20 Historic sites in Gunma worth your time

Explore a 6th-century circular burial mound with unique construction and artifacts.

What it is

• A circular kofun, or burial mound, from the late 6th century.
• Part of the Shiraishi Kofun Group in Fujioka City.
• Designated as a Gunma Prefecture historic site.

What to see

• A 31-meter diameter mound, 6 meters high, built in four tiers.
• Mound surface covered with fukiishi stones and haniwa figures.
• Double-chambered horizontal stone burial chamber.
• Stone chamber entrance opens to the southeast.
• Artifacts include a gilded bronze sword pommel and horse trappings.

Getting there

• Located within Kenokuni Shiraishi Hills Park.

Read more about Ōjizuka Kofun

Explore ancient burial mounds from the 5th-6th centuries, a significant National Historic Site.

What it is

• A National Historic Site in Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture.
• A cluster of three large keyhole-shaped burial mounds.
• Constructed from the late 5th century to early 6th century.

What to see

• Three large keyhole-shaped tumuli: Futagoyama, Hachimanzuka, Yakushizuka.
• Futagoyama Kofun is the largest, 108 meters long.
• Hachimanzuka Kofun is 102 meters long.
• Yakushizuka Kofun is estimated to be 105 meters long.
• A boat-shaped stone coffin is preserved at Yakushizuka Kofun.
• Excavated artifacts are displayed at Kamitsuke-no-Sato Museum.

Read more about Hodota Kofun Cluster

Explore ancient burial mounds with unique stone chambers from the late Kofun period.

What it is

• A group of ancient burial mounds (kofun).
• Dates from the late Kofun period, 6th to late 7th century.
• Designated a Gunma Prefecture Historic Site in 2023.
• Over 100 tumuli once existed, now only 9 remain.

What to see

• Nine remaining tumuli on a southern hillside.
• Five tumuli (A, B, C, D, E) have open stone chambers.
• All five tumuli have horizontal stone chambers for burial.
• Tumuli A and E have red working lines on their walls.
• Stone chamber interiors are restricted to visitors.

Read more about Minamishimo Kofun Group

Explore a unique 7th-century square burial mound with a rare house-shaped sarcophagus.

What it is

• A square-shaped kofun, an ancient burial mound.
• Part of the larger Sōja Kofun group.
• Designated a National Historic Site.
• Dates to the mid-7th century.

What to see

• A mound 66 meters on each side, 12 meters high.
• Three distinct construction stages of the mound.
• A wide moat, 18 meters across, surrounding the mound.
• A double-chambered horizontal stone burial chamber.
• A rare house-shaped sarcophagus inside the chamber.
• The Akimoto clan cemetery on top of the mound.

Read more about Hōtōzan Kofun

Jaketsuzan Kofun is a unique ancient tomb with a snake carving, offering a glimpse into Japan's past.

What it is

• A square-shaped kofun, an ancient burial mound.
• Part of the Sōja Kofun Group.
• Designated a National Historic Site since 1974.
• Named for a snake carving in its stone chamber.

What to see

• The mound measures 44 meters per side and 5 meters high.
• A double-sleeved horizontal stone burial chamber.
• Stone chamber constructed with cut and fitted stones.
• The stone chamber opens to the south-southwest.

When to go

• Constructed in the late 7th century.

Read more about Jaketsuzan Kofun

Explore a large, ancient keyhole-shaped tomb with a massive stone chamber and excavated artifacts.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped tumulus, a National Historic Site.
• Built as a burial mound in ancient Japan.
• Contains a large horizontal stone chamber.

What to see

• The 105-meter long keyhole-shaped tumulus.
• Posterior circular part: 70 meters diameter, 12 meters high.
• Anterior square part: 105 meters wide, 14 meters high.
• Horizontal stone chamber is 15.8 meters long.
• Largest stone in chamber weighs about 50 tons.
• Excavated artifacts are Important Cultural Properties.

Read more about Kannonzuka Kofun

Explore a large 6th-century burial mound with a unique design and significant artifacts.

What it is

• A Kofun (ancient burial mound) in Watanuki, Takasaki City.
• Part of the Watanuki Kofun group.
• Designated as a National Historic Site.
• Built in the late 6th century.

What to see

• A 97-meter long burial mound.
• Posterior circular part: 61 meters diameter, 9.6 meters high.
• Anterior square part: 64 meters wide, 9.4 meters high.
• A double horseshoe-shaped moat.
• A double-sleeved horizontal stone burial chamber.
• Largest stone chamber in Gunma Prefecture.

Read more about Watanuki Kannon-yama Kofun

Explore a large ancient burial mound with unique shape and historical artifacts.

What it is

• An ancient burial mound, or kofun, in Takasaki City.
• Designated a Takasaki City historic site in 1973.
• Dates back to the Kofun period.

What to see

• A zempō-kōhō-fun shaped tumulus, 91-96 meters long.
• Rear part is 45 meters wide and 8.5 meters high.
• Front part is 32 meters wide and 5 meters high.
• A surrounding moat follows the tumulus shape.
• Fukiishi, river stones, cover the mound.
• Excavated artifacts include mirrors, bracelets, and swords.

Read more about Motoshima Shōgunzuka Kofun

Explore a unique scallop-shaped burial mound from the 5th century, revealing ancient Japanese history.

What it is

• A scallop-shaped kofun, an ancient burial mound.
• Dates to the mid-5th century Kofun period.
• Designated historic site of Isesaki City.

What to see

• A kofun with a total length of 62.4 meters.
• Posterior circular part has a diameter of 50.2 meters.
• Anterior rectangular part has a length of 18 meters.
• Two charcoal burial chambers are present.
• Excavated artifacts include a mirror, sword, and iron axe.
• Eight house-shaped Haniwa were excavated.

Read more about Akabori Chausuyama Kofun

Explore a 7th-century square burial mound, a designated historic site in Gunma Prefecture.

What it is

• A tumulus in Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture.
• A square-shaped kofun, built around the late 7th century.
• Designated a Gunma Prefecture historic site.

What to see

• A kofun measuring approximately 37 meters per side.
• The mound surface has fukiishi (river stones).
• A moat surrounds the mound.
• A double-sleeved horizontal stone burial chamber.
• The stone chamber is 7.67 meters long.
• The stone chamber opens to the south-southeast.

Read more about Nakatsuka Kofun (Kiryu)

See rare Kofun-era remains, including a person in armor, preserved by a volcanic eruption.

What it is

• An archaeological site with remains from Jomon to Kofun periods.
• Excavations began in 2012.
• It is one of the Kanai archaeological sites.

What to see

• A Kofun period person wearing armor, buried by pyroclastic flow.
• A female skeleton with a necklace and infant bones.
• Ritual remains and pit dwellings.
• Two round burial mounds from the mid-to-late 5th century.
• Artifacts designated as national Important Cultural Properties.

Read more about Kanai Higashiura site

Nishiyama Kofun is a keyhole-shaped burial mound, a designated historic site in Gunma.

What it is

• A tumulus in Ota City, Gunma Prefecture.
• Part of the Yabuzuka Kofun Group.
• A Gunma Prefecture designated historic site.

What to see

• A keyhole-shaped tumulus, 34 meters long.
• Rear circular part is 18 meters in diameter, 4 meters high.
• Front rectangular part is 20 meters wide, 2 meters high.
• A sleeveless horizontal stone burial chamber.
• Stone chamber opens to the south.
• Stone chamber built with local tuff stone.

Read more about Nishiyama Kofun

Explore a large 6th-century keyhole-shaped burial mound with unique features in Gunma Prefecture.

What it is

• A kofun, an ancient burial mound.
• Part of the Soja Kofun Group.
• Designated a Maebashi City Historic Site.
• Built around the early 6th century.

What to see

• A keyhole-shaped mound.
• Fukiishi (river stones) on the mound's exterior.
• Cylindrical and figural haniwa (clay figures) found.
• A 24-meter wide moat surrounds the mound.
• A two-sleeved horizontal stone burial chamber.
• The stone chamber is 16.45 meters long.

Read more about Oyama Kofun

Explore Eastern Japan's largest keyhole-shaped kofun, a 5th-century burial mound, just a short walk from Ota Station.

What it is

• A kofun, or ancient burial mound, in Gunma Prefecture.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 1941.
• The largest kofun in Eastern Japan.
• Built in the 5th century.

What to see

• A keyhole-shaped mound, 364 meters long.
• The only kofun over 200 meters in Eastern Japan.
• Two smaller accompanying burial mounds.
• Located on a plateau in Ota City.

Getting there

• 15 minutes walk from Ota Station.

Read more about Ōta Tenjin-yama Kofun

Explore a large Jomon shell mound with ancient tools and pottery, revealing early Japanese life.

What it is

• Jomon period settlement site.
• Designated a Tochigi City historic site.
• Excavated by Tochigi Prefecture and Meiji University.

What to see

• Horseshoe-shaped shell mound, 100m north-south, 70m east-west.
• Contains freshwater clams and marine shells.
• Early Sekiyama pottery was found.
• Deer and wild boar bones were discovered.
• Bone tools like needles and harpoons were found.
• Shell bracelets were also found.

Read more about Shinoyama Shell Mound

Explore a large 6th-century keyhole-shaped burial mound with an impressive stone chamber.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped burial mound.
• Designated a Gunma Prefecture Historic Site.
• Estimated to be built in the late 6th century.

What to see

• A 101-meter-long tumulus, largest in the Kabura River basin.
• The mound has two tiers.
• A 16-meter-long horizontal stone chamber.
• Second largest stone chamber in Gunma Prefecture.

When to go

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

Read more about Sasamori Kofun

Explore Tomiyama Kofun, a 5th-century keyhole-shaped tumulus and National Historic Site.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped tumulus, part of the Soja Kofun Group.
• Designated as a National Historic Site.
• Dates to the latter half of the 5th century.
• Oldest kofun in the Soja Kofun Group.

What to see

• The tumulus has a total length of 106 meters.
• Rear circular part has a diameter of 52.5 meters.
• Front rectangular part has a width of 58.0 meters.
• Haniwa artifacts are at Maebashi City Soja History Museum.

Read more about Tomiyama Kofun

Yaze Site is a National Historic Site showcasing a large Jomon period village.

What it is

• A Jomon period archaeological site.
• Designated as a National Historic Site.
• Located on a river terrace along the Tone River.

What to see

• 22 pit dwellings.
• Communal work area with stone arrangements and waterways.
• Nearly 110 stone circle graves.
• Ritual site with large wooden pillars.
• Artifacts displayed at Minakami Town Tsukuyono Museum.
• Developed as Roadside Station Tsukuyono Yaze Park.

Read more about Yaze Site

Explore ancient pit dwellings and artifacts from Japan's Jomon to Kofun periods.

What it is

• A complex archaeological site discovered in 1951.
• Designated a Gunma Prefecture Historic Site.
• Features remains from Jomon to Kofun periods.

What to see

• Seventeen pit dwellings from the late Kofun period.
• One pit dwelling from the early Jomon period.
• One pit dwelling from the late Yayoi period.
• Four pit dwellings from the early Kofun period.
• Many earthenware and stone tools discovered.

Read more about Irino Site

Explore a keyhole-shaped burial mound from ancient Japan, revealing artifacts and a unique stone chamber.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped burial mound, or kofun.
• Designated a historic site by Takasaki City.
• Constructed from the late 6th to early 7th century.

What to see

• The tumulus, estimated over 70 meters long.
• Fragments of cylindrical and figural Haniwa.
• A shield-shaped moat surrounding the tumulus.
• A double-sleeved horizontal stone burial chamber.
• Excavated human teeth, weapons, and horse fittings.

Read more about Urushiyama Kofun