Yokkaichi Cave Tomb Cluster
The Yokkaichi Cave Tomb Cluster is the name for two groups of ancient tombs carved into soft rock in Usa city, Ōita Prefecture, on Kyushu island, Japan. It has been a National Historic Site since 1957.
These tombs come from the late 6th to 7th century, a time when burial practices in the Kofun period shifted from mounded graves to cemeteries cut into hillsides. Cemeteries like this could hold many tombs, each with several burials.
The two clusters together contain 161 horizontal cave tombs dug into the tuff rock on the east side of the Dainohara Hills, stretching about 300 meters. They are split into:
- Kagayama Cluster: 75 tombs spread over about 160 meters, on a slope from 28 to 40 meters in altitude, arranged in six steps like a staircase.
- Ikkite Cluster: 86 tombs on a slope of 28 to 36 meters above sea level, laid out on 3 to 4 tiers.
Each tomb is oval with a semicylindrical burial chamber and a short passage; the ceiling slopes down toward the back.
Many tombs have been opened long ago, and no systematic archaeological excavation has been done, so details about the burials and grave goods are unknown.
Some tombs are decorated with colors. Kagayama Nos. 39 and 40 and Ikkite No. 62 show red patterns. Kagayama decorations include four standing figures with outstretched hands and concentric circles, while Ikkite No. 62 has 14 red concentric circles.
The site is open to the public.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 08:12 (CET).