20 Historic sites in Kanagawa worth your time

Explore a preserved World War II Imperial Japanese Navy bunker, offering a glimpse into wartime history.

What it is

• Underground bunker built by the Imperial Japanese Navy.
• Constructed during World War II, starting in 1944.
• Served as an underground fortress for naval organizations.
• Part of the Hiyoshidai archaeological site group.

What to see

• Concrete tunnels excavated into a plateau.
• Former Combined Fleet Headquarters.
• Former Navy Ministry Personnel Bureau.
• Former Aviation Headquarters.

When to go

• Regular tours are conducted by a preservation society.

Getting there

• Located under Keio University Hiyoshi Campus.

Read more about Hiyoshidai Underground Bunker

Explore an archaeological site with unique cave tombs, revealing medieval Kamakura's religious life.

What it is

• Archaeological site in Kamakura City.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 2010.
• Part of the Japan Heritage 'Iza, Kamakura'.
• Valuable for understanding medieval religious practices.

What to see

• Flat area with evidence of 13th to 15th century buildings.
• Hillside with groups of yagura cave tombs.
• Distinct Jizo-yagura and Nichigetsu-yagura.
• Sixty-four yagura confirmed on the hillside.
• Yagura are horizontal cave tombs and Buddhist halls.
• Three large celadon bowls, over 20 cm, were excavated.

Read more about Ōmachi Shakadō Pass Site

See a life-size replica of an ancient burial mound and its excavated treasures.

What it is

• A replica of a 6th-century circular burial mound.
• The original was part of the Akada Kofun Group.
• It was destroyed due to urban development.

What to see

• A life-size replica of the 20m diameter tumulus.
• The replica shows the burial chamber's two rooms.
• It reproduces the state at the time of excavation.
• An information board provides details.
• Excavated weapons, beads, earrings, and Sue ware.

Getting there

• Near Eda Station on the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line.

Read more about Akada No. 2 Burial Mound

Explore ancient burial mounds, including Kawasaki's largest keyhole tomb, offering a glimpse into Japan's past.

What it is

• A cluster of ancient burial mounds, or kofun.
• Built from the late 4th to late 7th centuries.
• Located on a 30-meter-high plateau called Kaseyama.
• Part of the larger Hiyoshi-Kase Kofun Group.

What to see

• Seven kofun remain within Yumemigasaki Zoo.
• Kawasaki City's largest keyhole-shaped tomb mound.
• Kofun No. 3 has a double-chambered stone burial chamber.
• Kofun No. 4 is a circular kofun from the early 5th century.
• The Minamikase Shell Mound is also on Kaseyama.

Read more about Kasedai Kofun Cluster

Explore a 2nd-century Yayoi period village, a National Historic Site with excavated artifacts and a museum.

What it is

• A late Yayoi period settlement, around the 2nd century.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 2011.
• Developed as an urban historical park.
• Features a museum opened in 2016.

What to see

• An oval-shaped moat, 103 by 65 meters.
• Nine dwelling sites within the moat.
• Bronze arrowheads and spherical clay products.
• Excavated pottery from western Shizuoka and eastern Aichi.
• Artifacts designated Prefectural Important Cultural Property.

Read more about Kanzaki Site

Explore the excavated remains of a Kamakura period samurai residence, a national cultural property.

What it is

• Former residence of the Tokiwa clan, a national cultural property.
• Site of residences for Hojo Masamura and Hojo Yoshimasa.
• Built by Hojo clan members during the Kamakura period.
• Building remains confirmed by 1977 excavation.

What to see

• Excavated building remains of a samurai residence.
• Site utilized a valley topography.
• Observe the tiered structure of the former residences.
• A yagura is at the cliff line behind Tachindai.

Read more about Hōjō-shi Tokiwa-tei ato

Explore ancient burial mounds from the 6th and 7th centuries, offering a glimpse into early Japanese history.

What it is

• A group of ancient burial mounds, discovered in 1933.
• Designated a Kanagawa Prefectural Historic Site in 1957.
• Developed as Ichigao Historic Park in 1978.
• Dates from the late Kofun period, 6th to 7th centuries.

What to see

• Twelve tombs in Group A and seven tombs in Group B.
• Believed to be the tombs of influential farmers.
• Grave goods like Sue ware and Haji ware were found.
• A walking path is maintained within the park.

Read more about Ichigao Kofun Group

Explore the lost site of a 7th-century keyhole-shaped burial mound in Yokohama.

What it is

• A lost keyhole-shaped tumulus from the early 7th century.
• A registered historic site of Yokohama City.
• Built on a hill in eastern Kanagawa Prefecture.

What to see

• The site of a large burial mound, now lost.
• Traces of a 3-meter-wide surrounding moat.
• Two types of burial facilities were found.
• Excavated artifacts included earrings and crystal beads.
• Iron swords, knives, glass beads, and Sue ware were also found.

Read more about Karuizawa Kofun

Explore ancient tunnel tombs, including unique 'Kamakura-style' designs, within a peaceful citizen's forest.

What it is

• An ancient tunnel tomb site.
• One of 20 groups along the Itachi River.
• Contains 25 tunnel tombs in total.
• Excavated in 1958-1959.

What to see

• Two groups of tunnel tombs.
• Unique 'Kamakura-style' tunnel tombs with a small 'coffin room'.
• Tombs in western A group without a 'coffin room'.
• View tombs through fences along a path.

When to go

• Developed as a citizen's forest from 2013.

Read more about Miyanomae Tunnel Tomb Cluster

Explore a restored Yayoi-period moated settlement and burial ground, a designated National Historic Site.

What it is

• A middle Yayoi period archaeological site.
• Consists of a settlement and a burial ground.
• Discovered in 1972, designated National Historic Site in 1986.
• Part of the Kohoku New Town group of ruins.

What to see

• Restored Yayoi period moated settlement on a plateau.
• Seven restored pit dwellings.
• One restored raised-floor building.
• 250 meters of restored moated area.
• Five restored square-ditched tombs.

Official site

www.rekihaku.city.yokohama.jp

Read more about Ōtsuka-Saikachido Site

Explore a 14th-century quarry cliff, part of a historic pass, with a legend of Nichiren.

What it is

• An artificial cliff formation, 800 meters long.
• Part of the National Historic Site Nagoe Kiridoshi.
• A large-scale quarry from the 14th-15th centuries.
• Named from a legend about Nichiren and three white monkeys.

What to see

• The 5-10 meter high cliff formation.
• Nearby Nagoe Kiridoshi, one of Kamakura's Seven Entrances.
• Fassho-ji Temple to the south.
• A cave at Fassho-ji where Nichiren reportedly hid.

Read more about Osarubatake no Ōkirigishi

Explore a 5th-century keyhole-shaped tomb, remarkably preserved despite modern highway construction.

What it is

• A large keyhole-shaped tomb mound from the Kofun period.
• Likely constructed between the early to mid-5th century.
• Discovered in 1977 during highway construction.
• Its size ranks 3rd to 4th in Kanagawa Prefecture.

What to see

• The keyhole-shaped tomb mound, approximately 72 meters long.
• A tunnel of National Route 246 runs directly beneath it.
• The Funako Dōmon tunnel, designed to preserve the kofun.

Read more about Jitōyama Kofun

See an ancient burial mound from the 5th-6th century, with unique Haniwa figures.

What it is

• A circular burial mound, part of a larger kofun group.
• Dates to the late 5th to early 6th century.
• Designated a historic site by Kawasaki City and Kanagawa Prefecture.

What to see

• A circular mound, 35 meters in diameter, 5.5 meters high.
• Cylindrical and figural Haniwa were found on the surface.
• A dry moat, 6.0-7.5 meters wide, surrounds the mound.
• Preserved within Kajigaya No. 3 Children's Park.

Read more about Saifuku-ji Kofun

Explore ancient Kamakura-style cave tombs, a unique glimpse into Japan's Kofun and Nara periods.

What it is

• A cluster of cave tombs from the Kofun to early Nara periods.
• Part of the Konandai archaeological site group.
• Registered as a Yokohama City local historic site.
• Designated a local historic site on November 13, 2015.

What to see

• Tombs with a long trapezoidal floor and kamaboko-shaped ceiling.
• Small 'coffined chambers' dug into the back walls.
• See the unique 'Kamakura-style cave tomb' design.

Read more about Matsugasaki Cave Tomb Cluster

Explore an ancient iron-making site, the only one of its kind in Kanagawa Prefecture.

What it is

• An ancient iron-making site.
• Dates from the Asuka to Heian periods.
• Only remaining iron-making site in Kanagawa Prefecture.

What to see

• Eighteen iron-making furnaces were found.
• One copper-making furnace was discovered.
• One pit dwelling with a blacksmith's furnace.
• Five pit dwellings were identified.
• Excavated earthenware, Sue ware, tuyeres, and molds.
• Site is preserved underground.

Read more about Kamigo Fukada Site

Explore an ancient archaeological site with reconstructed dwellings and a museum.

What it is

• A large complex archaeological site.
• Designated a National Historic Site.
• Spans from the Jomon to Kofun periods.
• Preserves the site in its original location.

What to see

• Over 250 pit dwellings, mostly Yayoi period.
• Reconstructed ancient buildings.
• Protective facilities over excavations.
• Yokohama City Santonodai Archaeological Museum.
• Excavated artifacts displayed in the museum.

Official site

www.rekihaku.city.yokohama.jp

Read more about Santonodai Site

Explore a large Jomon period settlement and its unique pottery, a designated National Historic Site.

What it is

• A Jomon period ruin, a large settlement.
• Designated a National Historic Site.
• Katsusaka pottery is named after this site.
• Discovered by Kashiwa Oyama in 1926.

What to see

• Jomon period earthenware and stone axes.
• Sagamihara City designated cultural properties.
• Katsusaka Historic Site Park.

Getting there

• About 1.5 kilometers from Shimomizo Station.

Official site

www.city.sagamihara.kanagawa.jp

Read more about Katsusaka Site

Explore an early Yayoi period settlement with numerous pit dwellings and important artifacts.

What it is

• A Yayoi period settlement site.
• Considered an early Yayoi period settlement in Kanto.
• Part of the site was discovered in 1952.

What to see

• 102 pit dwellings and 73 pillar-supported buildings.
• Square-ditched tombs.
• Pottery from the eastern Seto Inland Sea.
• A moated settlement part.
• A pocket park with a monument.
• 141 artifacts designated important cultural properties.

Read more about Nakazato Archaeological Site

Explore ancient burial mounds and wartime shelters at this unique archaeological site.

What it is

• A group of multiple archaeological ruins.
• Includes settlements from Yayoi and Kofun periods.
• Also contains modern war ruins.
• Centered around Keio University Hiyoshi Campus.

What to see

• Settlement ruins from Yayoi and Kofun periods.
• Kofun clusters and horizontal cave tombs.
• Hiyoshidai underground shelter from World War II.
• Pit dwellings excavated from the Yayoi period.

Read more about Hiyoshidai Archaeological Sites

Explore a replica ancient tomb and learn about early Japanese burial practices.

What it is

• A group of ancient burial mounds and cave tombs.
• Built between the late 5th and mid-7th centuries.
• Original structures have disappeared over time.

What to see

• Life-size replica of Kofun #2 in Akada Nishi Park.
• Kofun #1, #2, and #3 had horizontal stone chambers.
• Kofun #4 had a pit burial, possibly a wooden coffin.
• Artifacts included iron swords, arrowheads, and beads.

Read more about Akada Burial Mounds