Also known as: Mausoleum of Yamato Totohimomoso-hime
Location
Nara Pref.
Shape
Keyhole-shaped mound
Mound length
280 m
Period
Mid–late 3rd c.
Overview
280m keyhole mound in Sakurai City, Nara — globally famous as the leading candidate for the tomb of Himiko, queen of Yamatai. The early-form mound features a high rear circle (~150m diameter, 30m tall) and a relatively short front section, characteristic of the oldest large keyhole mounds. Enclosed by double moats, the eastern outer moat area adjoins the sacred grounds of Omiwa Shrine. It sits at the southeastern edge of the Makimuku site, a major 3rd-century settlement and political center, strengthening the case that this region formed the core of Yamatai.Though the mound itself is restricted (IHA), the surrounding road offers close exterior views. The nearest station is JR Makimuku Station (Manyō Mahoroba Line), about 5 minutes on foot. The adjacent Makimuku site shot to global attention in 2009 when a large 3rd-century building complex was discovered, sharply boosting the Makimuku = Yamatai hypothesis. Annual events such as the "Mahoroba Makimuku Ancient Festival" are held nearby. The name "Hashihaka" (chopstick tomb) derives from the Nihon Shoki legend that the princess Yamato Totohimomoso-hime, shamed by a divine incident, accidentally stabbed herself with chopsticks and died.
Finds & research
No excavation permitted under IHA mausoleum regulations. Internal structure and grave goods remain unknown. Exterior viewable from public paths.
Two views on the occupant
Archaeological view
The Hashihaka＝Himiko hypothesis is the dominant scholarly position, supported by: ① Radiocarbon (C14) dating and pottery typology confirming construction c.240–280 CE, coinciding with Himiko's death recorded in the Wei Zhi (c.247 CE); ② As one of Japan's oldest large keyhole mounds, it aligns chronologically with the emergence of the Yamato polity; ③ Its adjacency to the Makimuku site, a candidate for Himiko's palace complex. Counterarguments include disputes over Himiko's location (Kyushu theories) and difficulty in identifying Himiko with the chronicle's Yamato Totohimomoso-hime. The IHA's prohibition on excavation prevents definitive resolution (scholars Kaoru Terasawa, Naofumi Kishimoto, et al.).
Imperial Household Agency view
Officially designated as the tomb of Yamato-Totohimomoso-hime by the IHA, based on the Nihon Shoki account. Public access to the interior is prohibited under IHA mausoleum regulations, but the moat-side path toward Mt. Miwa is walkable and offers exterior views.