Ishibutai Tumulus 石舞台古墳
Its stones weigh 2,300 tonnes in total: the capstone alone, 77.
Ishibutai Tumulus, whose name means ‘stone stage’, is one of the best-known kofun (the burial mounds of rulers and nobles in ancient Japan) in the country: the stone burial chamber, now visible in the open air because the earth mound that covered it disappeared centuries ago, is built from more than 30 boulders that together weigh about 2,300 tonnes. It is believed to be the tomb of Soga no Umako, a leading figure at the imperial court in the 7th century.
Nara
Shimanosho, Okadera-mae, Okaebisu-mae
