Fujinoki Kofun is a circular burial mound dating from the late Kofun period (approximately the 6th century), located in Ikaruga Town, Ikoma District, Nara Prefecture. Situated about 350 meters west of the Western Precinct of Horyu-ji Temple, it is designated as a National Historic Site of Japan. Its name comes from the local place-name Fujinoki, although historical documents associated with Horyu-ji indicate that it was once also known as “Misasaki” or “Misagiyama.”
Fujinoki Kofun stands approximately 350 meters west of Horyu-ji Temple’s Western Precinct. The surrounding area has been developed as a park, with information boards and walking paths that allow visitors to explore this important archaeological site.
About 200 meters south of the mound is the Ikaruga Cultural Property Center, where reproductions of major artifacts discovered at the tomb are displayed. The Nara Prefecture Kashihara Archaeological Institute has also recreated some of the excavated horse fittings using 3D printing, allowing visitors to handle replicas and gain a more direct appreciation of these ancient objects.
Archaeological excavations have revealed that Fujinoki Kofun originally measured approximately 50 meters in diameter and 9 meters in height. However, the mound has been reduced over time by alterations to the surrounding land, including nearby rice fields and buildings. Today, it stands about 7.6 meters high and measures up to approximately 40 meters across.
Before the discovery of this tomb, it was generally believed that the use of cylindrical haniwa pottery figures in the Yamato region had ended in the first half of the 6th century. However, cylindrical haniwa were found near the base of Fujinoki Kofun, prompting a reassessment of that theory. The discovery suggests that the use of haniwa may have continued for longer than previously thought.
Fujinoki Kofun contains a horizontal stone burial chamber that had remained unlooted until its excavation. Inside stands a house-shaped stone sarcophagus. The chamber is approximately 14 meters long, making it an impressive example of the elaborate burial architecture developed during the Kofun period.
The burial chamber measures approximately 6.0 meters long on its western side and 5.7 meters on its eastern side. It is about 2.4–2.7 meters wide and 4.2–4.4 meters high. Gravel covers the floor, beneath which a drainage channel was constructed. This drainage system demonstrates the careful planning and technical skill involved in the chamber’s design.
The sarcophagus was carved from white tuff quarried from Mount Nijo, a volcanic mountain in the Nara–Osaka area. Red pigment, identified as mercury-based vermilion, was applied to both its interior and exterior.
The sarcophagus measures approximately 235 centimeters long, 130 centimeters wide, and 97 centimeters high. Its lid is about 230 centimeters long and 130 centimeters wide, with a thickness of approximately 52–55 centimeters. Rope-handling projections were carved into the lid, and the carefully finished details reflect the high level of craftsmanship devoted to the burial.
The sarcophagus contained the remains of two adult men, buried together with an extraordinary collection of grave goods.
The tomb is believed to have held two adult men. The individual buried on the southern side wore ten glass jujube-shaped beads around his wrist, along with nine dark-blue glass beads on each foot. These ornaments, together with the other burial objects, suggest that the individuals belonged to a highly influential social class.
The grave goods included gilt-bronze horse fittings, personal ornaments, swords, and other weapons. Their exceptional quality indicates that the deceased possessed considerable wealth and political power, even if they did not hold the highest royal status.
Archaeologists, including Michio Maezono, a professor at Nara University of Arts, and Taichiro Shiraishi, a professor at Nara University, have suggested that the deceased may have been Prince Anahobe and Prince Takube, two figures recorded in the ancient chronicle Nihon Shoki (*Chronicles of Japan*).
According to the chronicle, the two princes were assassinated by Soga no Umako during a political upheaval in 587. The proposed identification is based partly on the fact that this historical period broadly corresponds to the estimated construction date of the tomb.
However, this theory remains disputed, and the identities of the buried individuals have not been conclusively established. Questions concerning their identification and sex have continued to attract scholarly discussion, making Fujinoki Kofun an important site for research into Japan’s early history.
Between 1985 and 2006, six archaeological investigations were carried out at Fujinoki Kofun by the Ikaruga Town Board of Education and the Nara Prefecture Kashihara Archaeological Institute.
The most significant moment came during the third excavation in 1988, when researchers opened the previously undisturbed stone sarcophagus. Inside, they discovered the remains of two individuals alongside numerous luxurious grave goods. The exceptional condition and richness of these finds attracted considerable attention and provided valuable evidence about elite burial practices during the Kofun period.
Fujinoki Kofun is protected as a National Historic Site, while its excavated artifacts have been designated as National Treasures of Japan. The finds are preserved and exhibited at the Nara Prefectural Kashihara Archaeological Institute Museum, where they are available for public viewing.
Fujinoki Kofun offers a remarkable glimpse into the power, craftsmanship, and burial customs of Japan’s late Kofun period. Its spacious stone chamber, finely worked sarcophagus, and luxurious grave goods provide important clues for understanding the political relationships and social hierarchy of ancient Yamato.
Although the identities of the two individuals buried here remain uncertain, the discoveries have made the tomb one of the most significant archaeological sites for studying early Japanese history. A visit offers an opportunity to explore not only an ancient burial mound, but also the enduring mysteries surrounding the people who lived and wielded power in Japan more than 1,400 years ago.