Saitobaru Kofun Cluster
saitobaru kofun cluster japanese 西都原古墳群 group three hundred thirty three kofuns tumuli saito city miyazaki prefecture japan one largest kofun group japan largest group kyushu situated meter hill composed diluvium located within saitobarusugiyasukyō prefectural natural park saitobaru kofun cluster burial mound designated national government special historical site majority tumuli saitobaru yet excavated many remain wrapped veil mystery elevated mound keyholeshaped mound zenpokoenfun 前方後円墳 unique ancient japan square kofun 方墳） circular type empun 円墳 kofuns corridortype kofun 横穴 kofuns underground kofuns last peculiar southern kyushu first scientific excavation made saito city museum founded later changed miyazaki prefectural saitobaru archaeological museum osahozuka kofun japan largest hotatekaishaped kofun meter long mesahozuka kofun meterlong zenpokoenfun belong emperorrelated kofuns meterlong keyholeshaped kofun one beautiful kofuns encircled moat precious treasure sword vas glassballs inside assumed built early th century sideway kofun completely encircled earthwork archaeology unique reminds one kofuns china annual festival november dedicated kofun cluster held every november feature torchlight procession several hundred people marching along kiki michi aim celebrate mythical past region tomb kiki michi 記紀の道 lit kiki path walking path surround kofun cluster total length kilometer km kiki abbreviation refers kojiki nihon shoki kiki michi connects place historical interest related hyūga myth described document path travel near saitobaru kofun cluster male female mound travel place according legend konohanasakuyahime niniginomikoto said spent married life together however several place miyazaki prefecture said setting story legend kiki michi seen illustrated map jindai completed kokugaku scholar sanemitsu kodama provides evidence path already existed time addition dense presence kofun historical site along kiki michi suggests area political economic cultural center ancient hyūga。 several toponym vicinity thought root hyūga mythology tsuma koyu sakamoto ishinuki dojimaru koyu ike located area said origin current name koyugun。there also theory land tsuman tsuma identical toumakoku mentioned wajinden would show area mentioned historical book chronicle japan entire area prefectural bird animal sanctuary part overlap kyushu nature trail creating landscape nature human settlement coexist saito kofun festival held every november feature torchlight procession several hundred people marching along kiki michi may saitobaru kofun cluster tomb surrounding area featured agency cultural affair japanese government story website titled monument ancient people – painting plateau kofun landscape miyazaki southern japan link kiki michi included story cultural property heritage site。 path received handmade hometown award titled kiki michi connecting local treasure nurture heart also good design award effort protect local resident traditional landscape series ten lore site located along kiki michi several lore site scattered kiki michi well lore site along kiki michi toman shrine mifunezuka aizomegawa river yahirodono yahiroden site ruin mutsu muro pond kodu ishinuki shrine oyamakizuka mound oni grotto male female mound place lore miyake shrine sasanuki shrine kakishozuka shrine dojimaru shrine ono tangono ono saitobaru kofun cluster special historic site – addition saitobaru plateau round mound scattered among house field area known middle territory underground horizontal burial mound also discovered dogashima branch group hyūga kokufu ruin national historic site tsuma kusu prefecturallydesignated natural monument ogatama tree terasaki area cemetery citydesignated natural monument – huge magnolia compressa specimen described ogatama tree jindai ezu depicted considerably large tree tree circumference height estimated age year japan heritage shinto text kofun list special place scenic beauty special historic site special natural monument list national treasure japan archaeological material cultural property japanburied cultural property history miyazaki prefecture 『西都の民話』第一巻 森浩一『日本神話の考古学』朝日新聞社、年 児玉実満『神代の絵図』年 日高正晴『古代日向の国』日本放送出版協会、年 saitobaru kofungun saitobaru kofungun national treasure database japanese kofuns