| Location | Sakai, Osaka |
|---|---|
| Shape | Keyhole-shaped mound |
| Mound length | 58 m |
| Period | Mid 5th c. |
A 59m keyhole mound in Sakai City, designated a National Historic Site in 1971. Notable for its unusual moat configuration (rear section only) and its unique location on the left bank of the Kudara River. The name "Monju" may derive from Monjushri (the Buddhist bodhisattva of wisdom), suggesting a Buddhist hall once stood on the mound. Its view of Kamishiozutsu Misanzai Kofun across the river suggests the location was deliberately set on a visual axis to the great royal tomb. Located within the Mozu World Heritage buffer zone.
Ongoing salvage excavations since 2005 by Sakai City Board of Education for conservation planning. Finds include Sue-ware haniwa of the 5th century. Burial chamber structure and grave goods remain undetermined. The unusual moat configuration — encircling only the rear section — has been confirmed, along with traces of stone paving.
Close to Tozuka Kofun (45m square mound); the two southwestern Mozu mounds are easily visited together. Entry to the mound is restricted as a National Historic Site, but free perimeter viewing is possible. About 8 min walk from Nankai "Suwamorimori" station.