S P O T ／ SPOT-120
Folk & Ritual
Inyō-seki (Yin-Yang Rocks)
陰陽石いんようせき
Along a riverbank in Kobayashi City stand a pair of huge natural rocks known as the Male Stone and the Female Stone — a place of cult around an extraordinary natural formation. According to the City of Kobayashi, the male (yang) stone is about 17.5 m tall and the female (yin) stone about 5.5 m around, formed when the Kakutō pyroclastic flow of the Kirishima volcanic belt was eroded by the river. The phallic and yonic forms are unmistakable, and the rocks have long been worshipped for child-blessing, matchmaking and conjugal harmony. They are also designated as a Kirishima Geopark geosite.
N O P H O T O
H I G H L I G H T S
Highlights
- 01Massive natural rocks known as the Male Stone (17.5 m tall) and the Female Stone (5.5 m around)
- 02An object of prayer for children, matchmaking, and harmony between spouses
- 03Designated as a Kirishima Geopark geosite
A C C E S S ／ M E T A
Essentials
- Location
- Miyazaki Prefecture Kobayashi City
- Address
- 宮崎県小林市東方
- Fee
- 無料
- Hours
- 常時見学可、日中推奨
- Status
- 現存