Nanakoshiyama Kofun

The Nanakoshiyama Kofun is a 5th-century keyhole-shaped burial mound located in Fujiidera City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. As part of the Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019. The tomb measures approximately 230 meters in length, making it one of the larger kofun in the region. Archaeological evidence suggests it was constructed for a member of the ancient Yamato court, though the specific occupant remains unidentified.

The kofun represents the pinnacle of ancient Japanese burial architecture during the Kofun Period (250-538 CE), when powerful rulers demonstrated their authority through monumental tomb construction. Its distinctive keyhole shape, consisting of a round rear portion and trapezoidal front section, exemplifies the sophisticated engineering capabilities of ancient Japan. The tomb originally featured haniwa clay figures arranged along its slopes and was surrounded by a moat, though these features have been partially lost over time.

Visitors can walk around the perimeter of the tomb mound, which is now covered in dense vegetation and appears as a forested hill in the urban landscape. The site offers observation points along the walking path where the scale and shape of the kofun can be appreciated. While the burial chamber itself is not accessible to the public, the Fujiidera City Board of Education has installed informational panels in Japanese and English explaining the historical context and archaeological findings.

The site is accessible via a 15-minute walk from Fujiidera Station on the Kintetsu Minami-Osaka Line. From central Osaka, the journey takes approximately 30 minutes by train. Admission to the surrounding area is free, and the site can be visited year-round. The kofun is best viewed as part of a broader tour of the Mozu-Furuichi area, with several other significant burial mounds located within walking or short train distances.