Sakikitama Kofun Park, named after the origin of Saitama Prefecture, is located near several ancient burial mounds (kofun).
Some burial mounds can be climbed, while others have been converted into exhibition spaces.
It's a little distance from the city center, and while the Kururin Bus runs there, it's infrequent and small, so driving is recommended.
On weekends, the parking lot is moderately full, and there's rarely a wait for parking.
A few years ago, a stylish shop called Marche opened, combining a souvenir shop and a restaurant.
There are a few independently owned restaurants in the area, but they're a bit inconvenient, making Marche a convenient option.
Food trucks and mobile vegetable vendors also visit on weekends.
At Marche, soft-serve ice cream is popular, and they apparently use milk from a local dairy. It's called Wataboku Milk.
Every year on May 4th, there's a fire festival with a talk event by a local celebrity, an event where fire is brought from a nearby shrine to burn straw houses, and finally, a small fireworks display.
Apparently, the area gets quite crowded at this time, so locals try to avoid it if possible.
During the fire festival, shuttle buses run from Kita-Konosu Station starting before noon, but even after it ends, they only have two buses running, so you'll have to wait a long time.
It's an event in Gyoda City, and they even provide free buses from Konosu City because it's so far from the city center.
There are two museums, and apparently, if you pay the entrance fee to one, you can enter the other for free.
I felt that if they improved the transportation access a bit more, they could probably attract more visitors.
There are burial mounds everywhere.
It's like a park where you can walk around a group of burial mounds.
It would be nice on a warm day.
I went with my child, and they enjoyed it like a hike. It's fun for children up to the lower elementary grades to run around and climb the small hills (which are actually burial mounds).
We couldn't see them all, but it was interesting.
I previously heard that the best way to view burial mounds is from above. Viewing them from a helicopter is unrealistic, but I'd like to see it sometime!
Numerous burial mounds of varying sizes are scattered throughout the area, some of which you can enter or climb to the top.
Climbing to the site where Ishida Mitsunari set up camp, you can see the mountains and Oshi Castle in the distance.
If you're physically fit, it's not a problem, but it's quite a large area, so renting a bicycle or taking a leisurely stroll might be a good idea.
