Kitaema Cave Tombs

The Kitaema Cave Tombs, located in Izunokuni, Shizuoka, Japan, represent an archaeological site significant for its burial practices during the transition from the final Kofun period to the early Nara period. This site consists of a series of corridor-type tombs, with burial chambers carved into a tuff hill. The site includes more than 50 tombs, some featuring stone sarcophagi shaped like houses, indicative of the evolving funerary customs from burial to cremation. One notable sarcophagus inscribed with 'Wakato-nari' has been declared a National Important Cultural Property. The site provides valuable insights into the cultural and ritual transformations during a pivotal era in Japanese history. Its designation as a National Historic Site underscores its importance in understanding the region’s archaeological narrative.