The Quest for Tokoyo no Kuni: Japan’s Mythical Land of Eternity
Across cultures and millennia, humanity has shared a singular, fervent obsession: the pursuit of immortality. From the Holy Grail to the Fountain of Youth, our stories are saturated with the desire to cheat death. Japan is no exception. Hidden within the archipelago’s oldest chronicles lies the concept of Tokoyo no Kuni (常世の国)—the Land of the Eternal.
Unlike the Western concept of Heaven, which is often located in the clouds, or the Buddhist Pure Land, Tokoyo is an ambiguous, liminal space often thought to exist far across the sea or at the bottom of the ocean. It is a realm of eternal youth, abundant harvests, and timelessness. For the cultural traveler, understanding this legend offers a profound glimpse into the Shinto worldview and the Japanese reverence for nature and ancestry.
The Origins of the Eternal Land
The concept of Tokoyo no Kuni predates the arrival of Buddhism in Japan, rooting itself deeply in indigenous folklore and Shinto animism. Literally translating to “The World of the Constant” or “The Land of Forever,” it represents a utopia where time stands still.
In early Japanese cosmology, the world was often divided into three realms: Takamagahara (the High Plain of Heaven), Ashihara no Nakatsukuni (the Central Land of Reed Plains—the human world), and Yomi (the Land of the Dead). Tokoyo sits strangely apart from these. It is not necessarily a place of the dead, though spirits reside there; rather, it is a parallel dimension of vitality and power. It is viewed as the source of wealth, health, and, most importantly, longevity.
The Legend of Tajima-mori and the Timeless Fruit
While there are several myths associated with Tokoyo, none captures the tragic beauty of the quest for immortality quite like the story of Tajima-mori, recorded in the Nihon Shoki (The Chronicles of Japan).
During the reign of Emperor Suinin (legendarily the 11th Emperor of Japan), the Emperor commanded Tajima-mori to journey to the distant Tokoyo no Kuni. His mission was to retrieve the “Tokijiku no Kagu no Konomi” (the Non-Dying Fragrant Fruit), believed to grant eternal life.
Tajima-mori spent ten arduous years navigating rough seas and unknown lands. He eventually succeeded, finding the mystical land and plucking the sacred fruit—now identified by historians and botanists as the Tachibana, an ancient Japanese citrus similar to a mandarin orange.
However, the legend carries a bitter sting. When Tajima-mori finally returned to Japan, laden with the branches of the timeless fruit, he discovered that Emperor Suinin had died just a year prior. Overcome with grief, Tajima-mori wailed, “I have brought the fruit of the Eternal Land, but the Emperor is gone.” He presented half the fruit to the Empress and offered the other half at the Emperor’s tomb before dying of sorrow himself. He is now revered as the god of sweets and confections, as fruit was the original “sweet” of ancient Japan.
Traces in Modern Culture
The echoes of Tokoyo no Kuni remain vibrant in modern Japanese culture, even if the explicit name is less spoken.
The Tachibana Symbolism
If you have ever spent New Year’s in Japan, you have seen the Kagami Mochi—two round rice cakes topped with a small orange. That orange is traditionally a daidai (bitter orange), a descendant of the tachibana symbolism. It represents the continuity of generations and longevity, a direct domestic link to the ancient legend of eternal life.
Pop Culture
The concept of a “spirit world” adjacent to the human world is a staple in anime and manga. Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away or the Mushishi series often depict realms that operate on the logic of Tokoyo—places of spirits and strange time dilation, separated from humanity by water or tunnels.
Traveler’s Tips: Where to Find the Legends
For the traveler seeking to touch this ancient myth, the journey leads to the tranquil coasts of Hyogo Prefecture and the spiritual trails of Wakayama.
Nakashima Shrine (Hyogo Prefecture)
Located in Toyooka City, the Nakashima Shrine (Nakashima-jinja) is the spiritual home of Tajima-mori. He is enshrined here as the deity of sweets (kashi). The shrine hosts the Tachibana Festival every April. Visitors can see ancient tachibana trees growing on the grounds—living descendants of the legend. It is a quiet, atmospheric spot off the beaten path, perfect for contemplating the history of Japanese sweets.
The Kumano Region (Wakayama Prefecture)
The Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes are steeped in the idea of rebirth. Historically, the Kii Peninsula was considered the gateway to the Pure Land and the waters south of it were often associated with the path to Tokoyo. Standing on the cliffs of Shirahama or traversing the Nachi falls, one can easily gaze at the horizon and imagine the “Eternal Land” lying just beyond the mist.
Sources & Further Reading
To deepen your understanding of these legends, the following historical texts are essential:
- The Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matters): Japan’s oldest surviving historical record, detailing the age of the gods.
- The Nihon Shoki (The Chronicles of Japan): Contains the specific narrative of Emperor Suinin and Tajima-mori.
- The Man’yoshu: The oldest collection of Japanese poetry, which contains verses longing for the land of Tokoyo.