Kōno Kofun Group at the Entrance to Hiraishi Valley

The Kōno Kofun Group combines a striking location at the entrance to Hiraishi Valley with tombs whose form and structure can be understood on several different scales. On its eastern flank are four small circular burial mounds, each approximately 15 metres in diameter; in Kōno Tomb No. 2, a horizontal stone chamber is preserved up to its ceiling. This brings together the landform of a hill and the precisely described architecture of an individual chamber.

Four circular burial mounds on the eastern flank

Each of the four small circular burial mounds is approximately 15 metres in diameter. Their recurring form and similar size give the group a shared, readily visualised framework. At the same time, their location on the eastern flank identifies a specific side of the Kōno Kofun Group. Those interested in archaeological landscapes can distinguish between the group as a whole and its four individual outer forms: the number four describes the group, while the diameter characterises each circular burial mound. The measurement therefore refers to the outer form, not to a burial chamber.

Kōno Tomb No. 2: dimensions and structure

In Kōno Tomb No. 2, a horizontal stone chamber is preserved up to its ceiling. Its rear wall consists of three courses of split granite; the side walls are built from three to four courses. At 3.4 metres long, 1.6 metres wide and 1.8 metres high, the chamber has clearly defined proportions. It is a little more than twice as long as it is wide, while its height exceeds its width by 0.2 metres. Comparing the measurements makes the space more tangible than the term “stone chamber” alone. The granite and the number of wall courses complement the dimensions with details about its construction. In Kōno Tomb No. 2, preservation, material and measurements come together.

Hiraishi Valley: hill and ridge

The Kōno Kofun Group is located at the entrance to Hiraishi Valley, on a hill that projects from the valley’s western end. Another notable landmark lies near the same entrance: Shishiyotsuka Kofun is on a ridge immediately east of Kōno Tomb No. 7. Two different landforms thus stand out: the projecting hill at the Kōno Kofun Group and the ridge at Shishiyotsuka Kofun. This distinction is more useful for finding your bearings than a general idea of tombs in a valley; each site has its own specific relationship to the landscape.

Comparing the outer form and chamber dimensions

When making comparisons, it is important to note that approximately 15 metres refers to the diameter of a circular burial mound, whereas 3.4 metres is the length of the chamber in Kōno Tomb No. 2. The figures therefore do not describe two variations of the same measurement, but rather an outer tomb form and the space inside an individual tomb. This makes it possible to picture the site from the scale of the hill to the proportions of the chamber. The circular burial mounds and the horizontal stone chamber illustrate different forms within this archaeological focus.

A feature in “Tekuteku Kanan”

The Kōno Kofun Group is featured in the municipal walking series “Tekuteku Kanan.” Published in 2014, an article covers a visit to late-period tombs and also places the group in the context of a local walking guide. If you also consider the character of your destination when choosing a holiday rental, the Kōno Kofun Group and its landscape can be a concrete reason to include Kanan among your options for a trip with an archaeological focus.

Discover more destinations: Habikino, Ōsakasayama, Daito, Kawachinagano, Kaizuka, Minoo, Sakai, Izumi

For the broader travel overview: Osaka Prefecture.