8 Historic sites in Tochigi worth your time
Japan Gems
8 Historic sites in Tochigi, with what to see and how to get there.
Tochigi has 8 historic sites on Japan Gems. Below are the 8 we can tell you the most about — each one written up in English from Japanese sources, with what to see and how to get there. See all historic sites in Tochigi.
01
Azuma Kofun
TOCHIGI · HISTORIC SITE 吾妻古墳
Largest keyhole-shaped tumulus in Tochigi Prefecture, a National Historic Site with ancient artifacts.
What it is
- A keyhole-shaped tumulus, part of the Shimotsuke Kofun Group.
- Designated a National Historic Site.
- Largest tumulus in Tochigi Prefecture.
- Construction estimated in the late 6th century.
What to see
- The tumulus measures 127.85 meters in length.
- Total length including moat is 162 meters.
- The burial chamber is a horizontal stone chamber.
- Stone chamber components are displayed at Mibu Town Castle Site Park.
- Excavated artifacts are displayed at Tochigi Future Creation Foundation Buried Cultural Properties Center.
02
Teranohigashi Site
TOCHIGI · HISTORIC SITE 寺野東遺跡
Explore a unique 165m Jomon-era circular embankment and other ancient remains at this National Historic Site.
What it is
- A complex archaeological site spanning multiple historical periods.
- Designated as a National Historic Site.
- Features significant remains from the Jomon period.
What to see
- A large donut-shaped circular embankment, 165m in diameter.
- The embankment stands up to 2m high in places.
- Four sections of the original embankment are still visible.
- Layers of red burnt soil and piled earth in the embankment.
- Remains of 14 square wooden water facilities.
- Wooden structures found at the bottom of a stream.
03
Shimoguri-Ōtsuka Kofun
TOCHIGI · HISTORIC SITE 下栗大塚古墳
Explore a 7th-century burial mound with a shrine, offering a glimpse into ancient Japanese history.
What it is
- A two-tiered circular tumulus, or burial mound.
- Built in the 7th century, late Kofun period.
- Designated a historic site by Utsunomiya City.
- Protected by a local preservation society.
What to see
- A tumulus 43.5 meters in diameter and 6.5 meters high.
- A flat surface 4-5 meters wide around the middle tier.
- The tumulus is covered with trees.
- Maruyama Inari Daimyojin shrine on the summit.
- Presumed horizontal stone chamber opening to the south.
04
Negoyadai Site
TOCHIGI · HISTORIC SITE 根古谷台遺跡
Explore a Jomon-era circular settlement with pit dwellings and ancient artifacts.
What it is
- A Jomon period circular settlement site.
- Designated a National Historic Site in 1988.
- Also known as Seizan Koen Site.
- Located in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture.
What to see
- Over 300 pit graves were found.
- Pit dwellings and pillar-supported buildings were found.
- Excavated stone earrings, tubular beads, and arrowheads.
- Artifacts designated Important Cultural Properties in 1990.
- The site is on the Sugata River's right bank terrace.
05
Tsukayama Kofun (Utsunomiya)
TOCHIGI · HISTORIC SITE 塚山古墳 (宇都宮市)
Explore a large, 5th-century keyhole-shaped burial mound, a designated historic site.
What it is
- A keyhole-shaped tumulus, or burial mound.
- Part of the Tsukayama Kofun Group.
- Designated as a Tochigi Prefectural Historic Site.
- Constructed around the mid-5th century.
What to see
- The largest tumulus in its group.
- Total length, including the moat, is 119.2 meters.
- Tumulus length is 98.3 meters.
- Posterior circular part has a diameter of 55.9 meters.
- Anterior square part has a width of 59.9 meters.
06
Kamikōnushi-Mobara Kanga ruins
TOCHIGI · HISTORIC SITE 上神主・茂原官衙遺跡
Explore the ruins of a 7th-century government complex, a nationally designated historic site.
What it is
- Nationally designated historic site.
- Ruins of a 7th-century government complex.
- Archaeological surveys began in 1995.
What to see
- Site spans 250 meters east-west and 390 meters north-south.
- Government office area with large pillar-supported buildings.
- Storehouse area with about 50 building remains.
- Ancient road trace in the southeast corner.
- Inscribed tiles, a national important cultural property.
07
Fujimoto Kannonyama Kofun
TOCHIGI · HISTORIC SITE 藤本観音山古墳
Explore Japan's 5th largest keyhole-shaped tomb, a significant 4th-century burial mound.
What it is
- A keyhole-shaped tomb mound.
- Constructed in the mid-4th century.
- Designated a national historic site in 2006.
What to see
- Total length, including the moat, is 210 meters.
- Rear part has three tiers, 11.8 meters high.
- Front part has two tiers, 5.4 meters high.
- It is the 5th largest keyhole tomb in Japan.
- It is the 3rd largest keyhole tomb in Eastern Japan.
08
Oshōzuka Burial Mound
TOCHIGI · HISTORIC SITE 和尚塚
Oshozuka is an ancient burial mound, significant for its historical ties to a temple founder.
What it is
- A burial mound in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture.
- Built to mourn Ryokun, founder of Shounji Temple.
- Constructed on January 30, 1724, for Ryokun's 200th memorial.
- Also known by the alias 'Shogun-zuka'.
What to see
- The base of the mound retains its original form.
- The mound is rectangular, 28 meters by 22 meters.