The White Heron Legend and the Tama-no-Ishi: Two Origin Stories of Dogo Onsen

This article introduces the two stories told as the origins of Dogo Onsen: the White Heron legend and Tama-no-Ishi. Tama-no-Ishi is on the north side of the Honkan (to the left when facing the front). It is said that pouring hot water over it with a ladle and praying will grant a wish. The article also covers the Heron Stone at Hojoen and the Honkan private rooms named after the white heron.

The White Heron Legend and Tama-no-Ishi

White Heron legend: A white heron injured its shin, soaked the shin every day in water welling up between the rocks, and flew away once healed. People saw this and learned of the hot spring.
Tama-no-Ishi: Okuninushi-no-Mikoto bathed the ailing Sukunabikona-no-Mikoto in Dogo's hot water, and Sukunabikona recovered and danced on a stone. That stone is Tama-no-Ishi, on the north side of the Honkan.

The Hot Water Found by an Injured White Heron

Two old stories are told about the discovery of Dogo Onsen. One is the "White Heron legend." Long ago, a white heron with an injured leg soaked its leg in water flowing from between the rocks; before long the wound healed and it flew off in good health. A villager who saw this put a hand in the water, found it warm, and realized that it was a hot spring.

The name of the Honkan's tower, Shinrokaku, and the white heron designs found in various places come from this legend.

The White Heron Scene in Historical Sources

The official Dogo Onsen website introduces this story as an account in the local gazetteer Yoyo Gungo Rigenshu, completed in Hoei 7 (1710). The history of Dogo's waters is in the history of Dogo Onsen.

Okuninushi-no-Mikoto and Sukunabikona-no-Mikoto: A Myth of the Waters

The other story is a myth recorded in surviving fragments of the Iyo no Kuni Fudoki. While Okuninushi-no-Mikoto and Sukunabikona-no-Mikoto were traveling through Iyo Province, Sukunabikona-no-Mikoto suddenly fell ill. Okuninushi-no-Mikoto is said to have led the waters of Hayami no Yu in Oita through a pipe under the sea to Dogo, placed Sukunabikona-no-Mikoto on his palm, and bathed him; Sukunabikona-no-Mikoto quickly recovered. Matsuyama City's guidance says that he cried "Mashimashii netaru kamo" (it seems I slept for a while) and danced on a stone.

Where Tama-no-Ishi Is and How to Pray There

It is on the north side of Dogo Onsen Honkan, to the left when facing the front with the sign.
A footprint said to belong to Sukunabikona-no-Mikoto remains on it.
According to Matsuyama City's guidance, pouring hot water over it with a ladle and praying is said to make a wish come true.
The private room "Tama-no-Ishi-no-Ma" at Dogo Onsen Annex Asuka-no-Yu has a dye work about 10 meters long that depicts the Tama-no-Ishi legend using Yawatahama's traditional tsutsugaki dyeing.

The Heron Stone at Hojoen

There is a "Heron Stone" at Hojoen in front of Dogo Onsen Station. According to Matsuyama City's guidance, it is said to be the stone on which a heron that healed its wound in the hot spring rested, and marks resembling footprints can be seen on its surface. Hojoen also has a foot bath fed from the yukama once used at the Honkan. The station square is described in Dogo Onsen Station and Hojoen.

The Honkan Rooms Named After the White Heron

The official Dogo Onsen Honkan website introduces the Rei-no-Yu third-floor reserved rooms "Shirasagi-no-Ma" and "Hisho-no-Ma." From Shirasagi-no-Ma, visitors can see the white heron standing on top of Shinrokaku; the name comes from the way the bird appears to leap for joy after its wound has healed. The white heron seen from Hisho-no-Ma is described as looking as if the healed heron is taking flight into the sky.

Sources:

Last confirmed: 2026/10/23