An Ancient Kingdom at the Foot of Mount Haruna
During the latter half of the 5th century, a powerful ruling elite controlled the area around the southeastern foothills of Mount Haruna. The three large burial mounds that remain at the Hotoda Kofun Group—Hachimanzuka Kofun, Futagoyama Kofun, and Yakushizuka Kofun—are believed to have been built for these powerful leaders.
The region was known at the time as Kuruma, a name that eventually developed into “Gunma.” This makes the area particularly significant in understanding the historical origins of the name and identity of present-day Gunma Prefecture.
Large quantities of volcanic ash from eruptions of Mount Asama and Mount Haruna were deposited across the region. This helped preserve ancient burial mounds, settlements, and rice paddies remarkably well, providing archaeologists with valuable evidence for reconstructing the society and daily life of the period.
Explore the Kofun Period Through Nine Themes
The museum’s permanent exhibition introduces the ancient culture of the Mount Haruna foothills through nine thematic sections. Together, they provide a detailed picture of life, technology, beliefs, international connections, and political power during the Kofun period.
Reconstructing the World of the 5th Century
At the center of the exhibition is a large-scale landscape model created at a scale of 1:500. It recreates the ancient landscape of burial mounds, settlements, and rice paddies that once spread across the region.
Explanatory videos complement the model, helping visitors visualize the landscape and understand the historical background of the communities that lived here.
Exploring the Ruler’s Residence – Mitsudera I Site
The Mitsudera I Site is recognized as the first confirmed remains of a powerful local elite’s residence discovered in Japan. The impressive compound was surrounded by a moat approximately 30 meters wide and 4 meters deep.
Reconstruction models and archaeological artifacts reveal aspects of the political structure and daily life of the ruling elite. The exhibits provide an intriguing glimpse into how powerful leaders lived during the Kofun period.
Exploring the Ruler’s Tomb
A reconstruction model showing the construction process of Hachimanzuka Kofun demonstrates the enormous amount of labor, organization, and technical knowledge required to build a large keyhole-shaped burial mound.
The model allows visitors to understand how thousands of workers may have contributed to the construction of these monumental tombs and how the project was organized.
Small Rice Paddies and Village Life
Ancient rice paddies preserved beneath layers of volcanic ash reveal a landscape divided into numerous small plots. These remains provide important evidence of agricultural practices and the organization of rural communities.
Reconstruction models show how people cultivated the land and organized their settlements. Exhibits also recreate pit dwellings and ritual spaces, helping visitors imagine everyday life during the Kofun period.
People Who Came from Across the Sea
The museum also explores the connections between ancient Gunma and other parts of East Asia. Among the exhibits are artifacts demonstrating cultural exchange with the Korean Peninsula, including what are considered to be Japan’s oldest examples of gold-decorated footwear.
These objects provide evidence that communities in the Gunma region were connected to a much wider East Asian cultural network more than 1,500 years ago.
Stories Hidden in Haniwa Figures
Haniwa are clay figures placed around ancient burial mounds. They were more than simple decorations and are believed to have played roles in funerary rituals and expressed aspects of the beliefs and worldview of the Kofun period.
Figures depicting hunters, wild boars, warriors, and other people and animals provide valuable clues about ancient society, religious practices, and the symbolic world surrounding the burial of powerful leaders.
Experience the Hotoda Kofun Group Outdoors
Just outside the museum, visitors can explore the reconstructed Hachimanzuka Kofun and Futagoyama Kofun. Seeing the burial mounds in their actual landscape makes it easier to understand the scale and significance of the archaeological discoveries introduced inside the museum.
At Hachimanzuka Kofun, reconstructed groups of human and animal haniwa can be seen along the mound. A facility at the rear circular section also allows visitors to view an actual boat-shaped stone sarcophagus.
Walking around the burial mounds provides a valuable complement to the museum exhibitions, allowing visitors to experience the ancient landscape directly rather than simply viewing it through models and photographs.
Hands-On Learning and Cultural Events
The museum organizes a variety of educational programs, including history lectures, ancient-culture workshops for children, and the Kamitsukeno-sato Kofun Festival.
At certain times, visitors can also participate in haniwa-making activities at the hands-on facility. Creating a clay figure provides a fun and memorable way to learn about ancient Japanese culture.
The museum also has a museum shop and library, where visitors can find books related to archaeology and local history, as well as original museum merchandise.
Kamitsukeno Haniwa-no-Sato Park
A Vast Historic Park Surrounded by Nature
Kamitsukeno Haniwa-no-Sato Park extends across approximately 12.9 hectares in Ide-cho and Hotoda-cho, Takasaki. Set against views of Mount Haruna, the spacious park combines archaeological sites, museums, literary monuments, walking paths, and open green areas.
The result is a unique cultural landscape where visitors can enjoy both the natural scenery and the history of ancient Japan.
The National Historic Site of the Hotoda Kofun Group
The centerpiece of the park is the Hotoda Kofun Group, which was designated a National Historic Site in 1985. The group consists of three large keyhole-shaped burial mounds—Futagoyama Kofun, Hachimanzuka Kofun, and Yakushizuka Kofun—built successively over approximately 30 years from the late 5th to the early 6th century.
Hachimanzuka Kofun has been reconstructed based on archaeological research to recreate its appearance approximately 1,500 years ago. Rows of cylindrical haniwa line the mound, while reconstructed groups of human and animal figures can be seen along part of the inner embankment.
A facility at the rear of the mound displays an actual boat-shaped stone sarcophagus, offering visitors a more concrete understanding of burial practices during the Kofun period.
History and Literature Within the Park
In addition to the archaeological museum, the park is home to the Gunma Prefectural Tsuchiya Bunmei Memorial Literature Museum. The museum celebrates the achievements of Bunmei Tsuchiya, one of Gunma’s most important tanka poets, through exhibitions of his works, manuscripts, and other materials.
The park also contains a monument commemorating Tsuchiya Bunmei’s poetry and a poetry monument dedicated to poet Yamamura Bochō. Visitors can therefore combine an archaeological journey through ancient Japan with a literary walk through more recent cultural history.
Hands-On Experiences and Relaxation
Kamitsukeno Haniwa-no-Sato Park includes a rest facility, haniwa workshop, and haniwa kiln. Depending on the program schedule, visitors may be able to participate in hands-on haniwa-making activities and experience aspects of ancient craft traditions.
The park’s spacious lawns and walking paths are ideal for a leisurely stroll. The changing scenery throughout the seasons adds another attraction to this historic landscape.
A Living Historic Landscape
The park is more than a place for preserving archaeological remains. It has been developed as a “living historical landscape” where visitors can experience the scale and atmosphere of the ancient world.
Walking among the reconstructed burial mounds beneath the peaceful slopes of Mount Haruna makes it easier to imagine the rulers and communities who once lived here. The combination of archaeological remains, reconstructed structures, museums, and nature creates a distinctive cultural experience.
Access
From Takasaki Station: Take a Gunma Bus bound for Shinto Village Hall and get off at Akibamae. The museum is approximately a five-minute walk from the bus stop.
From Maebashi Station: Take a Kan-etsu Kotsu bus and get off at Kamitsukeno-sato Museum.
Local buses: The Gururin city loop bus also provides access to the park and museum, making the site relatively convenient to reach by public transportation.
Discover the Roots of Gunma
Kamitsukeno-sato Museum is more than an archaeological museum. It is a gateway to understanding the history and cultural roots of Gunma through the remains of a powerful society that flourished at the foot of Mount Haruna approximately 1,500 years ago.
The museum exhibitions, reconstructed kofun, haniwa figures, ancient settlement remains, and literary attractions within the surrounding park create a rich cultural journey through different periods of Japanese history.
Take your time to explore the museum and walk among the ancient burial mounds. As you look across the landscape toward Mount Haruna, you can imagine the rulers, farmers, craftspeople, and communities who once made this region their home.