Imperial Household Agency: Shinaga-no-Yamada-no-Misasagi (Mausoleum of Empress Suiko)
Location
Taishi, Osaka
Shape
Square mound
Mound east–west
59 m
Period
Early 7th c.
Designation
IHA-managed tomb
IHA designation
Managed by the IHA (mound closed to the public)
Overview
A large terminal-period square mound at Yamada in Taishi. It is designated as Empress Suiko's mausoleum and traditionally regarded as her joint tomb with Prince Takeda. It measures 59 by 55m.
Finds & research
Two horizontal stone chambers are thought to lie inside, but details remain unconfirmed because it is an Imperial mausoleum. Grave goods are unknown.
Official status & archaeological view
Official status
The Imperial Household Agency designates and manages it as Shinaga-no-Yamada Mausoleum of Empress Suiko, the 33rd emperor, and classifies its form as a square mound.
Attribution (jitei): the Imperial Household Agency's determination of whose tomb it manages — separate from heritage designation.
Archaeological view
Taishi Town records a large square mound measuring 59m east-west by 55m north-south. It is an east-west elongated, three-tiered rectangular mound. The Nihon Shoki says that Suiko was buried with the previously deceased Prince Takeda. Taishi Town infers that the mound contains two horizontal stone chambers.
Field notes
The Imperial Household Agency gives access as about a six-minute walk from the Suiko Tenno-ryo-mae bus stop. Worship hours are generally 8:30–17:00. The goryoin (mausoleum seal) is kept at the Furuichi Mausolea Office in Habikino, Osaka, where visitors can use it free of charge (reception 8:30–17:00; staff may be unavailable on weekends, holidays, 29 Dec–3 Jan and some other days).