Kengoshizuka

Mounded Tomb

A Royal Burial Site Linked to

one of Japan’s earliest Empress

Kengoshizuka Mounded Tomb is a significant burial site from the final stage of the Kofun period, located in Asuka Village, Nara. One of its most distinctive features is its octagonal form, a shape strongly associated with elite burials of the 7th century. The mound has been excavated, studied, and restored, making it easier for visitors to understand both its original appearance and its historical importance. The site is often linked to members of the imperial family, especially Empress Saimei and Princess Hashihito, although no conclusion has been established beyond dispute. Even so, the structure clearly indicates a burial of exceptional rank. Today, Kengoshizuka is valued not only as an archaeological site, but also as an important key to understanding changing funerary customs, the rise of royal authority, and the political world of the Asuka period.

Explore the Sights

See photos that bring Kengoshizuka Mounded Tomb to life.

A stone monument with Japanese inscriptions on a grassy area near a path and a staircase, with trees and a clear blue sky in the background.
A hill with a winding path, fenced stairs, and a domed structure at the top, surrounded by trees under a clear blue sky.
Three hikers ascending wooden stairs on grassy hill towards a large, sloped structure, with trees and clear blue sky in the background.
View of the roof of the Tsunami Museum in Japan, with stairs and rails leading up to an entrance, surrounded by trees and a clear blue sky.
A concrete wall with cracks, a small barred window with a wooden frame, and some electrical cords and a vent on the floor.
Interior view of an ancient stone structure with two long benches on each side and a central column, moss or algae growth visible on the walls and ceiling.
Large concrete domed structure with a stepped design, surrounded by a natural landscape of trees and mountains in the background under a clear blue sky.
Photo of a large, multi-tiered, stone-tiled roof with a mountain and blue sky in the background. The shadow of a person taking a photo is visible on the roof.
Scenic view of a farm with green fields, organized rows of straw bundles on stilts, and a hillside with trees and stairs leading to a small structure at the top, under a clear blue sky.
Rows of harvested rice plants drying on raised racks in a terraced field with a person working in the background.