Koryo Town is located in the southeastern part of Kitakatsuragi District in Nara Prefecture, in the west-central part of the Nara Basin. Blessed with a favorable location, the town has developed over the centuries through a blend of agriculture, industry, and culture.
Ancient burial mounds, shrines, and parks are scattered throughout the area, creating a landscape where historical heritage blends naturally with modern life. Three features are especially important to Koryo’s identity: its association with The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, one of Japan’s oldest literary works; its nationally prominent sock-manufacturing industry; and the ancient heritage represented by the Umami Kofun Group.
The area has a long history dating back to ancient times. According to the historical gazetteer Wamyō Ruijushō, parts of what is now Koryo corresponded to Yamamori and Sankichi villages in Hirose District and Kawabe village in Toichi District, all formerly part of Yamato Province. During the 11th and 12th centuries, Kotō-no-Shō, an estate belonging to Todaiji Temple, extended across the northern part of the present-day town.
From around 1985, large-scale residential development transformed the hilly western part of the town. The Mami-gaoka and Misasa-gidai new towns were developed, attracting residents who wanted to live within commuting distance of Osaka. Located approximately 25 kilometers from central Osaka in a straight line, Koryo experienced significant population growth and at one point ranked among Japan’s fastest-growing municipalities.
The Japanese name Koryo combines the character kō from Hirose District with ryō, meaning a hill or elevated terrain. The name reflects the area’s historical identity and gently rolling landscape.
Koryo is considered one of the possible settings for The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, a celebrated work often described as the oldest surviving prose narrative in Japanese literature. The story’s bamboo cutter is traditionally associated with a historical clan leader known as Sanuki no Miyatsuko, whose base is believed to have been around present-day Miyoshi, near Sanuki Shrine.
Through local traditions and historical research, Koryo has become known as one of the places associated with Princess Kaguya, the heroine of the tale. Sanuki Shrine is a particularly evocative destination, where literary imagination and the history of ancient Japan seem to meet. Visitors interested in Japanese literature and folklore continue to come here to explore the story’s possible origins.
The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter is more than a fairy tale. Its themes have been interpreted as reflections on power, social values, and the limits of authority in ancient society. Princess Kaguya rejects the proposals of powerful suitors before ultimately returning to the Moon, an ending often understood as a symbol of purity that refuses to yield to worldly status.
Exploring the story alongside the traditions associated with the Katsuragi region gives Koryo a special place in both Japanese literary history and the study of ancient culture.
Koryo is renowned for its sock-making industry and is widely recognized as Japan’s leading municipality for domestic sock production. The industry’s roots can be traced to cotton cultivation and Yamato cotton textiles during the Edo period. In the Meiji period, Taijiro Yoshii introduced sock-knitting machines, helping establish sock production as a supplementary source of income for farming households.
After World War II, the industry expanded rapidly with the introduction of synthetic fibers. Today, Koryo-made socks are valued in Japan and overseas for their technical quality, comfort, and design. In addition to manufacturing products for other companies, local businesses have developed their own brands, including products designed to meet environmental and health-conscious needs.
Opened in 2020, the Koryo Sock Museum introduces visitors to the history and manufacturing process of socks. Exhibits include a digital timeline and virtual-reality footage that offer an insight into the world of local manufacturing.
The museum also sells original products made by businesses in the town, making it a useful stop for visitors interested in Japanese craftsmanship and locally designed goods.
Agriculture remains another important part of Koryo’s local identity, particularly the cultivation of strawberries and eggplants. One of the most celebrated products is Kotoka, a branded strawberry developed in Nara Prefecture. Known for its rich aroma and an appealing balance of sweetness and acidity, it is highly prized by strawberry enthusiasts. Its limited availability has earned it the nickname “phantom strawberry,” and it is also popular as a regional gift through Japan’s hometown tax donation program.
Eggplant cultivation has continued since the Showa period. One local specialty is salad eggplant, known for its tender skin and suitability for eating raw.
Koryo’s plastics industry began developing in the 1950s and has since become another major local industry. Manufacturers produce a range of goods, including food containers and medical equipment. The town is also particularly well known for poi, the small paper-covered scoops used in Japanese goldfish-catching games. Koryo accounts for a leading share of the nationwide production of these items.
The Umami Kofun Group extends across the western part of Koryo and the surrounding Umami Hills. It contains large burial mounds constructed mainly during the fourth and fifth centuries, providing evidence of the powerful leaders who shaped the region in ancient times.
Among these monuments, Suyama Kofun is designated a Special Historic Site of Japan. Measuring approximately 220 meters in length, this impressive keyhole-shaped burial mound is believed to have been the tomb of a ruler from the early part of the middle Kofun period.
Other important tombs include Makino Kofun, Niiyama Kofun, Shingiyama Kofun, and Miyoshi Ishizuka Kofun. Their different forms and construction styles offer clues to changing political structures and burial customs over time.
The Umami Kofun Group is one of the most significant archaeological areas in the region. Spanning the western part of Koryo and neighboring Kawai Town and Kashiba City, the group includes burial mounds built mainly during the fourth and fifth centuries. Its scale and density make it an important source of information about the political power and social organization of ancient Japan.
The group is generally divided into northern, central, and southern clusters. The central cluster lies within Koryo Town and forms a core part of this ancient landscape. Today, sections of the area have been developed as historic parks, where visitors can walk among green hills while learning about the Kofun period.
Suyama Kofun is one of the largest keyhole-shaped burial mounds in the Umami Kofun Group and is designated a Special Historic Site of Japan. Its mound extends approximately 220 meters, and researchers believe it was constructed as the tomb of a powerful ruler during the early middle Kofun period.
Oriented toward the north, the mound is surrounded by a broad moat, giving the impression that it rises from the water. It was built in three tiers, with stone coverings on its slopes. A projecting platform known as a tsukuridashi was constructed near the junction of the circular and rectangular sections, probably serving as a space for ritual activities.
Excavations of a peninsula-like structure near the mound have uncovered a variety of haniwa clay figures, including representations of waterbirds, houses, shields, and fences. These finds provide valuable evidence of the funerary ceremonies and spiritual culture of the period.
Makino Kofun is a large circular burial mound constructed in the late Kofun period. It contains a horizontal stone burial chamber, and excavations have yielded numerous grave goods, including horse equipment, weapons, and Sue ware pottery. Some researchers have suggested that it may be the tomb of Prince Oshisaka-no-Hikohito-no-Ōe, the father of Emperor Jomei, although this identification remains a possibility rather than a certainty.
Miyoshi Ishizuka Kofun is a scallop-shell-shaped burial mound whose reconstructed form closely follows its original appearance. Rows of cylindrical and house-shaped haniwa recreate something of the landscape that would have surrounded the tomb in ancient times, making it especially interesting for visitors who want to visualize the Kofun period.
The Koryo Town Cultural Properties Preservation Center preserves and exhibits artifacts excavated from local burial mounds, including Suyama Kofun. The collection includes haniwa figures, stone objects, and Sue ware pottery.
Particularly noteworthy are the waterbird-shaped haniwa and an exhibit representing a semi-structured boat associated with funerary practices. These unusual objects help visitors understand the rituals and beliefs surrounding death and burial in ancient Japan.
The displays are designed to make archaeological discoveries accessible to visitors of different ages. Combining a visit to the center with a walk around the nearby burial mounds offers a deeper understanding of Koryo’s ancient heritage.
Umami Hills Prefectural Park occupies a central area of the Umami Kofun landscape and is a popular destination for enjoying seasonal flowers and the outdoors. Visitors can stroll through the park while viewing ancient burial mounds and experiencing the natural scenery of the rolling hills.
The park combines outdoor recreation with opportunities to learn about local history, attracting visitors from across Nara Prefecture and beyond.
Named in reference to The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, Chikurin Park is a spacious recreational park suitable for visitors of all ages. Facilities include large playground equipment, open lawns, an area recreating ancient dwellings, a small children’s sledding slope, and an RV park.
On weekends and holidays, the park is a popular destination for families looking to spend time outdoors.
In autumn, communities throughout Koryo hold danjiri festivals featuring traditional festival floats. These events are enjoyed by local residents and visitors alike. The Kasasa Danjiri Festival is particularly well known. In 2012, a danjiri from Kasasa was returned to Yashima Shrine after undergoing its first major restoration in a century, bringing renewed excitement to the local celebration.
In the past, communities throughout the town held tondo ceremonies, traditional bonfire events associated with the New Year season. However, concerns about smoke as residential development increased led to the events being discontinued from 2018 onward.
Koryo lies just north of Yamatotakada City. The Takada, Katsuragi, and Soga rivers flow through or alongside the town, supporting its agricultural landscape.
The eastern part of Koryo is relatively flat, with broad stretches of farmland, while the western part rises into rolling hills. This contrast gives the town a varied landscape, where open rural scenery and green uplands can be enjoyed within a compact area.
Mami-gaoka New Town is a modern residential district with wide roads, many of which have two to four lanes. Its planned layout creates a distinctive urban environment compared with many other parts of Nara Prefecture. Patches of bamboo grove and farmland remain nearby, preserving a sense of the traditional countryside.
The Umami area serves as a local commercial and community center, with agricultural cooperative facilities, banks, and shops. Some former sock-factory sites have been repurposed for restaurants and other businesses, giving new life to the town’s industrial heritage.
The central and southern part of Koryo includes the former Senan Village area and is home to Koryo Town Hall. Although it has fewer commercial facilities than the newer residential districts, it retains a peaceful rural atmosphere.
The Nangō area is particularly notable for its historic ring-moated settlement, a traditional village layout in which waterways or moats helped define and protect the community. It remains an important part of the area’s historical landscape.
The northern area was once the independent town of Hashio and developed around Gyōkyōji Temple as a temple-centered settlement. Hashio Station was established with the opening of the Kintetsu Tawaramoto Line, improving access to the area. Today, the district combines its historic roots with newer residential development.
The eastern part of Koryo is a largely agricultural area between the Katsuragi and Soga rivers. Houses and small settlements are scattered among the rice fields, creating a traditional rural landscape.
Kudara-ji Temple, known for its beautiful three-story pagoda, is a prominent local landmark and an enduring symbol of the area.
Koryo Town brings together the literary romance of the Princess Kaguya legend, the craftsmanship of its renowned sock-making industry, and the ancient heritage of the Umami Kofun Group. Its flower-filled parks, rural landscapes, family attractions, and modern residential neighborhoods add further variety to its appeal.
Whether you are interested in Japanese folklore, archaeological discoveries, local industries, or simply exploring a town where history and modern life coexist, Koryo offers plenty of opportunities to discover another side of Nara Prefecture.