Experience a Kofun while Playing at "Kodomo-Kofun"
​

"Kodomo-Kofun" is a children's space where small children can become familiar with the "Kofun". Here, toys, picture books, and books about Kofun are available. This is an area where parents and children can learn about the Kofun while playing.

Let's Go to the Kofun area!

After learning about the Kofun, we will visit the actual tumuli. From the entrance, take the grand stairway to the second floor, which leads to the tumuli area.

Eight ancient tombs are scattered in the green area on the north side.

Otsuka Kofun No.3

When people think of Kofun, many of them might tend to think of a keyhole-shaped mounds, but there are many different shapes of kofun, large and small, depending on the masters' status.

Four types of burial mounds have been identified in Shidami Kofun Tumulus Group keyhole-shaped burial mounds, scallop-style burial mounds, round burial mounds, and square burial mounds.

Among them, the largest burial mound, Shiratorizuka Tumulus, is said to be about 115 meters long.

The most eye-catching feature is the Shidami-Otsuka Kofun. The Kofun is approximately 51 m in length, and is a reconstruction of the original appearance when it was built in the latter half of the 5th century.

Excavations were conducted by Kyoto Imperial University and local people in 1923, and many burial accessories were unearthed. In recent years, traces of a 3.5m long split bamboo wooden coffin, cylindrical Haniwa clay figurines, morning glory-shaped Haniwa clay figurines, and various other types of Haniwa have also been found.

Some of the thatch stones used around the mound were actually used in the mound and have been reconstructed. Reproductions of Haniwa are also displayed in the surrounding area.

There are stairs in the burial mound, so you can climb to the top.

When you go up to the top, you will see replicas of "cylindrical Haniwa" and "lid-shaped Haniwa". The sight is truly grand!

Many people think that a Kofun is always built with Haniwa, but not all Kofun tombs were built with it. It is thought that a group of specialized craftsmen were responsible for making Haniwa, and it is believed that only a person with a certain level of authority was able to make Haniwa.

Also, depending on the region and time period, there were cases where Haniwa was adopted or not.

There is also a coffin of the king on top of the mound. It was reconstructed from traces found about 2 m below the present ground level. During events, the coffin can be opened and visitors can go inside.

It is very interesting to learn about the historical background of each of the tombs, as no two are alike.

Let's Get Original Goods!

Finally, let's get SHIDAMU original goods at the museum shop.

Among the most popular items are Shidamiko-chan goods, the mascot character of the Village of Ancient History. There are many very cute items, including a stuffed doll (1,200 yen), a mug cup (500 yen), and a silicon Gamaguchi purse (500 yen).

There are also many books on the history of the Shidami Kofun tumulus group and the tombs, so if you are interested in learning more about them, please get them here.

Throughout the entire facility, we were able to learn a lot about the ancient tombs. From small children to adults, history lovers and non-history lovers alike will enjoy the experience.

Feel the breath of the Kofun period at SHIDAMU.

Photography by Kanae Hori