Saitobaru Archaeological Museum 宮崎県立西都原考古博物館

Saitobaru Kofungun , also known as the Saitobaru Burial Mounds, is a set of tombs spanning a huge area over 58 hectares. The tombs were built between the 3rd and 7th centuries AD, but what makes them most fascinating is how different so many of them are. The Saitobaru Archaeological Museum is the perfect place to learn more.

You can access the Saitobaru Archaeological Museum by car or bus.

By Car: From Miyazaki city take Route 219. The journey is about 40 minutes. If you're coming from the Higashi Kyushu Expressway, use the Saito IC. It's about 10 minutes from the IC and well signed.

By Bus: Go to Miyazaki train station. The bus stop is just outside the West Exit of Miyazaki Station. Get a bus to Saito Bus Center then go by local bus or taxi to the Museum. That takes about 10 minutes.

The Museum is closed on Mondays and over the New Year period.

When you visit Saitobaru Kofungun you will notice how big the burial ground area actually is. Running North-South, the land stretches 4.2kms, and from East-West, it spans 2.6kms.

Within that area, you can see tombs of all shapes and sizes, both above ground and below ground. That's where the Saitobaru Archaeological Museum comes in so handy as it helps you understand the area and the stories behind the tombs.

In fact, when you visit the Saitobaru Archaeological Museum, you'll learn there's 319 tombs in total, consisting of 31 keyhole tombs, 2 rectangular tombs and 286 circle mounds.

The Museum will give you some really great insights on all of them and provide a lot of very knowledgeable facts and details. So when you plan your trip to Saitobaru Burial Mounds in Saito, keep some time free for a visit to the Saitobaru Archaeological Museum.

The latest information may differ, so please check the official website