Sesshoseki

This stone is on the northern side of Nasu Onsen-jinja Shrine in Yumoto, Nasu Town. Legends say that the hydrogen sulfide and other poisonous gases being expelled in the area represent the lingering grudge of a nine-tailed fox that morphed into a beautiful woman and kidnapped the emperor. Matsuo Basho visited the area as well and left behind a poem, and this place has been designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty as one of the locations featured in Basho’s “Oku no Hosomichi (The Narrow Road to the Deep North).” There is walkway around the area, but because gases are still being emitted in the vicinity, crossing the fence and approaching the site is not allowed.