A presumed twin-round mound (~50m north–south) within the grounds of Hyotanyama Inari Shrine at the foot of Mt. Ikoma, Higashiosaka City. Its gourd-shaped profile is said to have given the "Hyotanyama" district and station their names. The largest and oldest mound of the Yamahata cluster (late 6th–early 7th century), occupying the lowest elevation in the group.
Finds & research
Unexcavated; no artifacts are known. Two corridor-type stone chambers (north and south) are reported in the heritage survey database.
Two views on the occupant
Archaeological view
Mound No.52 of the Yamahata cluster — the largest and oldest of the group. About 50m long north–south and 4m high, reconstructed as a twin-round (gourd-shaped) mound joining a north hill (Otsuka/Kitsunezuka) and a south hill (Onizuka); unexcavated, so a keyhole-mound theory also exists. Built in the late 6th century, with a corridor-type stone chamber reported in each hill. Twin-round mounds are exceedingly rare in Japan — Kanayama Kofun (id:122) being the type example — and this is one of the few parallels.
Imperial Household Agency view
Not designated by the IHA, nor as a historic site at any level. Preserved within the grounds of Hyotanyama Inari Shrine.
Field notes
About 5 min on foot from Kintetsu Hyotanyama Station. Visited together with Hyotanyama Inari Shrine; the mound itself is sacred ground and cannot be climbed, but the gourd-shaped hill is visible behind the shrine buildings.