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Yomotsu-hira Saka

黄泉比良坂

The entrance to the underworld

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In the mythology of the Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matters), Yomotsu-hira Saka appears as the boundary between the land of the dead and the land of the living.
The site from the folklore is located on a gentle slope about 300 meters up from Route 9 in Higashiizumo-cho, Matsue City.
There are large rocks that are reminiscent of the one used to block the entrance to the underworld. They create a very mysterious atmosphere sitting among the quiet grove of trees. 
According to the myth, Izanagi, who was longing for his beloved wife Izanami, went to the land of the dead through Yomotsu-hira Saka. But, the appearance of the decaying Izanami startled Izanagi, who then fled from Izanami and the forces of the underworld to barely return to the land of the living with his life.  And at that time, Izanagi blocked the entrance to the underworld with a rock called Chibiki-no-iwa.

 

 

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