Saitobaru Tombs

The Saitobaru Burial Mounds (Saitobaru Kofun-gun) are a special historic site-designated park located roughly in central Miyazaki Prefecture. The mound area spreads across a plateau about 60 meters above sea level, with a wide distribution of mounds across roughly 2.6 km east–west and 4.2 km north–south, totaling over 300 kofun. Surrounded by nature, it’s also a year-round flower-viewing spot: in spring, around 2,000 cherry trees bloom alongside vivid rapeseed flowers across about 8 hectares; in autumn, cosmos flowers color the landscape. The kofun are said to date back about 1,700 years to the Kofun period. Excavations began in 1912 (Taisho 1), and the site was designated a national historic site in 1934 (Showa 9). Nearby facilities such as the “Ancient Life Experience Center,” “Saitobaru Archaeological Museum,” and “Saitobaru Guidance Center Konohana-kan” help visitors learn more through exhibits. Access: by car, about 40 minutes from central Miyazaki City via Route 219, or about 10 minutes after exiting at Higashi-Kyushu Expressway “Saito IC.” By public transportation, take a Miyazaki Kotsu bus from JR Nichinan Line / JR Nippo Main Line “Miyazaki Station” bound for “Saito Bus Center / via Saitobaru Archaeological Museum” (or “Saito Bus Center”), about 70 minutes, and get off at “Saitobaru Archaeological Museum-mae.”