This was my first time seeing a burial mound with a round upper section and a square lower section. It seems to be estimated to date from the early 8th century, making it a very late-stage burial mound. It’s in a new town and has been landscaped as a park, but there’s no parking lot, so it’s difficult for visitors from elsewhere to get to.

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This is a burial mound between Nara Prefecture and Kyoto Prefecture. Built in the early 8th century, it is relatively recent, even among final-stage burial mounds. It is a small mound with a round upper section and a square lower section, covered in stones that seem to serve a role like fukiishi, perhaps as part of the site’s landscaping.

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Visiting Ishi no Karato Kofun when you’re feeling emotionally worn out is soothing. There’s plenty of nature around it, beyond the burial mound itself, and it feels lovely. Besides Ishi no Karato Kofun, walking along the Manyo Path is very educational, with information about homes, daily life, and food in the Nara period. Visiting in different seasons lets you see the nature around Ishi no Karato Kofun change through spring, summer, autumn, and winter, which is wonderful. The route from Ishi no Karato Kofun out through the small Manyo path also has plenty of nature and benches, so I think it’s very pleasant to walk slowly while taking breaks. Sitting on a bench for a breather while looking at the little hut and trees is especially lovely. With so many trees, it can be cool at times, too.

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Ishi no Karato Kofun, Jingū, Nara City, Nara Prefecture. Early 8th century. Burial mound with a round upper section and a square lower section, 112m. Side-opening stone burial chamber, 1.15m. The burial mound is visible beyond the large park. It has been reconstructed, so you can clearly see its shape. Though small, it gave me a sense of the final form of kofun.

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From the roof-tile archaeological site, I walked along the Manyo walking path, reading poems by Emperor Shōmu, Hitomaro, and others, and thinking about ancient times as I walked. So wonderful. It’s a shame that the place is deteriorating overall, with cracked stone slabs and such. This site deserves more attention and protection. I’d like the information board for Karato Kofun to be more impressive.

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