Kitora Tumulus Shijin-no-Yakata
Understand Kitora's four guardian figures and star chart before viewing the restored mound outside.
AI-generated visual study · not a documentary photographDiscover Kitora Tumulus Shijin-no-Yakata
Shijin-no-Yakata is the indoor interpretation centre for Kitora Tumulus, a small late-seventh- to early-eighth-century tomb whose murals reshaped the archaeology of Asuka. After the nearby Takamatsuzuka paintings drew attention to decorated tombs, local residents told researchers of a similar mound here. A fibre-optic probe found the north-wall Genbu in 1983; later camera surveys revealed the dragon, tiger, star chart, Suzaku and zodiac figures. Because the plaster was too fragile to remain underground, conservators removed the murals and the chamber was closed and reburied. The free basement gallery explains this story with a full-scale chamber model and high-resolution imagery. The original paintings are shown separately on limited, advance-registration dates; an ordinary museum visit does not guarantee access to them.
Read the chamber before the mound
Begin in the basement exhibition room, where a full-scale chamber model and high-resolution displays show where the four directional guardian figures, zodiac figures and ceiling star chart belonged. This makes the small, closed exterior mound easier to understand when you walk up to it afterwards.
Follow the discoveries without guessing the tomb's owner
The park's history places Kitora among the decorated tombs found in the Asuka area after the discovery of Takamatsuzuka. A fibre-optic survey in 1983 revealed the north-wall Genbu; camera surveys in 1998 identified the dragon, tiger and astronomical chart, and a 2001 digital survey confirmed the south-wall Suzaku and the animal-headed zodiac figures. The two-tier mound dates broadly to the late seventh or early eighth century. Several people have been proposed as its occupant, including Prince Takechi, Kudara no Kasonari and Abe no Miushi, but the park presents these as theories rather than an identification. The model and displays let you read the evidence while keeping that uncertainty visible.
Why the paintings moved
The murals' plaster support was too fragile to leave in place. Conservators removed and treated the paintings, while the stone chamber was closed and reburied. The original paintings belong to the Culture Agency's conservation facility on the first floor, which opens them only during announced periods with advance registration. Its regular public-room hours and closure days differ from the free basement interpretation gallery. The latest announced display (the 41st opening) ended on 18 October 2026; no next viewing period was listed when checked on 24 October. Check the conservation facility's live notice before planning a mural-focused trip.
Compare two painted tombs
Kitora and Takamatsuzuka are close enough to form a themed Asuka day, but their displays differ. Kitora's ceiling holds a detailed astronomical chart and its murals include all four guardian directions; Takamatsuzuka is particularly known for its human figures. In both cases the surviving originals have conservation rules and are not simply visible inside the outdoor mounds.
An outdoor archaeology stop
The restored two-tier round mound can be viewed from the park's observation area. The original chamber is not a walk-in attraction. The annex normally offers paid craft activities, including magatama-making, with same-day reception on weekends and holidays; the operator has suspended the Shijin-no-Yakata weekend programme from 1 August through 29 November 2026 because of parking congestion during mural openings. Do not assume activities resume on 30 November: check the park's current event calendar. Lawns and rest spaces remain separate outdoor features of the wider park visit.
What to look for
Full-scale chamber model and mural interpretation
Restored Kitora mound and observation area
Rare original-mural openings by advance registration
Photo notes
No blanket permission for exhibition or original-mural photography was established from the operator pages reviewed. Follow posted rules for each room and ask before publishing photographs of exhibits or murals. Use only licensed images on MyNara.
SEASONAL CALENDAR
Events connected with Kitora Tumulus Shijin-no-Yakata
These records are shared with MyNara’s event calendar, so dates and notices have one source. Recurring patterns are not confirmed dated editions; check the organizer’s latest guidance.
Asuka Half Marathon 2027
The organizer confirms a 21.0975 km half marathon from 09:00 to 12:30 on March 14, 2027, with a first-come capacity of 3,000 runners. The general entry filled on October 9, 2026, well before its original December deadline; the organizer's notice thanks applicants but does not publish the final number of accepted runners. The course starts and finishes at Kitora Tumulus Shijin-no-Yakata and passes the Tenmu and Jitō tombs, Kawaradera, Tachibanadera, Ishibutai, the Inabuchi terraces and Takamatsuzuka-area roads. This is useful to spectators and anyone planning to visit these sites that day, not an invitation to enter. The start/finish is a 20-minute walk from Kintetsu Asuka Station; there is no participant parking, road restrictions begin near the venue at 08:00, and station-area congestion is expected. A free general-visitor shuttle runs from the venue back to Asuka Station from 10:00 to 14:00, but not before the race. Check the organizer's latest access and course notices before travelling.
- Time
- Race: 09:00–12:30; roads near the main venue restricted from 08:00
- Admission
- Runner entry was ¥6,000; the general entry reached its 3,000-person cap and closed October 9, 2026. No spectator admission fee is stated.
- Booking
- General runner entry is closed after reaching capacity. The organizer does not publish a spectator registration process; follow its visitor-access guidance and do not enter the course.
Make a day of it
Explore guides close to this map point, then check the actual route before travelling. Distances below are straight lines, not walking distances or travel times; map points may not be entrances.
Sources & editorial status
Original MyNara draft based on the linked sources. Sources reviewed 24 October 2026. Opening arrangements, prices and offers may change; use the operator's current information before travelling.
- Park operator — museum displays, access and current hours
- Park operator — Kitora archaeology and mural conservation
- Park operator — 2026 weekend workshop suspension
- Park operator — Kitora bus parking reservations from September 2026
- Nara Prefecture directory listing
- Nara research institute — mural conservation facility
- Nara research institute — 41st original-mural opening (19 Sep–18 Oct 2026; now ended)