the mound, mainly cylindrical and morning-glory-shaped types.
The rows placed on each of the 3 tiers emphasized the mound's outline and may have guided the movement and gaze of approaching people. Thinking beyond the sheer number makes the role of the haniwa rows easier to see.
Different Figural Haniwa on the Front and Rear Sections
Figural haniwa shaped like chickens, horses, shields, quivers, helmets, and short cuirasses were placed on the front section, while house-shaped haniwa stood on the round rear section.
Notice where the different subjects—armor, animals, and buildings—were positioned. This helps you imagine haniwa not as mere decoration, but as elements expressing ritual scenes and the authority of the person buried here.
Do Not Miss the Kinugasa-Shaped Haniwa
Kinugasa-shaped haniwa modeled on feather-decorated parasols were also placed at various points. Checking the display first to distinguish cylindrical from figural haniwa will deepen your understanding when you view the mound.
| Type | Main Confirmed Location | What to Consider on Site |
|---|---|---|
| Cylindrical and morning-glory-shaped | Each tier of the mound | Emphasis on boundaries and the mound's outline |
| Chicken-, horse-, and armor-shaped | Front section | Expression of ritual scenes and authority |
| House-shaped | Round rear section | Relationship to the burial area |
| Kinugasa-shaped | Various points on the mound | Forms symbolizing a person of high rank |
Walk the Park in an Order That Makes the Size Differences Clear
Check the Overall View and Map First
When you arrive, use the park map to confirm the locations of the 3 mounds and the paths. Then decide whether to approach No. 2 and No. 3 from the hillside before No. 1, or start with the huge No. 1 and work backward through time.
If time is limited, prioritize the front section, narrow waist, and round rear section of No. 1. If you have more time, connect these observations with the scale difference at No. 2 and the position of No. 3.
View the Same Mound from Below and from the Side
Do not stop after taking a photo from the front. Look up at the terraces from a low point, view the connection between the front and rear sections from the side, and confirm the full outline from farther away.
Observe from the marked route without stepping off the park paths or touching maintained features. This supports both preservation of the Historic Site and visitor safety.
Adapt to the Season and Ground Conditions
Because this outdoor Historic Site is affected by sun and rain, bring a hat, drinks, and shoes with good grip. In severe weather, be prepared not to force a circuit around the mounds.
Vegetation also changes how clearly the outlines can be seen, so use information boards and display models to supplement sections whose shapes are difficult to read.
Use the 2 Exhibition Facilities for Different Purposes
Panel Exhibition Room in the Management Building
The panel exhibition room in the Mitsujō Neighborhood Park Management Building (Mitsujō Kinrin Kōen Kanritō) displays explanatory panels about the kofun and haniwa replicas. As a rule, it is open from 10 to 16 on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, and admission is free.
Closing days may change, so once you know your visit date, confirm the facility information.
Guidance Corner in the Central Library
The guidance corner in the Central Library (Chūō Toshokan), next to the east side of the kofun displays explanatory panels, videos, and a model of a kofun under construction, as well as grave goods such as mirrors and beads excavated from Mitsujō Kofun and actual haniwa.
Opening days follow the Central Library schedule. Hours are 10 to 18 and admission is free, but check the library's closing days and hours in advance.
Move Between the Outdoor Site and Exhibits to Build Understanding
If you first view the models and haniwa and then return to the mound, they fill in internal structures and arrangements that are difficult to grasp from ground level, giving your outdoor observations a clearer focus.
| Place | Best Suited for Checking | What to Confirm Before Use |
|---|---|---|
| Kofun park | Mound shapes, terraced construction, and the positions of all 3 | Weather and path conditions |
| Panel exhibition room | Explanations and haniwa replicas | Opening days centered on weekends and public holidays |
| Guidance corner | Models, videos, and excavated artifacts | Central Library opening days |
Plan Access Together with Bus Stops and Visit Time
2 Bus Options from Saijō Station
From Saijō Station on the JR Sanyō Main Line, one option is about 6 minutes on the Saijō Line, followed by about an 8-minute walk after getting off at Chūō Toshokan-mae. Another is about 8 minutes on the inner-loop Blue Route of the Non Bus, followed by about a 1-minute walk after getting off at Mitsujō Kofun-mae.
Check the return timetable as well as the outbound trip, then combine it with exhibition opening hours when deciding how long to stay.
Travel Times by Car and from the Shinkansen Station
The estimates are about 15 minutes by car from the Saijō Interchange on the Sanyō Expressway and about 15 minutes by car from Higashihiroshima Station on the JR Sanyō Shinkansen, though traffic conditions can change them.
Follow on-site signs for parking locations and conditions of use, and avoid nuisance parking on nearby roads or in residential areas.
Recheck Basic Information Just Before Visiting
The address is Saijō Chūō 7-chōme 24-2, Higashihiroshima City. Because conditions differ between the outdoor visit and exhibition facilities, check the information for each facility separately.
Treat the dates and dimensions in the Historic Site explanations as values based on research findings, separate from opening and transportation information for the day of your visit.
Summary: Walk Through the Time of Ancient Aki at Mitsujō Kofun
Mitsujō Kofun is significant not only for the impressive scale of the approximately 92 m Mound No. 1. Comparing it with the earlier Mound No. 2 and, from about 1 century later, Mound No. 3 reveals the span of time over which elite tombs were built in ancient Aki.
Observe the spatial relationships among the 3-tier mound, fukiishi, tsukuridashi, surrounding moat, and more than 1800 haniwa. Supplementing these observations with artifacts and models in the panel exhibition room and Central Library turns the restored park landscape into a concrete picture of history.
Reviews (0)