The name 'CoFuFun' is a play on words combining 'kofun' (ancient burial mound) and 'fufun' (a humming sound of happiness).
The plaza was commissioned by the city of Tenri to rejuvenate the area around Tenri Station and attract more tourists to the region.
The project was designed by Oki Sato of the Japanese design studio Nendo.
The structures are made of precast concrete, creating a smooth, white finish that contrasts with the traditional rural surroundings of Nara.
The facility is built to encourage visitors to walk on, climb, and interact with the architecture rather than treating it as a static monument.
CoFuFun Tenri Station Plaza is a public outdoor space designed by architect Nendo to integrate the local history of Nara's ancient kofun burial mounds with modern community infrastructure. The plaza features several massive, white, circular concrete structures of varying heights that function as stairs, benches, amphitheaters, and children's play areas. It serves as the primary station square for Tenri Station, bridging the gap between transportation, tourism, and local public life. The design mimics the shape of keyhole-shaped tomb mounds which are prevalent throughout the surrounding Tenri landscape. The site includes a cafe, tourist information center, and event space built directly into the sculptural concrete mounds. It acts as a multifunctional urban park that hosts regular community markets and local performances.
From the ground level looking up at the largest circular mound to capture the scale and curvature against the sky.
Visit in the evening when the LED lighting illuminates the curved white surfaces for a unique visual experience.
Use the upper levels of the larger mounds to get a vantage point of the Tenri city skyline.
Check the local event board at the visitor center for community markets held on weekends.
Assuming it is a historical site; it is a modern artistic interpretation of local history, not an archaeological excavation.
Avoid climbing on surfaces marked for restricted use; remain respectful of the station's functional transit areas.
