Key Facts
• April 15, 2025: Fire damaged the Otsuka Burial Mound Museum in Katsuragawa Town.
• Damage: Office burned; electrical and air conditioning systems rendered unusable.
• Cost: Restoration budget of approximately 375 million yen approved in September 2025.
• Timeline: Museum aims to reopen by the end of fiscal year 2026.
• Artifacts: Key items like mirrors and horse gear were safely stored at Kyoto National Museum.
• New Exhibits: Plans to display a restored 1-meter-tall cylindrical haniwa, one of Kyushu’s largest.
• Interactive Features: Visitors will be able to try on handmade armor replicas.
• Special Access: Twice-yearly access to the burial chamber remains suspended due to the closure.
• Historical Significance: Otsuka Burial Mound, a 6th-century site, is a designated Special Historic Site of Japan.
Summary
The Otsuka Burial Mound Museum in Katsuragawa Town, Fukuoka Prefecture, has been closed since a fire in April 2025 damaged its office and infrastructure. Restoration efforts are now in full swing, with a budget of 375 million yen approved to facilitate reopening by fiscal year 2026. The museum, which showcases the 6th-century Otsuka Burial Mound, plans to enhance its exhibits by including a restored cylindrical haniwa and interactive features like armor replicas for visitors. Key artifacts, safely stored at the Kyoto National Museum, were unharmed. While special access to the burial chamber remains suspended, the museum aims to reopen as a more engaging and visitor-friendly facility.
