Nara Pref. Keyhole-shaped mound

Hokeno-yama Kofun

LocationNara Pref.
ShapeKeyhole-shaped mound
Mound length80 m
PeriodMid-3rd century
DesignationNational Historic Site

Overview

An important investigated example of a burial facility predating standardized keyhole tombs. Sakurai City dates it to the mid-3rd century.

Finds & research

The stone-enclosed wooden chamber yielded pictorial-band deity-and-beast mirrors, an inner-flower mirror, bronze and iron arrowheads, iron swords and agricultural tools, a decorated double-rimmed jar, and small round-bottomed vessels. No triangular-rimmed deity-and-beast mirror was identified.

Two views on the occupant

Archaeological view
An approximately 80m keyhole mound at Hashinaka, Sakurai, built in the mid-3rd century. The rear has at least two tiers and the front one; it is the only Makimuku-type keyhole mound known with stone facing. Its central burial facility is a stone-enclosed wooden chamber holding a boat-shaped coffin. A horizontal chamber was added beside it in a later period.
Imperial Household Agency view
This is not an Imperial Household Agency mausoleum. A component of the National Historic Site Makimuku Kofun Group (designated in 2006 together with Makimuku Ishizuka; Makimuku Yazuka and Katsuyama were added in February 2026).

Field notes

Use the designated viewing area and do not enter protected parts of the mound or chambers.

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Sources

桜井市 史跡纒向遺跡・纒向古墳群保存活用計画奈良県立橿原考古学研究所附属博物館 ホケノ山古墳と箸墓古墳文化庁 纒向古墳群

Related kofun

Hashihaka Kofun (280m) Nishitonozuka Kofun (230m) Higashitonozuka Kofun (139m) Andonyama Kofun (242m) Shibutanimukaiyama Kofun (300m) Kurozuka Kofun (130m)
← Makimuku Katsuyama Kofun Horaiyama Kofun →