Sesshō-seki — the killing stone

photo by 663highland · CC BY 2.5

photo by 663highland · CC BY 2.5

The stone from the legend of the nine-tailed fox split in two on 5 March 2022.

According to the legend, the nine-tailed fox Tamamo-no-Mae, unmasked as a demon after posing as an imperial courtesan, fled here and turned into this stone, which from then on supposedly gave off toxic vapours that killed anyone who came near it, hence the name. In 1385 the monk Gennō is said to have split it with a blow of his staff; the crack still visible today is that legendary scar. On 5 March 2022 the stone was found split in two, an event attributed to natural erosion but one that revived interest in the legend throughout Japan.

The area around the stone is part of an active volcanic zone of Mount Nasu, and the sulphurous gases that really do rise from the ground (the real basis of the legend) have made the place toxic to birds and small animals over the centuries, feeding its reputation. The rock garden (殺生石園地) now also holds a stone marker with a haiku by Matsuo Bashō, who passed through here on the journey told in ‘Oku no Hosomichi’.

ℹ️ Park always accessible and free. When sulphurous gases are highly concentrated, the local authorities may temporarily restrict access: check before a walk on windless days. The walk from the car park is short, a few minutes on a level path.

🚉 那須高原ビジターセンター入口 · 9 min walk

Sources: ja.wikipedia.org · skyticket.jp

All series · Open the map