According to a Japanese legendary story, Kyushu area (Southern Japan) has been cited a god’s existed territory.They had been living in a small region which is called Takachihocho. It is said that Amaterasu-Omikami who is seen the goddess of the sun and the universe, concealed herself in a cavern with locked Rock Door because of her brother’s (SusanoOnomikoto -the powerful storm god) obstreperous behaviour.
Then, the oppressive darkness was beginning to spread all over the world. In the meantime, Amaterasu-Omikami was living in the apprehensive cave in tense with her friendly gods. One day, while she was sitting behind the bonfire, one of a young gods suddenly appeared before her eyes. The young god is very droll, amused so he danced pirouetting and gyrating. It was such an impressive performance, eventually not only Amaterasu but all the gods had been around her, attracted, so they laughed, clapped at young god.
Afterall, Ame-no-tajikarao (A japanese deity) pulled Amaterasu out of the cave at the moment she was trying to peeking out from the Rock Door. As a result of that, whole world was blessed with the the brightness, brilliance and glare. It is believed that the Rock Door which was thrown by Ame-no-tajikara, had fallen to the center of Japan which is somewhere in Nagano region. But, according to the local folklore, Ame-no-tajikara had not thrown it away haphazardly. He was questing a place where can be disguised the Rock Door. It was not just that simple, so he took a little break and had a fresh bath in a hot spring. After the bath, it was a refreshed and exhilarated moment for him. With the relieved feeling, he left behind the Rock Door at place where the hot spring was located. After that, the other gods got to know the charming feelness of the hot spring from Ame-no-tajikara.
Then all gods have tended to visit there and had a wonderful bath altogether. For the time being, people who had lived around that area, named it as “TOBIRA ONSEN”. (TOBIRA means door. ONSEN means hot spring).
