20 Historic sites in Fukuoka worth your time

Fubabaru Kofun is a rare keyhole-shaped tomb with unique artifacts, offering a glimpse into ancient Japan.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped tumulus, a type of ancient burial mound.
• Designated a national historic site on October 3, 2016.
• Built from the late 6th century to early 7th century.
• Discovered in 1995 during land improvement.

What to see

• The existing part of the tumulus is 37.4 meters long.
• Restored total length is estimated to be over 45 meters.
• Excavated gilt bronze horse harness decoration, chandelier-like.
• Valuable excavated items include beetle wing decorated apricot leaves.
• A horse helmet, only the third found in Japan.

When to go

• An adjacent plaza and parking lot were established in April 2018.

Read more about Fubabaru Kofun

Ōzuka Kofun is a rare, colorful ancient tomb, a unique glimpse into Japan's past.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped tumulus, a type of ancient burial mound.
• Designated a National Special Historic Site.
• Believed to have been built in the mid-6th century.
• Discovered by chance on September 30, 1934.

What to see

• Five-color murals covering almost the entire stone chamber.
• Tumulus mound constructed from alternating yellow and black soil.
• Stone chamber with a rear chamber, antechamber, and passage.
• Stone shelf, stone coffin, and lamp stand inside the chamber.

When to go

• Stone chamber opens to the public twice a year.
• Visit in spring or autumn for chamber access.

Official site

www.town.keisen.fukuoka.jp

Read more about Ōzuka Kofun

Explore ancient burial mounds, the largest kofun group in northern Kyushu, dating from the 5th to 7th centuries.

What it is

• A group of ancient burial mounds, called kofun.
• Built between the 5th and 7th centuries.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 2005.
• Largest kofun group in northern Kyushu.

What to see

• Sixty existing kofun, including keyhole, round, and square tombs.
• Katsuura Inoura Kofun, a 70-meter-long keyhole-shaped tomb.
• Katsuura Mine no Hata Kofun, a 97-meter-long keyhole-shaped tomb.
• Miyajidake Kofun, a round tomb with a 23-meter stone chamber.
• Artifacts from Miyajidake Kofun are National Treasures.
• Aradiken Kofun, a 101.7-meter keyhole-shaped tomb.

Read more about Tsuyazaki Kofun Group

Explore a 5th-century keyhole-shaped tumulus with a triple moat and rare artifacts.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped tumulus, 80 meters long.
• Part of the Wakamiya Kofun Group.
• Dates to the mid-5th century.
• Excavations in 1805 unearthed many grave goods.

What to see

• A triple moat surrounds the tumulus.
• The burial chamber is a vertical pit stone chamber.
• Stone coffin made of Aso welded tuff.
• Grave goods include gilt bronze helmets and mirrors.
• Excavated artifacts are national Important Cultural Properties.

When to go

• The stone coffin is displayed on the third Saturday of each month.

Read more about Tsukinooka Kofun

Explore a 6th-century decorated kofun with rare wall paintings, a designated National Historic Site.

What it is

• A circular kofun, an ancient burial mound.
• Designated as a National Historic Site.
• Constructed in the latter half of the 6th century.
• Its existence was confirmed in 1947.

What to see

• A mound with a diameter of approximately 32 meters.
• A two-chambered horizontal stone chamber, 11.2 meters long.
• Rare ornamental wall paintings inside the chamber.
• Paintings use red, green, and black pigments.
• Gorōyama Kofunkan opened in 2001.

Getting there

• Located on a hill east of JR Harada Station.

Read more about Gorōyama kofun

Explore a 6th-century burial mound with rare painted chamber, a National Historic Site.

What it is

• A round burial mound, part of the Yame Kofun Group.
• Designated as a National Historic Site.
• Discovered in 1970 during orchard construction.
• Dates from the mid-6th century.

What to see

• Mound has a diameter of 39 meters and a height of 7 meters.
• Outer diameter, including the moat, is 55 meters.
• Horizontal stone burial chamber.
• Chamber walls have red and green circular patterns.
• Maintained as a park with Ishinjama Kofun.

When to go

• Stone chamber is open to the public twice a year.

Read more about Kōkadani Kofun

Explore a 4th-century circular burial mound and its artifacts, now a public park.

What it is

• A circular kofun, an ancient burial mound.
• Dates to the early Kofun period, 4th century.
• Discovered during housing development in 1973.
• Designated a historic site in 1975, developed as a park in 1977.

What to see

• A circular mound 29 meters in diameter.
• The mound stands 3.7 meters high.
• A 3.5-meter-wide ditch surrounds the mound.
• Vertical stone cist burial chamber, 1.8 meters long.
• Excavated artifacts include a sword and mirror.
• Also found were 3,300 beads and a koto-pillar stone product.

Read more about Tanabata-ike Kofun

Explore a large ancient tomb with national treasures and a massive stone chamber.

What it is

• A circular tumulus in Fukutsu City, Fukuoka Prefecture.
• Part of the Tsuyazaki Kofun Group, a National Historic Site.
• Believed to be the tomb of a Munakata clan chief.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 2005.

What to see

• Japan's second largest stone chamber, 23 meters long.
• Numerous luxurious burial goods, now National Treasures.
• Excavated artifacts designated National Treasures in 1952.

When to go

• Stone chamber is open only during three annual festivals.

Read more about Miyajidake Kofun

Explore an ancient, scallop-shaped burial mound with a Kannon hall.

What it is

• An ancient scallop-shaped keyhole tumulus.
• Dates from the middle Kofun period.
• Total length was once 60 meters.
• A hall with an eleven-faced Kannon stands on it.

What to see

• The rear circular part is 49 meters in diameter.
• The rear circular part is 8 meters high.
• Fukiishi stones are placed on the slopes.
• A shield-shaped moat surrounds the tumulus.
• Including the moat, total length is 105 meters.

Getting there

• 200 meters northeast of Sazareishi Shrine.

Read more about Tsukiyama Kofun (Itoshima)

Explore northern Kyushu's largest ancient burial mound, featuring unique stone figures and a distinctive shape.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped tumulus in Yame City, Fukuoka Prefecture.
• Part of the Yame Kofun Group, a National Historic Site.
• Largest tumulus in northern Kyushu.
• Constructed in the first half of the 6th century.

What to see

• A tumulus over 170 meters in total length.
• Posterior circular part is about 60 meters in diameter.
• Anterior square part is about 92 meters wide.
• A square section called 'Bekku' on the northeast corner.
• Over 100 unearthed stone figures and horses.

Read more about Iwatoyama Kofun

Explore a 5th-century keyhole-shaped tomb, a National Historic Site, with a unique sarcophagus and stone figure.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped tumulus.
• Part of the Yame Kofun Group.
• Designated National Historic Site.
• Constructed in the early to mid-5th century.

What to see

• Tumulus is approximately 107 meters long.
• Horizontal stone chamber in the posterior circular part.
• House-shaped sarcophagus inside the stone chamber.
• Sarcophagus lid with patterns and red coloring.
• Stone figure enshrined in front of the stone chamber.
• Stone figure is a National Important Cultural Property.

Official site

www.town.hirokawa.fukuoka.jp

Read more about Sekijinsan Kofun

Explore the ruins of an ancient government school, a designated National Historic Site.

What it is

• Site of an official training institution.
• Corresponds to central universities and local schools.
• First mentioned in 781.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 1970.

What to see

• Four pillar-supported buildings in the central part.
• Seven pillar-supported buildings on the eastern side.
• Oldest buildings are from the late Nara period.
• North-south ditch existed from Heian to Muromachi periods.
• Earthen wall-like structure from the early Heian period.

Read more about Dazaifu Gakkōin Site

Explore a large 6th-century keyhole-shaped burial mound with a unique red-painted stone chamber.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped tumulus in Yame City, Fukuoka Prefecture.
• Part of the Yame Kofun Group.
• Constructed around the middle of the 6th century.

What to see

• The 104-meter long burial mound.
• Front part is 59 meters wide and 6.6 meters high.
• Rear circular part is 46 meters in diameter and 7.5 meters high.
• Two or three tiers on the burial mound.
• Stone chamber opening in the rear circular part.
• Stone chamber walls made of large amphibole andesite.

Read more about Tsurumiyama Kofun

Explore a large, square-shaped ancient burial mound from the late 6th century.

What it is

• A square-shaped kofun, an ancient burial mound.
• Constructed around the late 6th century.
• Designated a National Historic Site since 1970.

What to see

• The kofun measures 37 by 39 meters.
• A surrounding moat is 6.5 to 9.95 meters wide.
• The entire kofun with moat measures 53.5 by 52 meters.
• A double-sleeved horizontal stone chamber.
• The stone chamber is approximately 17.5 meters long.
• Large granite stones were used for the chamber.

Read more about Tachibanazuka Kofun

Explore an ancient archaeological site with moats and burial remains, offering a glimpse into early Japanese history.

What it is

• A complex archaeological site discovered in 1973.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 1975.
• Located on an alluvial fan at the base of Mt. Kana.
• Between the estimated locations of Ito and Na states.

What to see

• A large oval moat and a small square moat.
• Remains of 94 pit dwellings.
• Three jar burials and ten box-type stone coffins.
• Excavated Chinese mirrors, iron swords, and glass beads.
• Nokata Central Park, opened in 1991.

Read more about Nokata Site

Explore a large Yayoi-period settlement, a National Historic Site, revealing an ancient kingdom's history.

What it is

• A Yayoi period settlement, designated a National Historic Site.
• Considered the center of the ancient Ito Kingdom.
• Excavations began in 1974.

What to see

• The site measures 1500 meters north-south and 750 meters east-west.
• Covers an area of approximately 60 hectares.
• Mikumo Minami-Koji area contains the king's tomb.
• Banjo area yielded artifacts from continental interactions.
• Over 250 iron tools and weapons have been excavated.

Read more about Mikumo–Iwara Site

Explore ancient burial mounds on a beach, revealing insights into seafaring people.

What it is

• A collection of 254 stone burial mounds.
• Dates from the 4th to 7th centuries.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 2001.
• Considered a burial ground for seafaring people.

What to see

• 254 stone tumuli spread over a 100-meter beach.
• Excavated relics, ironware, and human bones.
• Artifacts include Sue ware and Haji ware.
• Artifacts include cut glass beads and gilt bronze earrings.
• Artifacts include iron swords and arrowheads.

Read more about Ainoshima Stone Tumuli

Explore a 4th-century keyhole-shaped tomb, a significant remnant of an ancient powerful clan.

What it is

• An ancient tomb in Itoshima City, Fukuoka Prefecture.
• A keyhole-shaped tumulus built around the early 4th century.
• Believed to be for a powerful clan.
• Located in a main region of Ito-koku.

What to see

• The tumulus is 78.5 meters long.
• The rear circular part is 42 meters in diameter.
• The rear circular part is about 8 meters high.
• A shield-shaped moat surrounds the tumulus.
• Total length including the moat is 99 meters.

Read more about Hayama Kofun

Explore a 6th-century keyhole-shaped tomb with rare colorful wall decorations.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped burial mound, a kofun.
• Part of the Yame Kofun Group.
• Designated as a National Historic Site.
• Constructed around the mid-6th century.

What to see

• The tumulus is approximately 70 meters long.
• Rear circular part is about 30 meters in diameter.
• Front rectangular part is about 35 meters wide.
• Multi-chambered horizontal stone burial chamber.
• Stone chamber walls have red, yellow, and blue decorations.

Read more about Noriba Kofun

Explore a large archaeological park with reconstructed ancient buildings and artifacts.

What it is

• A complex archaeological site in Asakura City.
• Dates from the middle Yayoi to early Kofun periods.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 1994.
• Opened as a park in 2001.

What to see

• Reconstructed buildings from ancient times.
• Ancient vegetation in the park.
• Remains of 300 pit dwellings and 100 pillar buildings.
• Inner moats that surrounded a central settlement.
• Unearthed bronze products and wooden artifacts.

Read more about Hiratsuka Kawazoe Site