Nakaoyama Tumulus is an important late Asuka-period burial mound in Asuka Village, Nara, designated as a National Historic Site. Archaeological investigation has shown that it was built as an octagonal mound, a form closely associated with elite burials of the late 7th and early 8th centuries. The tomb is also significant because it appears to have been used for cremated remains, as indicated by the structure of the stone chamber and the place where a container for ashes is thought to have been set. Based on its date, form, location, and historical records, public sources note that the tomb is widely regarded as a strong candidate for the mausoleum of Emperor Monmu, though this identification is not stated as absolutely certain. For visitors, Nakaoyama Tumulus offers a clear introduction to changing royal funerary practices and the political world of Asuka at the transition to the Fujiwara capital period.