20 Historic sites in Osaka worth your time

Explore an ancient archaeological site with a museum displaying rare bronze casting molds.

What it is

• A complex archaeological site discovered in 1973.
• Includes Yayoi period moated settlements.
• Also contains Kofun period and medieval remains.
• Excavated casting molds are Important Cultural Properties.

What to see

• A museum displaying artifacts 300 meters east of the station.
• Remains of large buildings and pit dwellings.
• A large burial area outside the settlement.
• 35 bronze bell molds from workshop remains.
• Bronze spear and magatama molds.

Getting there

• Discovered during construction near Minami-Ibaraki Station.

Read more about Higashi Nara

Hakayama Kofun is a large, keyhole-shaped burial mound with subsidiary tombs, indicating a powerful occupant.

What it is

• Keyhole-shaped burial mound, the Hakayama Kofun.
• Fifth largest burial mound in the Furuichi area.
• Built in the first half of the fifth century.
• Believed to contain a sarcophagus in a stone-covered shaft.

What to see

• Keyhole-shaped mound, 21 meters high, 4.3 hectares.
• Five rectangular subsidiary tombs surround the main mound.
• Haniwa pottery decorated the flat terraces.
• Oldest example of a human-shaped shield haniwa.
• Stone from Takasago in Hyogo prefecture used for chamber.
• Large caches of iron tools and weapons in subsidiary tombs.

Read more about Hakayama Kofun

Ancient burial mounds, a UNESCO site, offer a unique glimpse into Japan's past.

What it is

• A collection of 49 ancient burial mounds (kofun).
• Built between the late 4th and late 5th centuries.
• Designated a World Cultural Heritage site in 2019.
• Comprises the Mozu and Furuichi Kofun Groups.

What to see

• View the ancient kofun burial mounds.
• Visit the Mozu Kofun Group Visitor Center.
• Explore exhibits at the Sakai City Museum.
• Take a hot air balloon ride for aerial views (from Oct 2025).

When to go

• Visitor Center opened in March 2021.
• Hot air balloon rides start October 4, 2025.

Official site

www.mozu-furuichi.jp

Read more about Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group: Mounded Tombs of Ancient Japan

Explore a large 5th-century circular burial mound, part of a significant kofun group.

What it is

• A circular burial mound, also called Takawashi Maruyama Kofun.
• Part of the Furuichi Kofun Group in Habikino City, Osaka.
• Designated as Emperor Yuryaku's mausoleum by the Imperial Household Agency.
• Estimated to have been built in the late 5th century.

What to see

• A circular tumulus, 75 meters in diameter and 8 meters high.
• The largest circular tumulus in the Furuichi Kofun Group.
• A mound constructed in two stages.
• Maruyama Pond, a moat surrounding the mound.
• Haniwa, Sue ware, and Haji ware have been detected.

Read more about Shimaizumi Maruyama Kofun

Explore a massive ancient keyhole-shaped tomb, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped tumulus in Fujidera City, Osaka Prefecture.
• Designated by Imperial Household Agency as Empress Nakatsuhime's tomb.
• Part of the Furuichi Kofun Group.
• Estimated construction from late 4th to early 5th century.

What to see

• A 290-meter long keyhole-shaped mound.
• The second largest in the Furuichi Kofun Group.
• The ninth largest kofun in Japan.
• Mound has three construction stages.
• Fukiishi (stone coverings) and haniwa (clay figures) confirmed.
• Surrounding embankment is a national historic site.

Read more about Nakatsuyama Kofun

Explore a massive, ancient keyhole-shaped burial mound, part of a World Heritage site.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped burial mound, 16th largest in Japan.
• Part of the Furuichi Kofun Group, a World Cultural Heritage site.
• Designated as Emperor Chuai's mausoleum by the Imperial Household Agency.
• Likely constructed around the late 5th century.

What to see

• The mound is 245 meters long.
• Posterior circular part: 150 meters diameter, 20 meters high.
• Anterior rectangular part: 180 meters wide, 16.6 meters high.
• A wide, 50-meter moat surrounds the mound.
• A 20-meter wide bank with haniwa rows is outside the moat.

Read more about Hachizuka Kofun

Visit this keyhole-shaped tumulus, a National Historic Site, to see an ancient imperial tomb reference.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped tumulus.
• Part of the Mozu Kofun Group tumuli.
• Its inner moat is a National Historic Site.
• Designated an imperial tomb reference site.

What to see

• A tumulus approximately 203 meters long.
• The fourth largest in the Mozu Kofun Group.
• Mound built in three tiers.
• Evidence of a double moat.
• Mandaiyama Kofun, the only subsidiary mound.
• Rear circular part has a 113-meter diameter.

Getting there

• 5-minute walk from Mozu Station.
• Mozu Station is on the JR Hanwa Line.

Read more about Gobyōyama Kofun

Explore a large Yayoi Period settlement, a hub for ancient trade and home to unique archaeological finds.

What it is

• A moated settlement site from the Yayoi Period.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 1976.
• Excavations started in 1969 due to road construction.
• It was a distribution hub for stone knives.

What to see

• A large pit-dwelling building with ridge-supporting pillars.
• Over 1,300 stone knives and 1,300 stone arrowheads.
• A long-necked jar with a dragon design.
• A large dug-out well from a 700-year-old camphor tree.
• Twenty square-ditched tombs.
• A large raised-floor building built around 52 BC.

Read more about Ikegami-Sone Site

Explore a reconstructed 5th-century warehouse complex, a National Historic Site within the Osaka Museum of History.

What it is

• A Kofun period ruin in Osaka City.
• Designated as a National Historic Site.
• A large warehouse complex from the Kofun period.
• Discovered in 1987 during excavations.

What to see

• Sixteen large raised-floor warehouses were found.
• Warehouses are arranged in two groups, east and west.
• One warehouse has been reconstructed.
• Site is within the Osaka Museum of History grounds.

When to go

• Construction estimated in the early 5th century.
• Abandoned in the late 5th century.

Read more about Hōenzaka Site

Explore a large, ancient keyhole-shaped tomb, part of a significant kofun group.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped tumulus, built in the early 6th century.
• Designated as Emperor Ninken's tomb by the Imperial Household Agency.
• Part of the Furuichi Kofun Group.

What to see

• A 122-meter long keyhole-shaped tumulus.
• The front part is 107 meters wide and 13 meters high.
• The rear circular part is 65 meters in diameter and 11.5 meters high.
• A constriction on the southeast side of the tumulus.
• A moat surrounds the tumulus.
• Haniwa rows and two Haniwa kilns were discovered here.

Official site

www.kunaicho.go.jp

Read more about Bokeyama Kofun

See Japan's third-largest ancient burial mound, a World Heritage site.

What it is

• Keyhole-shaped tumulus in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture.
• Designated as Emperor Richu's mausoleum.
• Part of the Mozu Kofun Group World Heritage site.
• Believed to have been built in the early 5th century.

What to see

• Japan's third largest tumulus, 365 meters long.
• Posterior circular part: 205 meters diameter, 27.6 meters high.
• Anterior rectangular part: 235 meters wide, 25.3 meters high.

Getting there

• 6-minute walk from JR Hanwa Line Uenoshiba Station.

Official site

www.kunaicho.go.jp

Read more about Kamiishizu Misanzai Kofun

Explore a 5th-century scallop-shaped burial mound, a national historic site, now a public green space.

What it is

• A kofun, or ancient burial mound.
• Part of the Mozu-kofungun tumuli group.
• Designated as a national historic site.
• Built in the late 5th century.

What to see

• A scallop-shell-shaped tumulus with a short front.
• The front part faces west.
• Total length of 84.8 meters.
• Posterior circular part is 67.6 meters in diameter.
• Posterior circular part is 8 meters high.
• Excavated cylindrical Haniwa rows.

Getting there

• 500 meters walk from Nakamozu Station.

Read more about Gobyo-Omotezuka kofun

This ancient burial mound offers a park setting with flowers and unique, large bird haniwa figures.

What it is

• Oldest kofun (burial mound) in the Furuichi area.
• Built in the latter half of the fourth century.
• Maintained by the town of Fujiidera as a public park.

What to see

• Mound originally surrounded by two moats with decorative islands.
• Replica of the sarcophagus outside Mahora Shiroyama museum.
• Cherry blossoms, Japanese iris, and other flowers.
• Path encircles the mound.

When to go

• Spring for cherry blossoms.
• When Japanese iris are in bloom.

Read more about Tsudō-Shiroyama Kofun

Explore a unique 7th-century twin-mound burial site, a designated National Historic Site.

What it is

• An ancient burial mound (kofun) in Taishi Town, Osaka Prefecture.
• Part of the Shinaga Valley Kofun Group.
• Designated as a National Historic Site since 1956.
• Dates to the late Kofun period, around the 7th century.

What to see

• A unique twin-mound shape, approximately 66 meters long.
• Two square mounds, each about 25 meters per side.
• A three-tiered construction.
• Two horizontal stone chambers for burial.
• Each stone chamber contains a house-shaped stone coffin.

Read more about Futagozuka Kofun

Explore a large 7th-century kofun, an ancient tomb offering insights into Japan's past.

What it is

• A square-shaped kofun (ancient burial mound) in Habikino City.
• Designated as the tomb of Prince Kume by the Imperial Household Agency.
• Part of the significant Furuichi Kofun Group.
• Estimated to have been built around the early 7th century.

What to see

• Mound measures 53-54 meters per side and 10 meters high.
• Observe the three construction stages of the mound.
• View the large moat and outer embankment.
• See the double-sleeved horizontal stone burial chamber.

Read more about Tsukaana Kofun

Explore an ancient imperial tomb, part of a UNESCO site, offering a glimpse into Japan's past.

What it is

• An ancient burial mound in Habikino City, Osaka Prefecture.
• Designated by the Imperial Household Agency as Emperor Ankan's mausoleum.
• Also believed to be the tomb of Princess Kanzaki.
• Constructed in the early 6th century.

What to see

• A kofun with a total length of 122 meters.
• Front part is 100 meters wide and 12.5 meters high.
• Rear circular part has a 78-meter diameter and is 13 meters high.
• The surrounding embankment is a national historic site.

Official site

www.kunaicho.go.jp

Read more about Takaya Tsukiyama Kofun

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

What it is

• A designated National Historic Site.
• A cluster of ancient burial mounds.
• Built from the 6th to 7th century.
• Opened to the public in 1986.

What to see

• 23 groups and 262 tumuli.
• Most tumuli are circular, 10 to 20 meters in diameter.
• Most burial facilities are horizontal stone chambers.
• WA1 tumulus contained a house-shaped stone coffin.
• Excavated artifacts include Sue ware and Haji ware.
• Some artifacts are displayed at Chikatsu Asuka Museum.

Read more about Ichisuka Kofun Cluster

Kannonzuka Kofun is an ancient circular burial mound with a unique stone chamber, a National Historic Site.

What it is

• A circular tumulus in Habikino City, Osaka Prefecture.
• Designated a National Historic Site since 1981.
• Dates from the late Kofun period, built in the Asuka period.

What to see

• A circular burial mound, 13 meters in diameter.
• Horizontal-entrance stone chamber built with cut stones.
• Stone chamber has a main chamber, antechamber, and passage.

Getting there

• 600 meters north of Kintetsu Minami Osaka Line Kaminotaishi Station.

Read more about Kannonzuka Kofun

Explore a unique kofun burial site, possibly of Fujiwara no Kamatari, with rare preserved remains.

What it is

• A kofun burial site, a National Historic Site.
• Discovered underground in 1934.
• Lacks the typical burial mound of kofun.
• The buried person may be Fujiwara no Kamatari.

What to see

• A circular burial area, 82 meters in diameter.
• A shallow ditch forms the burial area.
• A lacquered cloth coffin was found.
• Mummified remains of a man around 60 years old.
• Remains wore brocade with gold threads.
• A crown of the highest rank, Taishokkan, was found.

Read more about Abuyama Kofun

Goryōyama Kofun is a circular burial mound with a unique vermilion-coated stone chamber.

What it is

• A circular kofun, an ancient burial mound.
• Part of the Shinaga Valley Kofun Group.
• Designated an Osaka Prefecture historic site.
• Built in the late 7th to early 8th century.

What to see

• A kofun with a 30-meter diameter.
• A kofun standing 3 meters high.
• A horizontal-entry stone burial chamber.
• Stone chamber interior coated with vermilion plaster.
• A coffin stand with carved grid patterns.
• Fragments of a coffin and coffin stand fittings.

Read more about Goryōyama Kofun