The tumulus itself is well maintained and is a beautiful keyhole-shaped tumulus, with a museum next door and a parking lot - it's perfect.
Nara is amazing.
February 14th, 2025 It is located right next to the Kofun Exhibition Hall, and it was great to see the area after visiting the museum. It seems that kofun were sometimes used in later generations as castle boundaries, and this was also evident here. For parking, it's best to head towards the nearby Family Mart. It looks like you can park 3 or 4 cars nearby, but the road is narrow, so the parking lot in front was easier to access.
A national historic site!
I visited the burial mound in late November 2023 while exploring the Yamanobe no Michi trail.
It has been developed as a park and you can climb onto the burial mound.
It was constructed in the late 3rd century,
and is said to have been used as a fort during the Muromachi period, a castle during the Sengoku period, and part of a feudal domain during the Edo period.
As a result, free access was not possible,
and the interior of the stone chamber collapsed in an earthquake believed to have occurred in the Middle Ages, preventing grave robbery.
Excavations since the Showa period have unearthed
valuable grave goods, including bronze mirrors, iron products, Haji ware, and wooden products, and the burial mound has been designated an Important Cultural Property.
Next to the burial mound is the Tenri City Kurozuka Kofun Exhibition Hall, which is free to visit.
The peaceful atmosphere during my visit was very pleasant.
The upside-down kofun reflected like a mirror ^ ^ What a beautiful view!
It was a very pleasant kofun tomb to stroll around! There was a park with playground equipment next door, so it would be fun for families too.
There was plenty of parking space near the nearby convenience store.
It's just a short walk from the kofun.
Kurozuka Kofun is significant as it provides insight into the burial practices and social structures of ancient Japan. These mounds are associated with the elite class of the Kofun period, indicating the social and political organization of the time.
Kurozuka Kofun is known for its keyhole-shaped mound, which is typical of many larger kofun. This shape includes a round rear and a rectangular front when viewed from above, and is often surrounded by a moat.
Access to Kurozuka Kofun can vary. Some kofun sites allow visitors to view the mounds from designated pathways or observation areas to protect the archaeological integrity.
