Meanwhile back at the kofun

 This is the platform along the side of the kofun, the side away from where I entered the grounds. The lowest level used to be an artificial pond which surrounded the main structure.

 This is an aerial photo of the kofun and the surrounding land. You can clearly see the areas that used to be pond. Also the paths that people use to get up on the top of the kofun a visible.

Another board contained pictures of some of the things and lists of everything that was found inside the kofun when it was excavated. The area where I am living was far enough inland but in a flat valley so that it was used for grave sites for the rich and powerful fifteen hundred years ago.