Onikiri-ishi Rock [Miyazaki]

【Overview of Onikiri-ishi Rock】

Quietly resting alongside ancient legends deep within the lush nature and densely forested mountains of Miyazaki Prefecture is Onikiri-ishi Rock. True to its name (which translates to “Demon-Cutting Rock”), this massive boulder stands splits beautifully and flawlessly right down the middle, looking precisely as though it were cleaved in two by a single blow from a gigantic blade.

Its appearance closely resembles the great boulder that Tanjiro Kamado, the protagonist of the hit manga Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba), famously split in half at Mount Sagiri at the end of his training.

Onikiri-ishi is located approximately 5 kilometers by car from the central area of Takachiho in Miyazaki Prefecture. According to legend, when the deity Mikeiri no Mikoto went to defeat Kihachi—an evil god who was ravaging the Takachiho countryside—his sword missed its target and struck this boulder instead, leaving behind this legendary mark. Encircled by a sacred shimenawa straw rope, this mythic stone serves as a profound “power spot” heavily steeped in local folklore.

【Folklore of the Takachiho Region】

According to local Takachiho folklore, rather than being lost at sea, Mikeiri no Mikoto became separated from the fleet during the storm and made his way back to his homeland of Takachiho. Upon his return, he found the evil god Kihachi tormenting the local people. After a fierce battle, Mikeiri no Mikoto and his retainers defeated Kihachi and rescued Princess Unome (Unome-hime), who had been held captive, making her his wife. Because Kihachi once resurrected using his powerful dark magic, Mikeiri no Mikoto severed his body into three parts (the head, torso, and limbs) and buried them in separate locations to prevent him from ever coming back to life. This narrative connects directly to the legend of Onikiri-ishi Rock. Following these events, it is passed down that Mikeiri no Mikoto and his descendants governed the lands of Takachiho for generations and spread agriculture throughout the region.

【The Path to Onikiri-ishi】

The path leading to Onikiri-ishi Rock has not been developed as a tourist destination, making the route considerably high in difficulty. As you approach the destination, the road turns into a narrow, steep slope running between private homes and crop fields, barely wide enough for a single vehicle. Because it is highly difficult for two passing cars to clear each other, driving requires extreme caution.

After getting out of your vehicle, you will need to walk through unpaved grass fields and along narrow paths between rice paddies to reach the location where the stone rests.

【Onikiri-ishi】

After proceeding forward for a short while, an area enclosed by a sacred shimenawa rope will come into view. Right at the center sits a giant boulder with a highly distinctive appearance, looking as though one side of it was sliced clean open.

On the surface of the stone, a straight vertical groove (the sword mark) remains distinctly visible, looking precisely as though it were slashed with a sharp blade.

【Nearby Tourist Spots】

Takachiho Shrine, Takachiho Gorge, Amano-Iwato Shrine

Takachiho Shrine [Miyazaki]

Takachiho Gorge [Miyazaki]

天岩戸神社【宮崎県】

【Onikiri-ishi Access】

Admin’s Impressions

While traveling from Takachiho to Oita, I took a detour to visit Onikiri-ishi deep in the mountains. It is a massive boulder tied to the demon-slaying legend of Mikeiri no Mikoto, and I was genuinely astonished by the magnificent split that looks exactly as if it were sliced by an authentic sword. It really shares a striking resemblance to Tanjiro’s training scene in Demon Slayer. Located in a region steeped in demon lore, it felt like an authentic, raw site completely untouched by heavy commercial tourism.

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Onikiri-ishi Address

Kamino, Takachiho, Nishiusuki District, Miyazaki 882-1411

*No parking available.

Approximately 1 hour by car (rental car or taxi) from JR Nippo Main Line “Nobeoka Station.”

Onikiri-ishi Feature Page

参考

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