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東京都
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Masakado's Mound
東京都
The Otemachi mound where Masakado's head is said to have flown back from Kyoto — Tokyo's most feared power spot, where relocation attempts always end in disaster
Founded
940
Type
Historic Site
Visited
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Access
Right at Tokyo Metro Otemachi Station Exit C6a
1-2-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda, Tokyo
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Info
Historic Site
Founded 940
1086 years
Overview
The burial mound of Taira no Masakado's head in the Otemachi business district. After Masakado's rebellion was crushed in 940, his head was displayed in Kyoto but allegedly flew back to the Kanto region and fell here. Every attempt to relocate or remove the mound has been followed by misfortune, making it Tokyo's most powerful spiritual site.
Origins
Based on the legend that Masakado's head flew from Kyoto in 940. After the 1923 earthquake, misfortunes struck Finance Ministry workers who built over it. A postwar GHQ parking plan was also abandoned. Renovated in 2021.

史
Related Historical Events
— 1

940
平将門の乱
天慶2年（939年）、関東の豪族・平将門が常陸・下野・上野の国府を次々に攻め落とし、自ら「新皇」を称して朝廷に反旗を翻した。将門は関東一円を支配下に収め、独立政権の樹立を目指したが、天慶3年（940年）2月、従弟の平貞盛と下野押領使・藤原秀郷の連合軍に猿島郡で討たれた。首は京都に送られてさらし首にされたが、やがてその首が東国へ飛び帰ったという伝説が生まれ、落ちた場所が「将門塚」として現在も大手町に祀られている。将門の乱は東国武士の自立の萌芽であり、200年後の源平合戦、鎌倉幕府成立への遠い前奏曲でもあった。
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人
Related Figures
— 1

Taira no Masakado
New Emperor (Shinkō)
Age 37 at founding
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Killed February 14, 940, in Shimosa Province by the allied forces of Fujiwara no Hidesato and Taira no Sadamori. He had proclaimed himself "New Emperor" and established an independent regime in the Kanto region, but was suppressed within two months. Legend says his severed head, displayed in Kyoto, opened its eyes after three days and flew eastward seeking its body. This mound marks where it fell. Attempts to move or demolish the site have allegedly triggered curses—incidents were reported after the Great Kanto Earthquake and when GHQ planned its removal.
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