Have you ever heard of Nagaiwa Yokoana Tunnel Tombs? They are the spectacular kofun or burial mounds located in Obara, Yamaga City. I recently had the chance to visit them in person and got a close look at them! Let me share my experience with you!

 Located in Obara, Yamaga City

There’s no parking available, so I parked where my car won’t be a nuisance and proceed on foot.

The sign marking the historic site on the street serves as a guide to our destination.

Here’s the point.

I’ll take a small path beside a private residence. You may be thinking, “Is this really the right spot?” But no need to fret, it’s perfectly fine.

 Proceed quietly without disturbing the residents,

 and soon you will come across a set of stairs to climb. Let’s go up the stairs!

Eerily Carved Human Figures

There are 122 Nagaiwa Kofun located along the Tamana-Yamaga route on Prefectural Route 16, and one of the most well-known ancient tombs is this!

A human-shaped relief!!

I’m uncertain whether it’s appropriate to call it scary, but there is something definitely chilling about its unusual yet formidable appearance.

The chest parts are deeply hollowed out.

 This is the 108th tomb, a very famous site also featured in manga, showing a figure with both arms spread wide, holding a quiver with five arrows.

I’m looking at this human relief. How were they carved?

 a distance ahead. Make sure to turn left as soon as you reach the top of the stairs.This 108th tomb is located on the left side right after the stairs, but the grass was so dense that it was difficult to spot, and we ended up walking quite

A Row of Stunning Caves

 Heading up the stairs and to the right, you’ll encounter a cluster of holes in the cliff face. These are actually tombs that date back to the late “Kofun Period”, an era in the history of Japan from about 300 to 538 AD, given the name because of the proliferation of distinctive raised mound burial sites observed during that period of Japanese history.

It’s an incredible spot, almost like the steep cliff is reaching out to you.

 There are wide, gaping holes…

holes, holes, and holes…

More holes than you can count.

Looking up at the massive rocks towering above me makes me feel dizzy.

While exploring the area and observing the holes, I stumbled upon an intriguing but mysterious park.

Is this a place to take a break?

I found some kamado (a Japanese earthenware cooking vessel) in the park.

I wonder if there are children who come here to play… 

It’s so quiet here that I’m eager to return to the world we live in every day.

Since there’s no shade around, I started sweating.

 Looking up can feel intimidating, and I was overwhelmed by the immense size of it all. I can’t help but feel in awe of the people of the Kofun period who carved out each of these holes by hand.

 Summary

Capturing the essence of this power and fear in a photograph is quite challenging, but this site, designated as a historic location by the prefecture, is something I encourage you to experience firsthand. While there are some openings you can explore, accessing them in the summer can be quite tough. When you visit there, watch out for insects and tall grass!

Additionally, there are homes nearby, so please be mindful and avoid causing any disturbances.