Sakitama Museum of Ancient Funerary Mounds & Shogunyama Kofun [Saitama]

【Overview of Sakitama Museum of Ancient Funerary Mounds】

Located within Sakitama Kofun Park in Gyoda City, Saitama Prefecture, the Sakitama Museum of Ancient Funerary Mounds is a prefectural facility dedicated to the preservation and active utilization of the Special Historic Site “Sakitama Kofun Cluster,” exhibiting valuable excavated artifacts such as the National Treasure “Inscribed Gold-Inlaid Iron Sword.”

【National Treasure: Inscribed Gold-Inlaid Iron Sword】

The Inscribed Gold-Inlaid Iron Sword (Kinsaku Mei Tekken) was excavated in 1968 from the Inariyama Kofun within the Sakitama Kofun Cluster. It is a top-tier historical treasure (National Treasure) that helped unravel mysteries of ancient Japanese history. A total of 115 Chinese characters are inlaid in gold (kinzogan) into the iron blade, making it one of the oldest surviving written texts in Japan.

Regarding its creation date, the inscription explicitly states that the sword was made in July of the “Year of Shingai” (with 471 AD being the prevailing theory) as a commemorative item.

【National Treasure: Bronze Mirror with Figures and Beasts (Gamon Tai Kanjonyu Shinju Kyo)】

The Bronze Mirror with Figures and Beasts (Gamon Tai Kanjonyu Shinju Kyo) is an exquisite bronze mirror crafted by Chinese artisans, or created domestically as an extremely faithful replica. During the Kofun period, mirrors were considered “talismanic objects to ward off evil” by reflecting sunlight, as well as special tokens of alliance demonstrating strong political ties to the Yamato Court.

【National Treasure: Jade Magatama】

The Jade Magatama (Kogyoku Magatama) is a comma-shaped bead made of vivid green jade measuring approximately 4 cm in length. Because jade could not be mined in the Kanto region, it is known to be a top-tier, ultra-premium item brought all the way from the Itoigawa area in Niigata Prefecture.

Other National Treasure grave goods are displayed in their original forms inside the “National Treasure Exhibition Room” of the Sakitama Museum of Ancient Funerary Mounds, arranged so visitors can view them surrounding the Inscribed Gold-Inlaid Iron Sword.

【Overview of Shogunyama Kofun Exhibition Hall】

The Shogunyama Kofun Exhibition Hall is an extremely rare exhibition facility in Japan located inside Sakitama Kofun Park, allowing visitors to step directly inside the interior (the circular rear mound) of a kofun. Operated as a branch of the Saitama Prefectural Sakitama Museum of Ancient Funerary Mounds, the inside of a 1,500-year-old “corridor-style stone chamber” and the burial conditions of that era are realistically reproduced using state-of-the-art technology and life-sized models.

The museum building itself was constructed by reconstructing and maintaining the near-vanished rear circular section of “Shogunyama Kofun,” a keyhole-shaped burial mound with a total length of 90 meters.

【Life-Sized Horse Model Equipped with Harnesses】

On the 1st floor, a life-sized horse model outfitted with brilliant horse trappings excavated from Shogunyama Kofun is recreated. Visitors can observe up close the powerful presence of warhorses, which represented the “cutting-edge mobility” of that era.

【Life-Sized Burial Space】

On the 2nd floor, visitors can look down through glass directly into a realistic replica of a late-6th-century corridor-style stone chamber. Recreating the exact state at the time of burial, you can experience a vivid, immersive view of an ancient burial scene where radiant grave goods were arranged beside the deceased.

週末日帰りドライブ特集： 歴史ロマンとレトロ絶景を巡る「埼玉県行田市」ルート

Routes to Gyoda City are summarized below. We hope you find this helpful as a reference.

【Nearby Tourist Spots】

Sakitama Shrine, Gyoda Tower, Vert Cafe (Former Oshi Town Credit Union Building), Gyoda Hachimangu Shrine, Oshi Castle Three-Story Yagura (Turret), Oshi Toshogu Shrine

Sakitama Shrine [Saitama]

Ancient Lotus Park & Gyoda Tower [Saitama]

ヴェールカフェ（旧忍町信用組合店舗）【埼玉県】

行田八幡神社【埼玉県】

忍城 御三階櫓【埼玉県】

忍東照宮と忍諏訪神社【埼玉県】

【Sakitama Museum of Ancient Funerary Mounds Access】

Admin’s Impressions

An iron sword glowing dimly behind the glass display case. Preserving 100-plus gold characters from over 1,500 years ago, it felt as though ancient romance was being conveyed straight to the modern era. Beyond the iron sword, numerous items are on display, including brilliant mirrors from that period, weaponry, and cute haniwa (terracotta clay figures), allowing visitors to envision the daily life and immense power of that era. At the “Shogunyama Kofun Exhibition Hall,” located a short walk from the museum, the burial scene and grave goods such as horse trappings are recreated in their original arrangements, creating a truly immersive experience. Pairing your visit with Sakitama Shrine will make for a very fulfilling trip.

Site / Facility Scale

 (3.5)

Abundance of Nature

 (0)

Ease of Access

 (1.5)

Crowds / Number of Tourists

 (1.5)

Sakitama Museum of Ancient Funerary Mounds Address

4834 Saitama, Gyoda, Saitama 361-0025

*Free parking available. Please use the “Sakitama Kofun Park Parking Lot” in front of the museum.

Take the City Loop Bus (Sightseeing Spot Loop Route) from JR Takasaki Line “Gyoda Station” for approximately 15 minutes, and get off at “Saitama Kofun Koen-mae.”

Take the City Loop Bus (Sightseeing Spot Loop Route) from Chichibu Railway “Gyodashi Station” for approximately 21 minutes, and get off at “Saitama Kofun Koen-mae.”

Sakitama Museum of Ancient Funerary Mounds Official Website

参考

埼玉県立さきたま史跡の博物館