Kamiishizu Misanzai Kofun Burial Mound

In short

A keyhole-shaped burial mound located in Ishizugaoka in the southwestern part of the Mozu Kofun Group. Also known as Richu-tenno-ryo Kofun Burial Mound or Ishizugaoka Kofun Burial Mound, it is currently managed by the Imperial Household Agency as the tomb of Emperor Richu, the South Mausoleum of the Mozu-no-Mimihara Three Mausoleums. With a total mound length of about 365 meters, it is the third largest in Japan. It is one of the component assets of the World Heritage site "Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group."

• ​Good Viewing Spots​​: The burial mound can be viewed well from the front worship place (haisho) and along the road beside the eastern moat. There is a viewing spot at Ishizugaoka where visitors can experience the scale of the mound
• ​Built with an Awareness of the View from Osaka Bay​​: It was built with the front square portion facing south, aligning the mound's axis with the coastline. The mound was built in three tiers and is still well preserved in the form it had when it was built
• ​Large Quiver-shaped Haniwa​​: A large quiver-shaped haniwa standing as tall as 1.4 meters, modeled after a yugi (quiver for holding arrows), has been found on the mound

History and Highlights

​Kamiishizu Misanzai Kofun Burial Mound​ is a keyhole-shaped burial mound (zenpo-koen-fun) located in Ishizugaoka in the southwestern part of the Mozu Kofun Group. Also known as Richu-tenno-ryo Kofun Burial Mound or Ishizugaoka Kofun Burial Mound, it is currently managed by the Imperial Household Agency as the South Mausoleum of the Mozu-no-Mimihara Three Mausoleums, the tomb of Emperor Richu. It is one of the component assets of the "Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group," inscribed as a World Heritage site in 2019.

With a total mound length of about 365 meters, a round rear mound diameter of 205 meters, and a height of about 27.6 meters, it is the third largest giant keyhole-shaped burial mound in Japan. Within the Mozu Kofun Group, it is second in size only to the Nintoku-tenno-ryo Kofun Burial Mound. Based on its shape and the excavated haniwa (terracotta figures), it is believed to have been constructed earlier than Nintoku-tenno-ryo Kofun Burial Mound.

It was built on the western edge of a plateau with the front square portion facing south, aligning the mound's axis with the coastline. The location and orientation of the mound are said to have been chosen with a strong awareness of the view from Osaka Bay. The mound was built in three tiers and still retains much of its original shape from the time of construction. Circular earthen platforms exist at the summits of both the rear round portion and the front square portion, where burial facilities are presumed to be located. The earthen platform of the front square portion is built in two tiers along the slope, which is an unprecedented feature with no other known examples.

Viewing and Experience Highlights

• ​Best Viewing Locations​​: The burial mound can be viewed well from the front worship place (haisho) and along the road running beside the eastern moat. There is a viewing spot at Ishizugaoka where visitors can experience the sheer scale of the mound.
• ​Wide Moat and Large Embankment​​: A wide moat encircles the burial mound, and on the western slope side, a massive earthen embankment was constructed. In 1994 (Heisei 6), a secondary outer moat about 10 meters wide was discovered outside of it. It is currently preserved buried underground.
• ​Large Quiver-shaped Haniwa and Satellite Mounds​​: A large quiver-shaped haniwa standing as tall as 1.4 meters, modeled after a yugi (quiver for holding arrows), was excavated from the mound. While there were once about 10 satellite mounds (baicho) around it, only 4 remain today, including Terayama Minamiyama Kofun Burial Mound.

Walking Tips

The nearest station is Uenoshiba Station on the JR Hanwa Line. The mound can also be viewed from the observation deck at the former site of Shichikanyama Kofun Burial Mound. It is recommended to visit together with Daisen Park, located about 690 meters to the northeast, and the Sakai City Museum, about 880 meters away. Walking about 770 meters to the east will bring you to Itasuke Kofun Burial Mound.