The Kitora burial mound contains the world's oldest extant celestial map painted on its ceiling, dating back over 1,300 years.
The four walls of the burial chamber are decorated with images of the Four Deities: the Black Tortoise, Vermilion Bird, Azure Dragon, and White Tiger.
Excavations in the early 1980s revealed the tomb's entrance via fiber-optic scope, leading to the discovery of the paintings.
The site features a life-sized model of the internal stone chamber that allows visitors to view the paintings in their original configuration.
The surrounding landscape is actively managed to replicate the satoyama environment of the Asuka period.
Kitora Tumulus Area is a district of the Asuka Historical National Government Park centered around the seventh-century Kitora burial mound. The site is most notable for the Kitora Tumulus wall paintings, which include the oldest surviving astronomical star chart in the world. The nearby Kitora Tumulus Experience Hall houses a high-fidelity replica of the stone chamber and its intricate frescoes. Visitors can walk through reconstructed rural landscapes and traditional terraced rice paddies that evoke the Nara period. The area serves as a focal point for archaeological research and public education regarding the Asuka-era imperial history. It is part of a wider network of preserved historical sites within the Fujiwara-kyō region.
The elevated observation deck providing a panoramic view of the burial mound set against the backdrop of the Asuka valley.
Visit the Kitora Tumulus Experience Hall first to understand the context of the paintings before walking to the mound itself.
Wear comfortable walking shoes as the park features uneven paths through historical fields.
Check the official website for the specific rotating schedule of original artifact viewings, as they are not on display year-round.
Do not attempt to enter the original tomb chamber, as it is strictly closed to the public to preserve the delicate environment.
Closed on specific winter holidays and occasionally for facility maintenance; original paintings are exhibited only for limited periods annually.
Maintain silence inside the experience hall and do not touch the stone mound structures.
