6 Historic sites in Wakayama worth your time

Ancient sutra mounds on a ridge, revealing centuries of mountain worship practices.

What it is

• A sutra mound site, part of a National Historic Site.
• Part of the Kii Mountain Range World Heritage Site.
• First reported in 1990, excavated in 2001-2002.
• Suggests repeated construction of sutra mounds.

What to see

• 39 sutra mounds found during excavations.
• Artifacts include bronze mirrors and sutra containers.
• Ceramic fragments from the 12th to 14th centuries.
• A bronze Yakushi Nyorai statue from the Heian period.
• Views overlooking the former Kumano Hongu Taisha shrine site.

Read more about Sonaezaki Sutra Mounds

Explore a vast ancient burial ground with hundreds of diverse kofun tombs.

What it is

• A kofun group from the late Kofun period.
• Designated as a National Special Historic Site.
• Related to the Kii no Kuninomiyatsuko clan.
• Construction around the latter half of the 6th century.

What to see

• Approximately 600 kofun burial mounds.
• Keyhole-shaped, circular, and square kofun.
• Circular kofun are the most numerous.
• Early burial facilities with clay and stone coffins.
• Later burial facilities with stone chambers.
• Stone chambers made from local chlorite schist.

Official site

www.kiifudoki.wakayama-c.ed.jp

Read more about Iwase Senzuka Kofun Group

Explore Japan's first Kinki shell mound, offering a glimpse into Jomon-era life.

What it is

• A National Historic Site designated on July 31, 1931.
• Dates from the Early to Late Jomon period.
• Discovered in 1895 by Ryuzo Torii and Nobuo Naora.
• First shell mound found in the Kinki region.

What to see

• Excavated pottery, arrowheads, and stone tools.
• Shell layers with oysters, ark shells, clams, and turban shells.
• Fish bones of black sea bream and red sea bream.

Getting there

• About 1 kilometer northeast of Hinokuma Jingu Station.

Read more about Narugami Shell Mound

Explore a 6th-century keyhole-shaped burial mound with unique Haniwa figures.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped burial mound in Wakayama Prefecture.
• Part of the Iwaise Senzuka Kofun Group.
• Dates to the mid-6th century.
• Excavation surveys were conducted in 1969.

What to see

• Mound built on a two-tiered platform.
• Mound is approximately 70 meters long.
• Cylindrical Haniwa are arranged in rows.
• Figurative Haniwa excavated from protrusions.
• Male standing Haniwa is a cultural property.
• Wakayama City Museum exhibits the male standing Haniwa.

Read more about Inbe Hachiman-yama Kofun

Explore an ancient Kofun-period rock shelter tomb with unique burial chambers and artifacts.

What it is

• A collective tomb within a rock shelter.
• A stone chamber tomb from the Kofun period.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 1979.
• Excavations began in March 1970.

What to see

• A sea cave beneath a hill cliff.
• Cave is 23 meters wide and 5 meters deep.
• Thirteen human skeletons were found.
• Eight stone burial chambers.
• First chamber contained male and infant remains.
• Grave goods included deer antler ornaments and iron swords.

Read more about Isoma Rock Shelter Site

Explore Honshu's southernmost keyhole-shaped tumulus, a National Historic Site from the 4th-5th century.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped tumulus, a burial mound.
• Designated a National Historic Site.
• Construction estimated from late 4th to early 5th century.
• Southernmost keyhole-shaped tumulus on Honshu island.

What to see

• The keyhole-shaped tumulus itself.
• River stones (fukiishi) on its surface.
• A moat about 5 meters wide surrounding it.
• A vertical pit stone chamber, 5.35 meters long.
• Excavated artifacts are Tangible Cultural Properties.

Read more about Shimosato Kofun