Until the Edo period, the “Togakushi mountain area" tucked behind Chū-sha wasn’t open to women. A small temple used to stand where the stone signpost is, and women who couldn’t go further would stop and pray there.
However, some women tried to break the rule. One nun boldly stated that she was no longer a woman because she entered into the priesthood, and started towards the Oku-in. As she continued walking, the nun's body became heavier and heavier. Before she knew it, she turned into a stone. This Bikuni-ishi stone on the right side of the road is said to be the figure of a former nun.
In the Meiji period, the ban was lifted, and everyone could take the path. Now, only the legend of the Bikuni-ishi stone remains.
