The is a Kofun period burial mound located in what is now the Sōja neighborhood of the city of Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture in the northern Kantō region of Japan. It is one of the components of the Sōja Kofun Cluster, which has been designated a National Historic Site of Japan in 2024. Its name comes from its use as a lookout tower for Sōja Castle during the late Sengoku period.
Overview The Tōmiyama Kofun is a , which is shaped like a keyhole, having one square end and one circular end, when viewed from above. The tumulus is located on the Maebashi Plateau on the west bank of the Tone River at the southeastern foot of Mount Haruna in central Gunma Prefecture. The tumulus is orientated to the southwest and is surrounded by a moat. The surface was originally covered in fukiishi with rows of cylindrical and figurative haniwa (including anthropomorphic haniwa). In addition, ritual remains, including a collection of 14 Haji ware pieces (a high-pitched dish, a large high-pitched dish, a bowl, and a straight-mouthed jar), have been found on the northern terrace of the front section. Details of the burial chamber remain uncertain; although numerous archaeological excavations have been conducted, what is believed to have been a pit-type stone chamber has not been confirmed.The construction date is estimated to be around the second half of the 5th century, during the middle of the Kofun period, based on the style of the haniwa, and volcanic ash from the early 6th century eruption of Mount Haruna. It is considered the oldest of the Sōja Kofun cluster,
Overall length 87.5 meters Length including moat 106 meters Posterior circular portion 52.5 meter diameter Anterior rectangular portion 58 meters wide
See also List of Historic Sites of Japan (Gunma)
References
External links
Maebashi City official guide