Imperial Household Agency: Takano-no-Misasagi (Mausoleum of Empress Shotoku)
Location
Nara
Shape
Keyhole-shaped mound
Mound length
127 m
Designation
IHA-managed tomb
IHA designation
Managed by the IHA (mound closed to the public)
Overview
A keyhole mound in the western Saki group, now managed as Empress Shotoku's mausoleum.
Finds & research
Haniwa are documented. The central burial facility and full grave assemblage remain unknown.
Official status & archaeological view
Official status
The IHA designates the mound as Takano-no-Misasagi, the mausoleum of the 48th sovereign, Empress Shotoku, and officially classifies it as keyhole-shaped.
Attribution (jitei): the Imperial Household Agency's determination of whose tomb it manages — separate from heritage designation.
Archaeological view
A 127m west-facing keyhole mound at Misasagi, Nara. Haniwa are documented, but Nara City states that details remain unknown. The date of this mound itself is not known from published sources; the Nara Palace Site Historical Park guide places most of the Saki group in the late 4th to early 5th century.
Field notes
The IHA states that the worship area is about an eight-minute walk from Kintetsu Heijo Station. The mausoleum precinct is closed. The goryoin (mausoleum seal) is kept at the Unebi Mausolea Office in Kashihara, Nara, 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).