20 Historic sites in Saitama worth your time

Japan's largest circular burial mound, offering history and cherry blossoms, worth an hour.

What it is

• A circular tumulus in Gyoda City, Saitama Prefecture.
• Part of the Saitama Kofun Group, a Special National Historic Site.
• Largest circular tumulus in Japan, built in the 6th century.
• Ishida Mitsunari camped here in 1590 for a water attack.

What to see

• A tumulus with a diameter of 105.0 meters.
• A tumulus with a height of 17.2 meters.
• Excavated haniwa, including cylindrical and human figures.
• The site of Ishida Mitsunari's camp and embankment.

When to go

• Visit in spring for cherry blossoms around the tumulus.

Read more about Maruhakayama Kofun

Explore a large 7th-century burial mound with an exposed stone chamber.

What it is

• A circular burial mound in Gyoda City, Saitama Prefecture.
• Part of the Wakakodama Kofun group.
• Designated as a Saitama Prefecture historic site.
• Constructed around the mid-7th century.

What to see

• A tumulus 80 meters in diameter and 9.5 meters high.
• An exposed horizontal stone burial chamber.
• Stone chamber is 16.7 meters long.
• Chamber has an antechamber, front, middle, and back sections.
• Inner chamber height is 3.1 meters.
• Fragments of a dry lacquer coffin were excavated.

Read more about Hachiman-yama Kofun

Explore a 6th-century keyhole-shaped burial mound, part of a National Special Historic Site.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped burial mound (kofun).
• Part of the Saitama Kofun Group.
• Designated a National Special Historic Site.
• Constructed in the middle of the 6th century.

What to see

• The 66.4-meter-long burial mound.
• Posterior circular part: 38.4 meters diameter, 5.6 meters high.
• Anterior square part: 43.2 meters wide, 6.0 meters high.
• A rectangular double moat.
• Cylindrical, horse-shaped, equestrian, shield-shaped Haniwa.
• Rare decorated Sue ware (child-holding jar).

Read more about Okunoyama Kofun

Explore a 5th-century keyhole-shaped tumulus, a National Historic Site with excavated National Treasures.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped tumulus, built in the late 5th century.
• Part of the Saitama Kofun Group.
• Designated a Special National Historic Site.

What to see

• The second largest keyhole-shaped tumulus in Saitama Prefecture.
• Tumulus is 120.0 meters long.
• Posterior circular part has a 62.6 meter diameter.
• Anterior rectangular part is 82.4 meters wide.
• A double moat surrounds the kofun.
• Excavated artifacts are National Treasures, including a gold-inlaid iron sword.

Read more about Inariyama Kofun

Explore a large Jomon-era shell mound, a designated National Historic Site, revealing ancient life.

What it is

• A horseshoe-shaped shell mound.
• Dates to the late Jomon period.
• Designated a National Historic Site.
• Also a Saitama Prefecture Selected Important Archaeological Site.

What to see

• The shell mound measures 180m east-west.
• The shell mound measures 120m north-south.
• Mainly consists of Yamato Shijimi clams.
• Horinouchi to Kasori B type pottery has been excavated.
• Four pit dwellings were found in 1961.
• Three Jomon human remains were found in 2016.

Read more about Shinmei Shell Mound

Ancient tombs, wartime tunnels, and glowing moss offer a unique historical and natural experience.

What it is

• A group of horizontal tombs from the late Kofun period.
• Designated a National Historic Site on March 7, 1923.
• Excavated by Shogoro Tsuboi in 1887.

What to see

• 219 existing horizontal tombs.
• Underground military tunnels from World War II.
• Natural habitat for glowing moss.
• Tunnels are 4 meters wide and 2.2 meters high.

Getting there

• Take a bus from Higashimatsuyama Station.
• Take a bus from Konosu Station West Exit.

Official site

www.town.yoshimi.saitama.jp

Read more about Yoshimi Hundred Caves

Explore a large, ancient keyhole-shaped burial mound, a significant historical site in Saitama.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped tumulus, or burial mound.
• Part of the Kayama Kofun Group.
• Designated a historic site by Saitama Prefecture.
• Built between the 6th and 7th centuries.

What to see

• The tumulus is 107 meters long.
• Front part is 62 meters wide and 9 meters high.
• Rear circular part is 55 meters in diameter and 10 meters high.
• Largest tumulus in its group.
• Sixth largest in Saitama Prefecture.
• A Yakushido hall stands on the saddle part.

Read more about Tennoyamazuka Kofun

Explore a Kofun-period settlement site and its artifacts, offering a glimpse into ancient life.

What it is

• Archaeological site in Koshigaya City, Saitama Prefecture.
• Settlement from the late Kofun period (late 6th century).
• Designated historic site of Koshigaya City.

What to see

• Pit-dwelling remains from 1966-1967 excavations.
• Haji ware, Sue ware, stone tools, and wooden artifacts.
• Ornaments, daily necessities, and plant remains.
• Artifacts displayed at Former Higashikata Village Nakamura Family Residence.
• Some areas preserved as a park.

Read more about Mitakata Site

Explore a 6th-century circular burial mound with a unique stone chamber and a shrine on top.

What it is

• A circular kofun, an ancient burial mound.
• Part of the Shimokarako Kofun Group.
• Constructed around the latter half of the 6th century.
• Designated a Saitama Prefecture historic site in 1964.

What to see

• A circular mound 34 meters in diameter, 4.5 meters high.
• A Hachiman Shrine located at the top of the mound.
• A double-sleeved horizontal stone chamber.
• Stone chamber has antechamber and passage.
• Stone chamber opens to the southeast.

Read more about Wakamiya-Hachiman Kofun

Explore a 6000-year-old Jomon shell mound and reconstructed dwellings, a National Historic Site.

What it is

• A shell mound and ring settlement site.
• Dates from the early Jomon period, 5500-6000 years ago.
• Designated as a National Historic Site since 1969.
• Discovered on October 25, 1894.

What to see

• Five restored pit dwellings.
• A 582-meter-long promenade.
• Exhibition hall for archaeological materials.
• Mizuko-style pottery from excavations.

Getting there

• 15-minute walk from Mizuhodai Station.

Official site

www.city.fujimi.saitama.jp

Read more about Mizuko Shell Mound

Explore a large, ancient keyhole-shaped tomb with a rare triple moat.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped tumulus from the latter half of the 6th century.
• Part of the Saitama Kofun Group.
• Designated a National Special Historic Site.

What to see

• A tumulus 107.6 meters long.
• Total length including the moat is 163 meters.
• A rare triple moat surrounds the tumulus.
• A horizontal stone chamber in the posterior circular part.
• Unearthed cylindrical and morning glory-shaped haniwa.
• Unearthed Sue ware.

Read more about Teppōyama Kofun

Explore ancient burial mounds, including one with a gold-inlaid sword, at this National Special Historic Site.

What it is

• A cluster of nine large kofun burial mounds.
• Designated a National Special Historic Site.
• Dates from the late 5th century to the 7th century.
• Added to the Japan Heritage story in 2017.

What to see

• Eight keyhole-shaped kofun and one round kofun.
• Gold-inlaid iron sword found in Inariyama Kofun.
• Maruboyama Kofun, one of Japan's largest round kofun.
• Futagoyama Kofun, largest keyhole kofun in Musashi Province.

Read more about Sakitama Kofun Cluster

Japan's first copper discovery site, where the Wadō era and first currency originated.

What it is

• Site of Japan's first natural copper discovery in 708.
• Empress Genmei changed the era name to Wadō.
• Wadō Kaichin was Japan's first circulating currency.
• Designated a Saitama Prefecture Historic Site in 1961.

What to see

• An open-pit copper mine.
• A large monument of Wadō Kaichin.
• Kuroya Copper Smelter Site.

Getting there

• Nearest station is Wadō-Kuroya on the Chichibu Railway.

Official site

wadohosyoukai.com

Read more about Wadō Site

Explore Saitama's largest ancient burial mound, a keyhole-shaped kofun with unique haniwa.

What it is

• A kofun, an ancient burial mound.
• Part of the Saitama Kofun Group.
• Designated a Special National Historic Site.
• Constructed in the first half of the 6th century.

What to see

• Largest kofun in Saitama Prefecture.
• Keyhole-shaped tumulus.
• Mound is 132.2 meters long.
• Posterior circular part is 67 meters in diameter.
• Anterior square part is 83.2 meters wide.
• Square double moat, inner moat holds water.

Read more about Gyōda Futagoyama Kofun

Explore a 6th-century keyhole-shaped burial mound, part of a National Special Historic Site.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped burial mound, or kofun.
• Part of the Saitama Kofun Group.
• Designated a National Special Historic Site.
• Believed to be constructed in the mid-6th century.

What to see

• The mound is 54.7 meters long.
• Rear circular part is 26.4 meters in diameter.
• Front rectangular part is 31.4 meters wide.
• Excavated cylindrical and morning glory Haniwa.
• Excavated sword-shaped and male human Haniwa.

Read more about Atagoyama Kofun

Explore a large Jomon-era shell mound and peat layer, a National Historic Site.

What it is

• A settlement site from the late to final Jomon period.
• Consists of a shell mound and a peat layer.
• Designated as a National Historic Site.

What to see

• A shell mound approximately 150 meters in diameter.
• The designated historic site area is about 24,800 square meters.
• Excavated clay figurines are Important Cultural Properties.
• Numerous artifacts, including pottery and tools, were found.

Read more about Shinpukuji Shell Mound

Explore ancient burial mounds, including a keyhole-shaped tumulus, at this Saitama Prefecture historic site.

What it is

• A group of tumuli, ancient burial mounds.
• Designated a Saitama Prefecture Important Historic Site in 1976.
• Excavations occurred in 1962 and 1964.

What to see

• 23 tumuli located in a forest.
• A keyhole-shaped tumulus, 40 meters long.
• Horizontal stone chambers in the tumulus.
• Haniwa figures collected during construction.
• Magatama and earrings are tangible cultural properties.

Read more about Nohara Burial Mounds

Explore a large Jomon period settlement site and excavated artifacts near Higashi-Urawa Station.

What it is

• A Jomon period settlement site.
• Covers approximately 152,000 square meters.
• Settlement formed around 4,000 BC.
• Designated a historic site in 2005 and 2015.

What to see

• Excavated clay tablets.
• Excavated dogu figures.
• Excavated stone tools.
• Site was a coastal area in early Jomon period.

Getting there

• On a plateau near Higashi-Urawa Station.

Read more about Banbaomuroyama Archaeological Site

Explore the remnants of a 7th-century burial mound, once part of the Saitama Kofun Group.

What it is

• A 7th-century square burial mound, 40 meters per side.
• Part of the Saitama Kofun Group.
• Known as one of the Wataragi Three Great Tombs.
• Disappeared around 1918.

What to see

• Traces of a double moat remain.
• Moat partially overlapped with Nakanoyama Kofun.
• Believed to have had a medium-sized horizontal stone chamber.
• Tuffaceous sandstone was excavated from the site.

Read more about Tobaguchiyama Kofun

Explore a large 6th-century keyhole-shaped burial mound, part of a National Special Historic Site.

What it is

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

What to see

• A keyhole-shaped tumulus.
• Tumulus length is 73.4 meters.
• Rear circular part diameter is 36.2 meters.
• Front part width is 45.0 meters.
• A double trapezoidal moat.
• Excavated Sue ware ceramics and haniwa.

Read more about Kawarazuka Kofun