| Location | Sakai, Osaka |
|---|---|
| Shape | Keyhole-shaped mound |
| Mound length | 365 m |
| Period | Early 5th c. |
| Designation | Imperial Tomb (IHA) |
| World Heritage | Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group (UNESCO) |
| IHA designation | IHA-managed (no public entry) |
365m long (3rd largest in Japan, 2nd in the Mozu group). The 3-tiered mound rises to about 27.6m at the rear circle; a second, outer moat (confirmed in 1994 and now preserved underground) once encircled it. Together with Daisen Kofun it anchors the Mozu group. Like Daisen it faces south, sited on the western edge of the plateau with the view from Osaka Bay in mind. Projections (tsukuridashi) flank both sides of the waist, and circular platforms on both summits are thought to cover the burials. The perimeter borders residential areas, and a walk along the moat reveals an impressive waterside landscape framed by greenery. Designated a constituent monument of the "Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group" UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019. The name "Kamiishizu Misanzai" combines the place name Kamiishizu with "Misanzai," said to be a local corruption of misasagi (imperial tomb). Located about 800m southwest of Daisen Kofun, the two super-scale keyhole mounds aligned on the Mozu plateau evoke the grandeur of the ancient landscape.
The internal burial facility is unexcavated (IHA-managed). Surveys around the mound confirmed in 1994 that a second, outer moat once ran the full circuit, and documented fukiishi and haniwa. Among the figural haniwa is a quiver-shaped (yugi) piece 1.4m tall — an unusually large example. Exterior viewable from surrounding paths.