- Mozu Furuichi Tumulus Group Walking around Emperor Nintoku’s Tomb (Daisen-Ryo Tumulus,Kofun) Walk and Introduction South-Osaka
- Nintoku-tennō-ryō tumulus from Mozu Station (to Daisenryō tumulus)
- Mozu Kofun Tumulus Visitor Center
- Tomb of Emperor Nintoku (Daisenreung Ancient Tomb) World Heritage Site Japan’s largest burial mound in the Mozu Tumulus Group
- Daisen Park
- Teahouse “Shinan/Huangmeian”
- Sakai City Museum
- To be continued next time parking lot
Mozu Furuichi Tumulus Group Walking around Emperor Nintoku’s Tomb (Daisen-Ryo Tumulus,Kofun) Walk and Introduction South-Osaka
I visited the Nintoku Emperor’s Tomb, Sakai City Museum, and Daisen Park.We walked around the area of the Nintoku-tenno mausoleum, and today we walked in Daisen Park, south of the mausoleum.The Nintoku Imperial Tomb and Daisen Park are adjacent to each other, and the Sakai City Museum is located in Daisen Park.Daisen Park also has a tea ceremony room and a Japanese garden, making it a very enjoyable area.
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（This search is current as of May 2024）
Nintoku-tennō-ryō tumulus from Mozu Station (to Daisenryō tumulus)
Emperor Nintoku’s Mausoleum can be seen from the windows of the JR Hanwa Line.
Get off at Momozu Station on the JR Hanwa Line.Since it is on the Hanwa Line, it is only one train ride from Kansai Airport.
The name of the station is an unusual place name with three characters in kanji but two in hiragana.
Mozu station has separate gates for the upper and lower lines.When you arrive at Momozu Station from Osaka City, cross the railroad crossing to the right.
Before that, there is a pedestrian bridge that straddles the railroad tracks right after the station, and I went up to the bridge because I read on a website that it is a beautiful view of the Nintoku Imperial Mausoleum from there.
Hmmm.Subtle.
Osame-zuka Tomb: The Story of a Small Tomb
There is a small burial mound very close to the station before going to the Nintoku Emperor’s Mausoleum.It is the Osame-zuka burial mound.
It is thought to be a double mound (baicho: people and objects related to the Nintoku Mausoleum were buried there), and although it appears round, it is believed to have been scraped off in later periods.Although small, it is a national historic site.
The Mozu Furuichi Tumulus Group and its surroundings, from Sakai City to Habikino City and Fujiidera City, have tumuli of this size all over the city.Unfortunately, however, many of them have been lost in the course of modern economic growth and urbanization due to residential land development and other factors.
Mozu Kofun Tumulus Visitor Center
Behind the Osame-zuka tumulus is already the mausoleum of Emperor Nintoku.If you continue along the moat, you will soon arrive at the Visitor Center.Let’s heal from the fatigue of traveling by train.
There is an exhibition corner and a theater where visitors can learn basic knowledge about the Nintoku Imperial Tomb and the Mozu Furuichi Kofun Tumulus Group.Printed materials such as guides are also available.Souvenirs and drinks are also available.There is also a restroom.
Mozu Kofun Tumulus Visitor Center
Business Hours 9:00～18:00 Usage fee:Free Closed: Year-end and New Year holidays Toilet available
Tomb of Emperor Nintoku (Daisenreung Ancient Tomb) World Heritage Site Japan’s largest burial mound in the Mozu Tumulus Group
Tomb of Emperor Nintoku Haisho(拝所)
Further on from the Visitor Center, you will arrive at a majestic place with a torii gate in front of the Nintoku-tenno mausoleum.The gravel is arranged in thin parallel lines.This is the place of worship.
Now, the Nintoku Emperor’s Mausoleum cannot be entered beyond this point.This is an area controlled by the Imperial Household Agency.
How about looking at the solemn and beautifully maintained view of the worship site, the well-prepared white gravel, and the dense forest of the moat and burial mounds, and relaxing and savoring your thoughts about the ancient times?
The Tomb of Emperor Nintoku (Daisenryo Tumulus)
Emperor Nintoku’s Mausoleum is approximately 500 meters long and was built in the middle of the 5th century AD.It is the largest tomb and burial mound in Japan.The tomb is surrounded by a three-layered moat, with a circumference of 2,850 meters, and it takes about one hour to walk around the tomb.
Along with the Pyramid of King Khufu in Egypt and the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor in China, it is known as one of the world’s three great tombs, and was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2019 as the Mozu Kofun Tumulus Group along with the major tumuli (not all) in the surrounding area.
There are many small burial mounds called bai-cho (陪塚) around the site, where people related to the temple were buried.
Most of the area is off-limits, but there is an area on the south side called the “worship place” where visitors can directly see the mausoleum inside the moat.
Research has been conducted to determine the time period when it was built, but it no longer matches the time period of Emperor Nintoku’s reign as recorded in one of Japan’s oldest history books, the Chronicles of Japan.Further research is awaited.
Daisen Park
Now, I would like to go around the Nintoku-tenno mausoleum, but that will come next time.This time, we will return to the Visitor Center from the front of the mausoleum and cross the road at the traffic light to go to Daisen Park.Please be careful crossing this road as there is a lot of traffic.
Across the road is the vast forest and grassland of Daisen Park.The Sakai City Museum is also located there.Across the street from the traffic light is the entrance to Daisen Park.There is a cafe on the left.
It is a very large park.As you walk around, you will see a tall tower.It is the Sakai City Peace Tower.
Sakai City Peace Tower was built in 1971 as a memorial to the war dead of Sakai citizens.It also has a chapel attached.However, the structure was originally not designed to allow the general public to enter, and even today it is still inaccessible.
Walking west toward the Peace Tower, you will see the road to the Sakai City Museum on your left.Turn left and walk toward the Sakai City Museum, which can be seen in front of you.
Teahouse “Shinan/Huangmeian”
Then you will see the entrance to Shinan and Koumeian, a teahouse operated by Sakai City, on your right.Here you can easily enjoy “tea”.
Sakai City Museum
This time, we will head directly to the Sakai City Museum.
The Sakai City Museum has a permanent exhibition on the theme of “Mozu Tumulus Group and Sakai’s History and Culture.
At the beginning, there is a mini-theater where visitors can learn about the origins of the Mozu tumulus group through a video.
The Mozu Tumulus exhibit features a large amount of excavated artifacts.These include haniwa clay figurines and iron products.After the Middle Ages, there is an exhibit of guns and other items that were introduced to Sakai.
Special exhibitions may also be held.
Sakai was an autonomous city that served as the gateway to Japan from ancient times until the Middle Ages.You can learn about its history.
Sakai City Museum
Admission: 200 yen for adults, 100 yen for high school and university students, 50 yen for junior high and elementary school students
Hours of operation 9：30～17:15（Admission until 16:30）
*For more information, please refer to the following links to city hall and other websites for information.
Walk out of the museum.
Magodayuuyama Ancient Cemetery
Straight after exiting the Sakai City Museum, you will see a small burial mound in front of you.There are many such small tombs in the park.
As mentioned above, this is a mound for the Nintoku Emperor’s mausoleum.Burial objects and other details are unknown.
It is a small burial mound, but it is nice to see it so close by.
To be continued next time parking lot
There are several parking lots, including one next to the Visitor Center, but we recommend that you visit by train or other public transportation as it is expected to be crowded during the Expo and during the season.
The park is spacious, so eating lunch on the lawn or on a bench is a good choice.
There are more highlights to be found in the rest of this article.
