Hayama Cave Tomb

Hayama Cave Tomb (羽山横穴, Hayama Yokoana) is a group of a dozen Corridor-type kofun (横穴式石室, yokoana-shiki sekishitsu) tombs located in the city of Minamisōma, in Fukushima Prefecture in the southern Tōhoku region of northern Japan. The site has been protected by the central government as a National Historic Site since December 23, 1974.[1]

Hayama Cave Tomb

羽山横穴
Hayama Cave Tomb Show map of Fukushima Prefecture Hayama Cave Tomb (Japan) Show map of Japan
Location	Minamisōma, Fukushima, Japan
Region	Tōhoku region
Coordinates	37°36′51.8″N 140°57′26.5″E
Altitude	30 m (98 ft)
Type	kofun cluster
Site notes
Ownership	National Historic Site
Public access	Yes

The tombs are located on a hillside north of the Ota River, and were discovered by chance during the construction of modern housing in 1973. The largest of the tombs has a length of 8.3 meters, with a three-meter vestibule, in a rectangular layout. On the far wall, the tomb is decorated with designs in ref iron oxide, depicting a horse, a sawtooth-like geometric design, red deer and spirals connected by red and white lines. The back wall and ceiling are also decorated with more than 250 red and white spots. Relics found within the tomb include bronze and gilt sword fittings, knives, glass and bronze beads, horse fittings and Sue ware pottery.

The tomb was formerly open to the public four times per year; however, it has been closed since the 2011 Great Tohoku Earthquake. Full-scale replicas and excavated artifacts are on display at the Minamisōma City Museum.