Sessho-seki (Killing Stone)
殺生石
A volcanic rock wasteland beside Nasu Yumoto Onsen, said to seal a boulder that was the shape-shifting nine-tailed fox. In March 2022, the boulder was found split in two, making headlines.
Sessho-seki sits in the 'Thieves' Field' valley north of the Nasu Yumoto hot spring street. Volcanic gases such as hydrogen sulfide continuously seep from the exposed volcanic rock. In the past, birds and animals that approached it died, which gave the stone its name. Legend says the beautiful Tamamo-no-Mae was a nine-tailed fox. When she was exposed, she fled to Nasu and turned into a poisonous stone. The haiku poet Matsuo Bashō also visited and left a verse here. In March 2022, the boulder, wrapped in a shimenawa sacred rope, was found split in two, sparking lively debate about the nine-tailed fox's revival. A wooden boardwalk leads about 10 minutes to the boulder and rows of thousand Jizo statues wearing red caps. Admission is free. The entrance is next to Nasu Onsen Shrine and the Shika-no-Yu bath, so you can visit them together. When gas levels are high, the trail may close, so follow the posted signs.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Shika-no-Yu (Nasu Yumoto Onsen)
- Nasu Heisei-no-Mori Forest
- Kita Onsen
- Minamigaoka Ranch
- Mt. Chausu & Nasu Ropeway
- Nasu Safari Park
- Nasu Stained Glass Museum
- Nasu Highland Park