What other travelers are saying about Saitobaru Burial Mounds
Worth a trip. An hour's 1,100yen bus from Miyasaki plus a 30 minute walk to the first of the mounds. Free museum (closed Monday) has a comprehensive display of the items recovered from the mounds. Great viewing deck on the top floor with good restaurant (700 yen lunch sets). Allow a few hours for the museum and to wander the mounds. Ensure that you visit mounds 206 and especially 13 to see inside.
The burial mounds grounds are open throughout the year and free to explore. The Saitobaru Archaeological Museum also offers free admission, though the museum is closed on Mondays, the New Year holiday period, and the day following national holidays. Visitors can freely walk or cycle through the park to view the ancient tombs at no cost.
Yes, visitors can enter the Oni-no-Iwaya tomb, which is the only burial mound in the complex open to the public. This round mound features a horizontal stone chamber that you can walk through. Additionally, the Osahozuka and Mesahozuka burial mounds, which are presumed imperial tombs, are open to the public only on the second day of the Kofun Festival in early November, offering a rare opportunity to view these significant structures up close.
The site offers spectacular flower displays year-round. Spring (late March to early April) is particularly popular when approximately 2,000 cherry trees bloom alongside 300,000 rapeseed flowers, creating a striking pink and yellow landscape. Summer brings around one million sunflowers, while autumn (mid-October to early November) features three million cosmos flowers. The Saito Hana Matsuri (Saito Flower Festival) in late March to early April includes food stalls and stage performances.
Yes, free bicycle rentals are available at the site. The area features cycling routes suitable for all fitness levels, making it easy to explore the expansive 2.6-kilometer by 4.2-kilometer grounds. A dedicated 4-kilometer walking path called the Kiki no Michi also connects various points of historical interest related to ancient Japanese mythology throughout the burial mounds complex.
The burial mounds were constructed between the late 3rd century and the 7th century, making them approximately 1,700 years old. They are believed to be the tombs of ancient warriors and clan leaders who ruled southern Kyushu. The largest mounds, Mesahozuka and Osahozuka, are thought to contain rulers from the early 5th century. However, the exact identities of those buried within most tombs remain a mystery, as the majority have not yet been excavated.
Dec 16 2025, temperature 13C, not too cold to walk around, a very peaceful and quiet place, no tourists, not easily assessible from major cities, need to drive.
Great Hanami spot. Bring a tarp and relax. They have great food stands. Parking can get crowded, but worked out fine. The area is big enough that it doesn't get crowded
