Sakanoue no Tamuramaro is said to have killed an oni (or an Emishi chieftain) here, and its head flew to this spot, giving the place its name, "Oni Head." Today it is known for the Onikobe hot springs and geysers.
Legend Site
Onikobe ("Oni Head")
Please note Trespassing on private property or restricted areas is prohibited by law. Please be considerate of local residents.
Positions on the map are a rough guide to the area where a legend or sighting is set. Most pins are placed at representative points of a municipality or prefecture (outside Japan, a city position rounded to about 10 km, or the country), not at the exact place.
Municipality points: Geolonia address data (CC BY 4.0), based on the Address Base Registry (Digital Agency of Japan) / Country points: Natural Earth
| Encyclopedia | Oni |
|---|---|
| Location | Miyagi Osaki |
| Type of place | Historic site or landmark |
| Map position | Approximate position (Municipality), not the exact place |
The quintessential Japanese yokai, with horns on its head and a tiger-skin loincloth. It is familiar from the Setsubun bean-throwing festival and the folktale Momotaro. Its appearance is said to come from the "ushitora" direction of the demon gate.