寺戸大塚古墳

The year is 300 AD. Can you picture the scene here at the Tsubai Otsukayama Kofun? We stand before the largest ancient tomb in all of Kyoto, a silent giant from a time long past. The Tsubai Otsukayama Kofun tells a tale, not of words, but of power and prestige. This keyhole-shaped mound, stretching an impressive 175 meters, whispers of a powerful figure laid to rest. It was in 1953, during routine expansion work on the JR Nara Line, that the tomb revealed its secrets. A stone chamber, hidden within the earth, was unearthed. Inside, split-bamboo wood coffins hinted at the high status of the individual buried within. But that wasn’t all. The real treasure lay in the artifacts: an astonishing array of Chinese mirrors, including thirty with triangular rims, adorned with images of gods and animals. These mirrors, echoing those associated with Queen Himiko of the Yamatai Kingdom, whisper of political ties and far-reaching influence. Coupled with ceremonial burial items, they paint a vivid picture of a key figure from the Yamato period, laid to rest with the respect befitting their station. Tsubai Otsukayama Kofun stands as a testament to a time when Kyoto was young, its story etched not in stone, but in the very earth upon which this magnificent city stands.