Takamatsuzuka Tomb

Takamatsuzuka Kofun is a burial mound located east of the Takamatsuzuka area within Asuka Historical National Government Park in Asuka Village, Takaichi District, Nara Prefecture. It is a late-stage tumulus from the Fujiwara-kyō period (694–710), a small round mound about 18 meters in diameter and 5 meters high. It is famous for its mural paintings: the richly colored group of women is often featured in history textbooks and has been designated a National Treasure. Influenced by ancient China, the murals depicted the Azure Dragon and a sun image on the east wall, the White Tiger and a moon image on the west wall, the Black Tortoise on the north wall, and a star chart on the ceiling. It is thought that a Vermilion Bird was painted on the south wall, but it appears to have been lost along with grave goods during a Kamakura-period tomb robbery. The interior of the tomb cannot be entered; instead, visit the adjacent Takamatsuzuka Mural Hall to see highly accurate reproductions. Access is about a 15-minute walk from Kintetsu Asuka Station, or you can use the "Akakame" sightseeing loop bus from the station. Asuka Historical National Government Park also includes another kofun called Nakaoyama, so consider visiting it together with Takamatsuzuka Kofun and the Mural Hall.