Oni no Shitaburui is a large valley located in the Oku-Izumo area of Shimane. It is a habitat for unusual plants and birds, and also the home to a few wild monkeys.

The walking path takes you deep into the valley along the fast-flowing waters filled with enormous boulders, and through tree covered gorges which rise up on all sides.

The valley also has its own legend. It is said that a beautiful goddess named Tamahime lived here. A crocodile from the Sea of Japan was in love with here, and swam up into the river to find her. She got so angry at this that she threw the large rocks and boulders down into the river to stop him. Those rocks still lie in the river today.

Rock erosion over the years has left some mysterious, alomst mythological shapes…

Getting There: From Shinji Station take the Kisuki Line to Minari Station. From there it is around 5 mins by taxi. (Make sure you tell the taxi driver what time you want picking up to go back!)