Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group

Historic Site

Prefecture

Osaka

Type

Historic Site

N/A

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Free

Entry Fee

Free Entry Train Access

About This Destination

Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019, the Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group consists of 49 ancient burial mounds (kofun) dating from the 4th to 6th centuries. The Daisen Kofun, attributed to Emperor Nintoku, is the largest keyhole-shaped tomb in Japan and one of the three largest burial mounds in the world alongside the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor.

The Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed in 2019, made up of 49 ancient burial mounds spread across two clusters south of Osaka — the Mozu group in Sakai and the Furuichi group in Habikino and Fujiidera. Built between the 4th and 6th centuries for the rulers and elite of the early Yamato state, the largest are vast keyhole-shaped (zenpo-koen) tombs ringed by moats. The crown jewel is the Daisen Kofun, traditionally attributed to Emperor Nintoku: at roughly 486 metres long it is the largest tomb in Japan and, by footprint, ranks among the three biggest in the world alongside the Great Pyramid of Giza and the mausoleum of China's First Qin Emperor. Because the mounds are sacred imperial tombs you cannot enter them, and at ground level they simply look like forested, moated hills — so the best way to grasp their scale is from above. The free 21st-floor observation deck of Sakai City Hall, a short walk from JR Mikunigaoka Station, gives a clear view of the Daisen Kofun's unmistakable keyhole outline. It's a fascinating, low-key stop for history lovers rather than a flashy attraction.

Location

Prefecture: Osaka

Address: Sakai, Osaka, Japan

Nearest Station: Mozu Station (JR Hanwa Line) or Mikunigaoka Station (Nankai Koya Line)

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Visitor Information

Credit Cards: Unknown

Food Options: No dining at the kofun sites. The nearby Sakai city center is famous for its knife-making tradition and offers local specialties including anago (conger eel) and bukunrin sweets.

Official Website

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get to the Mozu Kofun group?

The Mozu cluster (including the Daisen Kofun, the largest tomb) is easiest from Mozu Station on the JR Hanwa Line — about 30 minutes from JR Osaka or Tennoji Stations (¥390). The Daisen Kofun's famous keyhole shape is best appreciated from the observation deck on the 21st floor of Sakai City Hall (free, 5-minute walk from JR Mikunigaoka Station, open 9:00–21:00). The Furuichi cluster requires a separate trip via Kintetsu Furuichi Station.

Can I enter the Daisen Kofun?

No — the Daisen Kofun is sacred imperial tomb territory administered by the Imperial Household Agency, with strict access prohibitions. Visitors can only walk around the outer moat (about 2.8 km perimeter, 60-minute loop) and view it from the dedicated forefront altar. The Sakai City Museum next door (¥200) covers the kofun's history and lets you see excavated artifacts that you'd never glimpse on the mound itself.

What's the best way to appreciate the kofun if I can't enter?

Aerial perspective from Sakai City Hall's free observation deck (21st floor) — only here can you see the keyhole shape of Daisen Kofun in full. Then walk a section of the 2.8 km moat path with a guidebook (free at the visitor centre) for ground-level appreciation; bring binoculars to spot the haniwa terracotta replicas. Smaller kofun in the cluster (Itasuke, Nagatsuka) can be circled on bicycle in 90 minutes — Sakai City rents bikes at Mozu Station for ¥300/day.

When was this listed as UNESCO World Heritage?

Inscribed in July 2019 as 'Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group: Mounded Tombs of Ancient Japan,' covering 49 kofun across the two clusters. The Daisen Kofun (attributed to Emperor Nintoku, c. 5th century AD) is one of the world's three largest tombs by area (alongside the Great Pyramid of Giza and the First Qin Emperor's mausoleum). The site illustrates the social hierarchy and political power of the early Yamato state.