Nishitani Tombs Historic Park, Izumo Yayoi-no-Mori is a historic park in Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture, developed around part of the Nishitani Tombs, a designated National Historic Site of Japan. The area contains a remarkable collection of burial mounds dating from the late Yayoi period through the Kofun period and into the Nara period, making it an important archaeological site for understanding the political and cultural development of ancient Izumo.
The park first opened on a trial basis in 2004 before further development led to its full opening in 2010. Today, visitors can explore reconstructed burial mounds and exhibition facilities while gaining a deeper understanding of the lives, beliefs, rituals, and powerful leaders of ancient Izumo.
The Nishitani Tombs are located on a hill approximately 40 meters above sea level in the southeastern part of central Izumo. Numerous tombs were constructed here from the late Yayoi period through the Kofun and Nara periods. More than 32 burial mounds and pit tombs have been identified at the site, including 27 tombs with visible mounds.
The concentration and scale of these tombs indicate that this was an important burial area in ancient Izumo. The site provides valuable evidence of how burial customs and society changed over many centuries.
The most distinctive feature of the Nishitani Tombs is the four-corner protruding burial mound. These tombs have a roughly square central mound with extensions projecting outward from all four corners. This unusual burial style developed mainly in the Izumo region and is rarely found elsewhere in Japan.
Six examples at Nishitani are particularly impressive in both size and construction. They are thought to have been built for powerful rulers of ancient Izumo and provide important clues about the political structure of the region during the Yayoi period.
The area known as Nishitani Hill contains a concentration of enormous royal tombs dating from the late Yayoi period. Tombs No. 2, 3, 4, and 9 are particularly important and are thought to represent successive generations of rulers of ancient Izumo.
The tombs feature impressive construction techniques, including stone coverings applied across the slopes and rows or layers of stones surrounding the burial mounds. Their monumental scale and elaborate structures demonstrate the considerable power and resources of the people who commissioned them.
Tomb No. 3 is believed to be the first royal tomb constructed on Nishitani Hill. It was built during the latter part of the late Yayoi period, around the second half of the 2nd century. The mound measures approximately 40 meters from east to west, 30 meters from north to south, and 4.5 meters in height.
Excavations uncovered iron swords, glass magatama beads and tubular beads, as well as numerous pieces of pottery from the Kibi and Hokuriku regions. These discoveries suggest that ancient Izumo was connected through cultural exchange and trade with distant parts of Japan.
Several burial facilities were also identified within the mound. Researchers believe that the tomb may have been used for a ruler and members of his family. Today, visitors can climb onto the reconstructed mound and enjoy a broad view of the Izumo Plain, imagining the landscape that ancient rulers may once have seen.
Tomb No. 2 is believed to have been built for a ruler of the generation following the person buried in Tomb No. 3. Much of the original mound had been destroyed before archaeological investigations revealed its enormous scale.
The tomb has now been reconstructed based on archaeological evidence, with an exhibition room inside the mound. Models recreate the burial scene and allow visitors to learn about ancient funerary rituals in an easy-to-understand and engaging way.
Artifacts such as glass bracelets and pottery were also discovered at the site, providing valuable clues about the culture, beliefs, and technological achievements of the people who lived in ancient Izumo.
Tomb No. 9 is the largest burial mound in the Nishitani Tombs. It measures approximately 42 meters from east to west, 35 meters from north to south, and 5 meters in height.
It has distinctive features, including a three-tiered stone-paved structure that is not seen in the same form on the other tombs. Its exceptional scale and elaborate construction suggest that an especially important individual may have been buried here.
Another important feature of the Nishitani Tombs is the variety of burial traditions found at the site. During the Yayoi period, four-corner protruding burial mounds were prominent. During the Kofun period, different forms appeared, including keyhole-shaped tombs, square burial mounds, and pit tombs.
By the Nara period, cremation burials had also appeared. This long sequence shows that the area continued to be used as a burial ground for many centuries and provides a rare opportunity to trace changes in Japanese funerary customs at a single location.
Adjacent to the historic park is the Izumo Yayoi-no-Mori Museum, which opened in 2010 as a guidance and educational facility for the Nishitani Tombs.
The museum introduces the history of ancient Izumo through excavated artifacts, large-scale dioramas, models of four-corner protruding burial mounds, and other displays. These exhibits make it easier for visitors to understand the appearance of the tombs and the society that created them.
The first floor includes an interactive learning area where visitors can try on ancient-style clothing and enjoy activities such as pottery puzzles. These programs provide an entertaining introduction to ancient Japanese culture for both children and adults.
Visitors can also take part in hands-on activities such as making magatama beads and reproducing ancient mirrors. These experiences offer a more tangible way to connect with the history and craftsmanship of ancient Izumo.
The Nishitani Tombs first attracted attention in 1953, when local junior high school students discovered fragments of ancient pottery. Subsequent investigations revealed that the area contained a large and important group of burial mounds, leading to more extensive archaeological research.
Detailed investigations by Shimane University in the 1980s helped researchers understand the burial structures and ritual practices associated with the tombs. Based on the importance of these findings, the Nishitani Tombs were designated a National Historic Site in 2000, leading to efforts to preserve and make the site accessible to the public.
The appeal of Nishitani Tombs Historic Park lies not simply in viewing archaeological remains, but in experiencing the landscape in which ancient people lived and conducted their rituals.
From the top of the hill, visitors can look across the broad Izumo Plain. Standing among the reconstructed royal tombs, it is easy to imagine the rulers of the Yayoi period surveying the same landscape more than 1,700 years ago.
A visit to the historic park becomes even more rewarding when combined with the adjacent museum. Exploring the actual burial mounds outdoors and then learning about their history, artifacts, and archaeological discoveries inside the museum provides a well-rounded introduction to ancient Izumo.
This combination is particularly appealing for travelers who want to experience Japanese history beyond the country’s better-known castles, temples, and shrines.
From JR Izumoshi Station: Approximately 10 minutes by car.
From Ichibata Railway Otsu-machi Station: Approximately 20 minutes on foot.
By bus: Take the Izumo-Mitoya Line and get off at Izumo Yayoi-no-Mori Museum-mae.
By car: Approximately 10 minutes from the Hikawa Interchange on the San’in Expressway.
Nishitani Tombs Historic Park, Izumo Yayoi-no-Mori offers a fascinating glimpse into the history and culture of ancient Izumo. The monumental royal tombs, unusual four-corner protruding burial mounds, and rich archaeological discoveries reveal a society with its own distinctive traditions and connections with other parts of ancient Japan.
The combination of reconstructed tombs, archaeological exhibits, hands-on experiences, and views across the Izumo Plain makes this an engaging destination for anyone interested in Japanese history, archaeology, and ancient culture.
When visiting Izumo, take the opportunity to step beyond its famous religious sites and discover the world of the ancient rulers who shaped the region. A visit to Izumo Yayoi-no-Mori is a chance to walk through a landscape where the history of Izumo began to take shape more than a thousand years ago.