20 Historic sites in Shimane worth your time

Explore ancient burial mounds and artifacts, including a unique inscribed sword, at this historic site.

What it is

• A group of ancient burial mounds (kofun) on a low hill.
• Part of the larger Yu-Okusa Kofun group.
• Designated as a National Historic Site.
• Artifacts are National Important Cultural Properties.

What to see

• Kofun 1: a 24 or 47-meter keyhole-shaped tomb.
• Kofun 2: a 44-meter diameter circular tomb.
• Seven confirmed structures, including stone coffins.
• A sword with a silver inlay inscription.

When to go

• Kofun 2 dates to the late 4th to 5th century.
• Kofun 1 dates to the late 6th century.

Read more about Okadayama Kofun

Explore a well-preserved ancient burial mound with a unique stone coffin, a National Historic Site.

What it is

• A designated National Historic Site in Izumo City.
• An ancient burial mound from the late Kofun period.
• Dates to the late 6th to early 7th century.
• Designated a National Historic Site on November 26, 1931.

What to see

• A kofun built on a natural levee of the Kobe River.
• A single-sleeved horizontal stone chamber.
• The stone chamber opens to the south.
• Cut tuff used for the stone chamber's construction.
• A house-shaped stone coffin inside the chamber.
• The stone chamber is at least 7 meters long.

Read more about Takarazuka Kofun

Explore ancient burial mounds from various periods at this significant historic site.

What it is

• A designated National Historic Site in Izumo City.
• Contains tumuli from the Yayoi to Nara periods.
• Discovered in 1953, preserving ancient burial practices.
• A historic park, Izumo Yayoi no Mori, opened in 2004.

What to see

• 32 identified tumuli and horizontal cave tombs.
• Six square-shaped tumuli with four protruding corners.
• The 3rd tumulus, 40 meters east-west and 30 meters north-south.
• The 9th tumulus, the largest square-shaped tumulus.
• Izumo Yayoi no Mori Museum, opened in 2010.

Read more about Nishidani Tumulus Cluster

Kōjindani Site: a National Historic Site with ancient bronze artifacts, offering a glimpse into Japan's past.

What it is

• An archaeological site in Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 1987.
• Excavation began in 1983 due to road construction.

What to see

• Unearthed 358 bronze swords, 6 bronze bells, and 16 bronze spears.
• Bronze swords were found arranged in four rows.
• Bronze bells were found arranged in two rows.
• Bronze spears were found with alternating tips.
• Kōjindani Museum opened at the site in 2005.
• Artifacts are displayed at Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo.

Official site

www.kojindani.jp

Read more about Kōjindani Site

Largest keyhole-shaped tumulus in Izumo, a National Historic Site with a massive stone coffin.

What it is

• A tumulus in Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture.
• Designated as a National Historic Site.
• Estimated construction around the late 6th century.
• Largest keyhole-shaped tumulus in the Izumo region.

What to see

• A keyhole-shaped tumulus, about 92 meters long.
• A double-chambered stone burial chamber.
• One of Japan's largest stone coffins in the main chamber.
• Excavated artifacts are cultural properties.

Getting there

• 7-minute walk from Izumo-shi Station.

Read more about Imaichi Dainenji Kofun

Explore a rare, unlooted 7th-century burial mound with fascinating ancient artifacts.

What it is

• A late Kofun period circular burial mound.
• Constructed from the late 6th century to early 7th century.
• Designated a National Historic Site on March 27, 2013.
• Known to exist by 1925.

What to see

• A circular burial mound, 30 meters in diameter.
• An unlooted horizontal stone chamber, over 9.3 meters long.
• The stone chamber opens to the southwest.
• Excavated bronze mirror, personal ornaments, swords.
• Iron arrowheads, horse fittings, and Sue ware pottery.

Read more about Kunidomi-Nakamura Kofun

Explore a 5th-century square tomb mound with unique haniwa, including Japan's oldest sumo wrestler figure.

What it is

• A kofun, an ancient burial mound, in Matsue City.
• Dates from the latter half of the 5th century.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 1979.

What to see

• A square-shaped tomb mound, 40 meters per side.
• Two stages with fukiishi (revetment stones).
• Cylindrical haniwa excavated from between the fukiishi.
• Figurative haniwa fragments: human, horse, implement.
• Japan's oldest sumo wrestler haniwa was found here.
• Overlooks the Ohashi River from a hill.

Read more about Ishiya Kofun

Ancient 6th-century burial mound, a National Historic Site with unique shape and artifacts.

What it is

• A square-shaped tumulus, part of the Yamashiro-Oba Kofun Group.
• Designated as a National Historic Site.
• Built by cutting off a tongue-shaped plateau.
• Construction estimated early to mid-6th century.

What to see

• Rhombic mound, 41m east-west, 43m north-south, 9m high.
• Mound has two tiers.
• Protrusions on the west and south sides.
• Surrounding moat recognized on the west side.
• Excavated cylindrical Haniwa fragments and Sue ware.

Read more about Ōbaniwatorizuka Tumulus

Explore Shimane's largest keyhole-shaped burial mound, a significant 5th-century tomb.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped burial mound, or kofun.
• Discovered in 1939, confirmed as kofun in 2022.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 1941.
• Believed to be the tomb of the Kushiro clan chief.

What to see

• The largest tumulus in Shimane Prefecture.
• Total length of the tumulus is 100 meters.
• Posterior circular part has a diameter of 54-57 meters.
• The tumulus stands 7 meters high.
• Small companion mounds existed on both sides.

Read more about Sukumozuka Kofun

Explore an ancient burial mound with unique Izumo-style stone chambers and rare human haniwa.

What it is

• A tumulus in Matsue City, part of the Yu-Okusa Kofun Group.
• Designated a Shimane Prefecture historic site in 1970.
• Estimated to have been built in the late 6th century.

What to see

• A round or square mound, approximately 20 meters in size.
• An Izumo-style stone coffin type stone chamber, opening southwest.
• Cylindrical and figural haniwa unearthed from the mound.
• Rare human haniwa, discovered during the Meiji period.

Read more about Iwayaato Kofun

Explore this ancient circular burial mound with unique stone coffins, a designated National Historic Site.

What it is

• A tumulus in Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture.
• Part of the Tsukiyama Kofun group.
• Designated a National Historic Site.
• Built in the late 6th century.

What to see

• A circular kofun, 46 meters in diameter.
• A surrounding moat, 16 meters wide.
• A large cut-stone horizontal-passage stone chamber.
• Two house-shaped stone coffins inside the chamber.
• Excavated artifacts are Important Cultural Properties.

Read more about Kamienya Tsukiyama Kofun

Explore the largest ancient burial mound in the Oki Islands, a keyhole-shaped tumulus from the 6th century.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped tumulus, an ancient burial mound.
• Largest kofun in the Oki Islands.
• Construction estimated around the late 6th century.
• Designated a Shimane Prefecture historic site in 1969.

What to see

• A tumulus approximately 46 meters in total length.
• The mound is constructed in two stages.
• River stones and haniwa fragments on the surface.
• A horizontal stone burial chamber, 8 meters long.

Read more about Hei-jinja Kofun

Explore a large 6th-century keyhole-shaped burial mound, a National Historic Site with unique haniwa.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped kofun, an ancient burial mound.
• Part of the Yamashiro-Oba Kofun group.
• Designated as a National Historic Site.
• Estimated to be from the mid to late 6th century.

What to see

• The keyhole-shaped mound built on a rise.
• A rectangular moat and outer bank surround the mound.
• Total length including the outer bank is about 150 meters.
• Unearthed cylindrical and figurative Haniwa.

Read more about Yamashiro Futagozuka Kofun

Explore ancient burial mounds from the Yayoi and Kofun periods, a designated National Historic Site.

What it is

• A cluster of ancient burial mounds.
• Dates from the late Yayoi to early Kofun periods.
• Designated a National Historic Site.
• Renamed Arashima Kofun Cluster in 1999.

What to see

• Zozan Kofun Group 1-4.
• Oonari Kofun, a large 60-meter square tumulus.
• Shiotsuyama Tomb Group 1-11.
• Tombs with protruding corners in Shiotsuyama Group.
• Triangular-rimmed divine beast mirrors from Oonari Kofun.

Read more about Arashima Kofun Cluster

See where 39 ancient bronze bells were found, the most at any site in Japan.

What it is

• Yayoi period archaeological site.
• Discovered on October 14, 1996.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 1999.

What to see

• Site where 39 bronze bells were unearthed.
• Largest number of bronze bells found at one site.
• Some bells depict faces, dragonflies, deer, wild boars.
• Some bells were found nested inside larger ones.
• Some bells have an 'X' mark, like those from Kojindani Site.

Read more about Kamo-Iwakura Site

Tangean Kofun is a rare square-shaped burial mound from the 5th century.

What it is

• A square-shaped kofun, an ancient burial mound.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 1933.
• Dates to the late 5th century, middle Kofun period.

What to see

• Mound measures 45 by 49 meters.
• Mound has a two-tiered structure.
• Fukiishi and cylindrical Haniwa on the mound surface.
• Sarcophagus made of tuffaceous sandstone.
• Sarcophagus lid stone has sawtooth patterns.

Read more about Tangean Kofun

Explore a 7th-century chief's tomb, a unique square burial mound with a surrounding moat.

What it is

• An ancient burial mound, Yamashiro hōfun.
• Part of the Yamashiro-Ōba Kofun Group.
• Designated a National Historic Site since 1941.
• Estimated to be an early 7th-century chief's tomb.

What to see

• A square-shaped mound, 45 by 43 meters.
• The mound has a two-tiered construction.
• A surrounding moat, 5.7 to 7.1 meters wide.
• An Izumo-style stone coffin burial chamber.

Read more about Yamashiro hōfun

Explore a 7th-century kofun, a National Historic Site, showcasing ancient burial architecture.

What it is

• A kofun, an ancient burial mound.
• Designated a National Historic Site.
• Built around the early 7th century.
• Representative late-period kofun in the Izumo Plain.

What to see

• Horizontal stone chamber, a double-chamber structure.
• Chamber uses cut tuff and sandstone.
• Main chamber contains a house-shaped stone coffin.
• Main chamber also contains a sarcophagus.

Read more about Kamienya Jizōyama Kofun

Explore a 6th-century burial mound, a National Historic Site with unique burial facilities and artifacts.

What it is

• A circular burial mound, a tumulus.
• Designated as a National Historic Site.
• Discovered in 1949.
• Construction estimated to be in the mid-6th century.

What to see

• A 15-meter diameter, 2-meter high mound.
• Two burial facilities: a house-shaped stone coffin.
• A pit-style stone chamber.
• Excavated artifacts at Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo.

Read more about Ageshima Kofun

This historic silver mine, a UNESCO site, supplied much of the world's silver.

What it is

• Most productive silver mine in Japanese history.
• Supplied majority of Japan's silver from 1526 to late 1800s.
• Produced one-third of world's silver in early 1600s.
• Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.

What to see

• Mine, mining settlements, and infrastructure.
• Well-preserved district, largely unaltered since 1920s closure.

Read more about Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine