Saito: Saitobaru, Museums and History

Saito offers a range of historical perspectives: the vast Saitobaru Kofun Group, collections on local history and folklore, and the ruins of Tonokori Castle. A designated walking path connects Saitobaru with the city center, and the Prefectural Archaeological Museum complements the museums with archaeological finds and hands-on activities. You can shape your stay around the landscape, local culture, or archaeology.

The Saitobaru Kofun Group in Numbers

The Saitobaru Kofun Group, a special historic site, lies west of Saito city center on the Saitobaru Plateau. The burial mounds are located at elevations of 60 to 80 meters and extend about 4.2 kilometers from north to south and 2.6 kilometers from east to west. The north-to-south span is therefore about 1.6 times the east-to-west span. Together, the location, elevation range, and relative dimensions give a clear picture of the site's scale.

A Walking Path Between Saitobaru and the City Center

The designated Kiki no Michi walking path winds through Saito's rural landscape and connects the Saitobaru Kofun Group with the city center. Its focus is the connection between the historic site and the center; by contrast, the mound measurements describe the extent of the site. If you would like to include a walk in your stay, Kiki no Michi is a clearly defined option alongside the museums' collection-focused themes.

Two Museums, Different Focuses

The Saito Museum of History and Folklore displays excavated artifacts from various parts of Saito, as well as traditional objects such as Buddhist statues. The collections also include tools used in agriculture and forestry, household items, and hunting equipment. Records of the implements used in folk dance and folk music performances, as well as performances held as part of ritual offerings, are also on display. Archaeological finds, objects from work and daily life, and documented performances come together as distinct themes.

The Saitobaru Prefectural Archaeological Museum in Saito has a different focus: it exhibits valuable archaeological finds from Miyazaki Prefecture. These include replicas of the National Treasures “金銅馬具類” and the Important Cultural Properties “埴輪子持家・埴輪船”. Compared with the Museum of History and Folklore, the emphasis here is on archaeological finds from the prefecture and the specifically named replicas; the other museum also displays finds from various parts of Saito and objects from everyday life and work.

You can experience the virtual world of Saitobaru using a VR headset. The Ancient Life Experience section offers activities to make magatama pendants, earthenware, and haniwa figures. These digital and hands-on formats add further ways to engage with Saitobaru alongside the archaeological finds.

Tonokori Castle and the Itō Clan

The ruins of Tonokori Castle offer another historical perspective. The Itō clan built the castle in 1335; for 242 years, it served as the Itō clan's seat of power in Hyūga. Unlike the spatial measurements of the Saitobaru Kofun Group, the focus here is on a time frame: a specific year of construction and the duration of the clan's rule. You can complement archaeological collections and local cultural themes with the history of the Itō clan.

Festival Dates at Shiromi Shrine

According to the modern Gregorian calendar, the festival at Shiromi Shrine in Saito is held from December 12 to 16. Check the dates for your year of travel before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Ebino, Miyazaki, Miyakonojo, Sankasho, Gokase, Nichinan, Takachiho, Kobayashi

For the main travel overview: Miyazaki Prefecture.