10 Historic sites in Yamanashi worth your time

Explore Yamanashi's largest ancient keyhole-shaped burial mound, a National Historic Site from the 4th century.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped tumulus, the largest in Yamanashi Prefecture.
• Designated as a National Historic Site.
• Construction estimated in the late 4th century.
• One of Eastern Japan's largest from the early Kofun period.

What to see

• A tumulus 169 meters long.
• Rear circular part has a 92-meter diameter.
• Rear part stands 15 meters high.
• Excavated vertical stone chamber.
• Artifacts include mirrors, magatama, and iron weapons.
• Haniwa and S-shaped jars were also found.

Official site

www.sonekyuryo.jp

Read more about Kai Chōshizuka Kofun

Ryūzuka Kofun is a 5th-century burial mound with unique construction, offering a glimpse into ancient Japan.

What it is

• A kofun (burial mound) in Fuefuki City, Yamanashi Prefecture.
• Designated as a Yamanashi Prefecture historic site.
• Believed to have been built in the first half of the 5th century.

What to see

• A large burial mound, 52m on each side.
• Mound height varies from 12m on the north to 6m on the south.
• A 4.5m wide depression suggests a surrounding moat.
• The flat top of the mound measures 21m on each side.
• Excavated Haji ware pottery from the mid-5th century.

Read more about Ryūzuka Kofun

Monomizuka Kofun is a keyhole-shaped tomb mound offering a glimpse into ancient Japanese burial practices.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped tomb mound.
• Dates to the late 4th to early 5th century.
• Designated a Yamanashi Prefectural Historic Site in 1988.

What to see

• Mound is approximately 46 meters long.
• Front part is 16 meters long and 14 meters wide.
• Rear circular part has a 30-meter diameter.
• Rear circular part is 4.2 meters high.
• Fukiishi (revetment stones) found on the mound surface.
• Grave goods included iron swords, beads, and bronze mirrors.

Read more about Monomizuka Kofun

Explore Kinsei ruins, a National Historic Site with Jomon and medieval remains.

What it is

• A complex archaeological site.
• Designated as a National Historic Site in 1983.
• Contains Jomon period settlement and ritual sites.
• Includes medieval castle and settlement remains.

What to see

• Site on a ridge at 760-80 meters elevation.
• Remains of 38 buildings and 5 stone arrangements.
• Over 200 clay figurines and ritual artifacts.
• Animal remains including bears, boars, deer, and serows.
• A pit with 138 burnt wild boar jawbones.

Read more about Kinsei ruins

Explore Ōmaruyama Kofun, an ancient keyhole-shaped tomb, for a glimpse into early Japanese history.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped burial mound, or kofun.
• One of the oldest kofun in Yamanashi Prefecture.
• Part of the Higashiyama Kofun group.
• Discovered in 1920 by local residents.

What to see

• A keyhole-shaped tumulus, 99 meters long.
• Rear circular part is 49 meters in diameter.
• The main axis runs east-west, front facing west.
• Burial chamber contained two human remains.
• Artifacts included bronze mirrors, tools, and weapons.

Read more about Ōmaruyama Kofun

Ubazuka Kofun is a large ancient burial mound with Yamanashi's biggest stone chamber, built around the 6th century.

What it is

• A large circular burial mound, a kofun.
• Constructed around the end of the 6th century.
• Designated a Yamanashi Prefectural Historic Site in 1965.

What to see

• A circular tumulus 40 meters in diameter, 10 meters high.
• A single-sleeved horizontal stone burial chamber.
• The stone chamber is 17.54 meters long.
• It is the largest stone chamber in Yamanashi Prefecture.
• The stone chamber is built with natural stones.

Read more about Ubazuka Kofun

Explore a large Jomon-era circular village, offering a glimpse into ancient Japanese life.

What it is

• A Jomon period circular village site.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 2014.
• Excavated between 2004 and 2007.

What to see

• Circular village with 100-meter outer diameter.
• 147 pit dwellings and 400 earth pits confirmed.
• A 1-meter-wide road structure detected.
• Road connected the village and the river bank.
• Stone-paved building remains on the river bank.

Read more about Umenoki ruins

Explore a large 4th-century keyhole-shaped burial mound, a designated historic site in Yamanashi.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped burial mound.
• Constructed in the late 4th century.
• A Yamanashi Prefecture designated historic site.
• Located within Yatsushiro Furusato Park.

What to see

• The 92-meter total length of the kofun.
• The 48-meter diameter rear circular part.
• The 41-meter width of the front square part.
• Haniwa fragments have been confirmed here.

Read more about Oka Choshizuka Kofun

Kyōzuka Kofun is a rare octagonal burial mound, a significant historical site from the 7th century.

What it is

• A burial mound from the early 7th century.
• Designated historical site by Yamanashi Prefecture.
• Confirmed as an octagonal kofun in 1994.
• One of only nine octagonal kofun in Japan.

What to see

• The octagonal shape of the kofun.
• A horizontal stone chamber.
• Located on a fan-shaped delta at 348 meters elevation.

Read more about Kyōzuka Kofun

Tenguyama offers a scenic hike to a historic burial mound with city views.

What it is

• A 493-meter mountain in Kofu City.
• One of Kofu's famous mountains.
• Considered a sacred body of Haguro Omiya Shrine.

What to see

• Summit views of the Kofu Basin.
• Otengusan Kofun, a large stone mound tumulus.
• Shrines, monuments, and stone pillars on the kofun.

Read more about Mount Tengu