The tomb of a chieftain who helped enthrone Emperor Keitai, on the Ado River fan in Takashima City. Its peninsular-style gilt crown and shoes reveal the international reach of Lake Biwa's western shore in the 6th century and the drama of Keitai's rise. The house-shaped sarcophagus can be viewed year-round through the glass of its shelter.
Finds & research
Gilt-bronze crown and shoes, fish pendants, gold earrings, a mirror, beads, ornate swords, and horse gear (found 1902; Tokyo National Museum). The Nijozan-tuff sarcophagus survives on site.
Two views on the occupant
Archaeological view
A keyhole mound of ~45m (sources range 40–50m; the front section is leveled) — the only one on the western lakeshore plain. Built in the early 6th century. Its damaged chamber retains Shiga's only monolithic house-shaped sarcophagus, of Nijozan tuff. The 1902 discovery yielded sumptuous Silla-style regalia — a gilt-bronze crown and shoes, fish pendants, gold earrings, twisted-ring and deer-fitted swords, horse gear — now in the Tokyo National Museum. Takashima was the home base of Emperor Keitai's father; the occupant is thought to be a Mio clan chieftain who backed Keitai, or even a royal kinsman.
Imperial Household Agency view
Not designated by the IHA. Shiga Prefectural Historic Site (designated 1964).
Field notes
About 20 min on foot from JR Adogawa Station. The sarcophagus is always viewable through the shelter glass. Replicas of the crown and regalia are shown at the Takashima Folk Museum ~150m south (closed Mon/Tue/holidays).