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Image illustration of Yamabushi stone

What is the "Yamabushi Stone" folktale from Hiraizumi? A detailed introduction to the setting of the story [Iwate Prefecture]

Are you familiar with the folktale "Yamabushi Stone," which is set in the Togouchi River basin that flows through Hiraizumi

This article provides a detailed explanation of the the Otaki (Kotogataki) and Medaki (Biwagataki)

What is the story behind Yamabushi Stone

The story of the folktale "Yamabushi Stone" is as follows:

The Tokanai River flows about half a ri west of Chusonji Temple in Hiraizumi

One day, as a young monk was walking along the Togouchi River, he came across a beautiful woman in distress, whose sandals had been washed away by the river. The woman then asked him to carry her on his back to Kotogataki Falls, one waterfall above

When the mountain priest tried to carry the woman back to Kotogataki Falls, he noticed that the woman had scales growing on her arms. The woman was actually a monster living in Biwagataki Falls, and had come to see her husband who lived in Kotogataki Falls

The woman warned the mountain ascetic that if he told anyone about this, he would be turned to stone, so the mountain ascetic looked around and saw the villagers who had been turned to stone lined up around the basin of the waterfall

The next day, the monk went to Kotogataki Falls with the villagers and desperately chanted sutras to drive away the monster. Thanks to this, the monk was defeated and turned to stone, but the lower half of the monk's body also turned to stone

The yamabushi was unable to move, but the villagers carried him to Biwagataki Falls, intending to confront the female monster. The yamabushi defeated the monster at Biwagataki Falls, but was turned to stone by the monster's magic

Even now, when the water in the Togouchi River dries up, the two monster stones can be seen at the bottom of the pool

What is the current state of Otokotaki (Kotogataki)?

According to an old tale about the Yamabushi stones, when the water in the Togouchi River dries up, you can see the stones of monsters, but what is the Togouchi River, Kotogataki Falls, and Biwagataki Falls like today?

Kotogataki Falls is now "Otokotaki" and is located on the west side of Chusonji Temple, in the waters of the Togouchi River that flows through Hiraizumi Town. There is Otokotaki Bridge just above it, and there are signposts and information boards, so you won't get lost on the way.

You can also park your car in the plaza where there is an information board. However, as you get closer to the waterfall, the cliffs become hollowed out and the area in front becomes overgrown with bushes, so while you can admire the Otokotaki waterfall from a distance, it may be a little difficult to get close to the waterfall and look for the monster stone

We recommend that you stand in a safe place to avoid slipping and imagine the battle between the mountain ascetics and the monsters

Otaki＜Information＞

  • Name: Otokotaki (Kotogataki)
  • Address: 37 Hiraizumi Hirotaki, Hiraizumi-cho, Nishiiwai-gun, Iwate Prefecture, 029-4102

Google Map

What is the current state of Metaki (Biwagataki)?

On the other hand, Biwa Falls is now "Female Falls" and, like Koto Falls, is located in the waters of the Togouchi River, which flows through Hiraizumi Town, west of Chusonji Temple. It can be said that the waterfall itself is distinctive in that it is smaller in scale than Otoko Falls.

The area around Metaki is equipped with gazebos and parking lots for tourists, and there are also footpaths, making it easier to access than Otaki

also the "Legend of Otaki and Metaki ," which tells the old story of the Yamabushi Stone, so there are probably many people who read about the Yamabushi Stone for the first time here.

Both Medaki and Otokotaki are now developed as tourist spots, but at the time the folktale was created, there were no lights and it is easy to imagine that it was a place where people in the surrounding area would have rumoured that monsters lived there

Why not try to get a feel for the atmosphere where mountain ascetics and monsters lived from Otaki and Medaki waterfalls?

Onadaki＜Information＞

  • Name: Medaki (Biwagataki)
  • Address: Togouchi, Hiraizumi-cho, Nishiiwai-gun, Iwate Prefecture, 029-4102

Google Map

summary

The old tale "Yamabushi Stone" tells the story of a young yamabushi who desperately tries to chant sutras to exorcise a monster that has taken up residence in Kotogataki and Biwagataki waterfalls in the Togouchi River basin, but ends up being turned to stone himself. However, I learned that Kotogataki and Biwagataki waterfalls can still be visited today as male and female waterfalls, respectively

While thinking about this mysterious old tale, be sure to also visit the Otaki and Medaki waterfalls, which have become natural tourist spots

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