National Treasures
Gold-inlaid Iron Sword

National Historic Site
The Sakitama Burial Mounds

This sword, unearthed in 1968, is the most important historicalartifact housed in the Museum of the Sakitama Ancient BurialMounds. The 115 characters engraved on the sword show
the lineage of an ancient powerful family, providing us withvaluable clues in understanding the formation of Japan.

The Sakitama Burial Mounds, also known as theSakitama Kofun Cluster, are located in Sakitama,
Gyoda City and are also the origin of Saitama
Prefecture's name. The nine burial mounds in thekofun cluster were built between the mid-5th century
and the early 7th century and are one of the foremost
examples of Japanese burial mounds. Designated asa national historic site in 1983, the Sakitama BurialMounds are currently preserved and maintained by
Saitama Prefecture.

Old Oshi River Walking Trail
Inariyama Burial Mound

A simplified version of the inscription reads as follows:“Inscribed in the seventh month of the shingai year (471 C.E.).
I, Wowake, and my ancestors have served as guards for theroyal family for generations. I serve the great King Wakatakeru
and have contributed to his rule over the whole land. I hereby
engrave this grand sword as a commemoration of our families’
distinguished achievements.”（2 km to Ancient Lotus Pond）

Inariyama Burial Mound
Maruhakayama Burial Mound
Old Oshi River
Musashi Suiro Waterway

Back

Futagoyama Burial Mound

ToiletFront

GazeboShogunyama Burial Mound
Exhibit Hall

Ishida Dike
Shogunyama Burial Mound

Sakitama Square
New Rest House

Parking

Futagoyama Burial Mound
Atagoyama Burial MoundTo Gyoda City
Size of Burial Mounds Unit: mTotal
LengthHeight

Inariyama

105

18.9120

11.7

MaruhakayamaTeppōyama

NakanoyamaOkunoyamaAtagoyama（9.090(8.4)

73

5.1796653）indicates estimated size

5.1
5.6
3.4

Shogunyama Burial Mound

Teppōyama Burial Mound
Okunoyama Burial Mound

aynWeeGr

Kawarazuka

109

13.0

ō
udokRyShogunyama

138

Sakitama Shrine
Sengenzuka Burial Mound

aam
kit

Futagoyama

To Konosu City

Kawarazuka Burial Mound

Sa

Name of BurialMounds

Haniwa House
Rest House

Museum of the Sakitama
Ancient Burial Mounds

dōkuyoaR

aynWeeGr

Nakanoyama Burial Mound

amkit
Sa
To Route 17, 4.5 km to JR Kitakonosu StationMaruhakayama Burial Mound

The excavation and research of the Inariyama Burial
Mound started in 1968, and many artifacts, suchas a gold-inlaid iron sword, metal belt decorations,a comma-shaped bead called a magatama, and amirror, were excavated. All of these artifacts weredesignated as national treasures in 1983 and are
on display at the Museum of the Sakitama Ancient
Burial Mounds. A reconstruction of the burial area
where these artifacts were found lies on top of theburial mound. It is estimated that this burial moundwas originally built in the second half of the 5 thcentury.
The Futagoyama Burial Mound is the biggest
keyhole-shaped burial mound in Musashi Province,
which includes current Saitama, Tokyo, and a part ofKanagawa. It is estimated that this burial mound wasmade in the late 5th century.
The Maruhakayama Burial Mound is the biggest
circular burial mound in Japan. Based on unearthed
Haniwa (a general term for unglazed earthenware
artifacts), it is estimated that this burial mound wasmade in the first half of the 6th century. It is said thatthe road leading from this mound to the parking
lot was built on the ruins of a dike (Ishida Dike) thatwas created to attack and flood nearby Oshi Castle
during the Sengoku Period (circa 1460s-1603 C.E.).
The Shogunyama Burial Mound was excavatedin 1984 by local residents. Many artifacts used in
funerals, such as horse armor and equipment, metal
flag holders, bronze bowls, and a ring-pommel
sword, were unearthed from the corridor-shaped
stone chamber within the burial mound. Afterthe burial mound and the surrounding dike wererestored, the Shogunyama Burial Mound Exhibit
Hall was built into the mound so that visitors could
see directly into the stone chamber, the first suchbuilding in Japan. Restored Haniwa are placed on
top of the mound. It is estimated that this burial
mound was made in the second half of the 6 thcentury.
平成２７年度 文化庁 地域の核となる美術館・歴史博物館支援事業

High School and Other Students
GeneralFreeFree￥100￥60/person￥200

Annual Admission Pass

￥120/person

This includes the admission for the Historical Museum of Ranzan.
GeneralHigh School and Other Students

Hours of Operation￥1,200￥600

9:00 AM to 4:30 PM (Visitors are admitted until 4:00 PM)

Days Closed・Every Monday(Open on National Holidays; Saitama Prefectural Citizens' Day, November 14; andfrom April 29 to May 5, even if any of these dates falls on a Monday.)・From December 29 to January 3

Directions

By Train/Bus■ From JR Takasaki Line Fukiage Station.
Take the Asahi bus bound for Gyoda Orikaeshijo, General Education Center,and Gyoda Kogyo Danchi via Sama ("Sama Keiyu, Gyoda Orikaeshijo, Sogo
Kyoiku Center, Gyoda Kogyo Danchi Yuki").
Get off at the "Sangyo Doro" stop and walk for 15 min.
■ From JR Takasaki Line Gyoda Station.
Take the City Loop Bus Tourist Destinations Course from the "JR Gyoda Station" stop.
Get off at the "Sakitama Kofun
To Takasaki
Koen Mae" stop and walk for 2 min.
■ From Chichibu Railway Gyodashi
To OtaStationTo Hanyu/Tatebayashi
Gyodashi Stn.
Take the Asahi bus bound for
Chichibu Railway
Kumagaya Stn.
To Hanyu
Fukiage Station via Sama fromthe "Shinmachi 1-chome " stop .
Gyoda Stn.
Route125
Get off at the "Sangyo Doro"Bus Stop
Sangyo Dorostop and walk for 15 min.
Fukiage Stn.

By CarKitakonosu Stn.
SakitamaKofun Park

Route17

To Kazo
Museum of the Sakitama
Ancient Burial Mounds

ine■ Tohoku Expressway
Approx. 17 km from Kazo IC
Approx. 15 km from Hanyu IC■ Kan-Etu Expressway
Approx. 18 km from Higashi
matuyama ICApprox. 25 km from Hanazono IC■ Ken-O Expressway
Approx. 17 km from OkegawaKano ICiLHaniwa Boy Playing
a HarpElementary and Junior High SchoolStudentsGroups(for groups of 20 or more)akas

Human-Shaped
Haniwa with Shield

Water Bird-Shaped
HaniwaIndividuals

kTa

Women-Shaped Haniwa

Bell-Shaped CylindricalHaniwa

Admission Fee

To Hanazono

House-Shaped HaniwaHaniwa in the Sakitama Burial Mounds

Haniwa Warriors HeadMuseum of the Sakitama Ancient Burial Mounds

Shogunyama Burial Mound Exhibit Hall, Burial Chamber Exhibit

Admission Guide

Konosu Stn.

To Higashimatsuyama
To UenoSaitama Prefectural Museum ofthe Sakitama Ancient Burial Mounds

Visitor’s Guide

To Saitama City

Saitama Prefectural Museum of the Sakitama Ancient Burial Mounds4834 Sakitama, Gyoda City, Saitama
TEL 048-559-1111

361-0025

FAX 048-559-1112

URL http://www.sakitama-muse.spec.ed.jp/Shogunyama Burial Mound Exhibit Hall