9 Historic sites in Kumamoto worth your time

Ōmura Cave Tombs are 26 burial chambers carved into a cliff, showing early regional history.

What it is

• Twenty-six burial chambers carved into a cliff.
• Dates from the late sixth century.
• Provides insight into early history of Hitoyoshi Kuma region.

What to see

• Narrow openings leading to dome-shaped interior chambers.
• Caves extend horizontally across 800 meters of cliffside.
• Openings decorated with carvings in relief.
• Designs include geometric patterns, horses, and weapons.
• Signage illustrates weathered motifs.

Getting there

• Located behind Hitoyoshi Station.

Read more about Ōmura Cave Tombs

Sakitsu Village is a World Heritage Site, preserving the history of hidden Christians in Japan.

What it is

• A hidden Christian village designated as an Important Cultural Landscape.
• Registered as a World Heritage Site on June 30, 2018.
• Part of the 'Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region and Amakusa'.
• Received the Good Design Award in 2022.

What to see

• Sakitsu Church, built in 1934 by Yoshisuke Tetsukawa.
• Church is Gothic style with a ribbed vault ceiling.
• Church interior features traditional tatami mats.
• Information center at Michi-no-eki Sakitsu.

Official site

www.city.amakusa.kumamoto.jp

Read more about Sakitsu Village

Explore Kamao Kofun, a 6th-century decorated burial mound with unique stone chamber art.

What it is

• A circular-shaped tumulus in Kumamoto City.
• Known for its decorated stone chamber ornamentation.
• Constructed around the late 6th century.
• Designated a national historic site in 1921.

What to see

• The original mound, 18 meters in diameter, 6 meters high.
• A surrounding ditch, 3-4 meters wide.
• Horizontal-hole stone chamber, double-chambered structure.
• Andesite stone chamber with decorative patterns.
• Double-legged ring patterns inside the chamber.

Read more about Kamao Kofun

Explore an ancient burial mound, a National Historic Site with unique artifacts.

What it is

• An ancient burial mound, oldest and largest in its group.
• Designated a National Historic Site.
• Constructed from the late 5th to early 6th century.

What to see

• A 62-meter long burial mound.
• A shield-shaped moat surrounding the mound.
• Stone figures of warriors in armor.
• A sword with a 75-character silver-inlaid inscription (replica).
• Many excavated artifacts are National Treasures.

Read more about Eta Funayama Kofun

Explore one of Japan's largest ancient burial mound clusters, with a unique expressway passing underneath.

What it is

• One of Japan's largest kofun (burial mound) clusters.
• Created between the 4th and 6th centuries.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 1976.
• Discovered during Kyushu Expressway construction.

What to see

• 77 restored burial mounds in Tsukawara Kofun Park.
• Kyushu Expressway passing directly under the mounds.
• Kumamoto City Tsukawara Historical Folk Museum.

Read more about Tsukawara Kofun Cluster

Chibusan Kofun is a 6th-century decorated tomb, a keyhole-shaped tumulus with unique wall paintings.

What it is

• A decorated tumulus, a National Historic Site.
• Built in the early 6th century.
• A keyhole-shaped tumulus.
• A key site of the Prefectural Fudoki-no-oka.

What to see

• Multiple horizontal stone chambers.
• Decorated inner walls and eaves of the stone chamber.
• Cylindrical and figural Haniwa were excavated.
• A Yakkodako-shaped stone figure stood at the border.

Read more about Chibusan Kofun

Explore one of western Japan's largest Jomon shell mounds, revealing ancient life and artifacts.

What it is

• A National Historic Site designated in 1980.
• Dates from the Middle to Late Jomon period.
• One of the largest Jomon shell mounds in western Japan.
• Discovered in 1916.

What to see

• Two main areas: Adaka and Kurobashi.
• Over 50 Jomon human skeletons were found.
• A human bone with two shell bracelets on the left arm.
• A mask made from a large oyster shell.

Read more about Adaka-Kurobashi Shell Mounds

Explore Tonkararin Tunnel, a unique historical tunnel structure in Kumamoto Prefecture.

What it is

• A tunnel-type historical structure in Nagomi Town.
• Designated as a Kumamoto Prefectural Historic Site.
• Named for the sound of a stone falling into a hole.
• Existence became widely known around 1974.

What to see

• Total length of the structure is 464.6 meters.
• Five connected tunnels of different structures and sizes.

Read more about Tonkararin Tunnel Structure

Explore a 6th-century burial mound with a unique stone chamber and ancient artifacts.

What it is

• A circular burial mound from the late Kofun period.
• Dates to the 6th or 7th century.
• Designated a National Historic Site since 1944.

What to see

• A horizontal stone chamber.
• The stone chamber has a multi-chamber structure.
• Chamber uses cut tuff from Aso.
• The stone chamber is 9 meters long.

Read more about Eta Anakannon Kofun