Tales of White Rabbits in Snowy Mountains

There are various tales about white rabbits in snowy mountains throughout Japan. Here are some of the most well-known:

1. The White Rabbit of Inaba

This myth is recorded in the Kojiki, Japan's oldest historical chronicle.
A rabbit trying to cross from Oki Island to the land of Inaba (present-day Tottori Prefecture) tricked a group of crocodiles into forming a bridge across the sea. However, when the rabbit revealed its deception, the crocodiles retaliated by stripping its fur.
The god Okuninushi-no-Mikoto, who happened to pass by, instructed the rabbit to wash its body in fresh water and roll in the pollen of cattail reeds, which restored the rabbit's white fur.
This myth, which teaches the importance of kindness and compassion, continues to be told today.

2. Snow Rabbits

In areas with heavy snowfall, the fur of hares turns white in winter. These white rabbits, known as "snow rabbits," are a seasonal symbol of snowy regions.
Snow rabbits appear in folktales and children's songs, making them a familiar presence to people living in snowy areas.
The children's story "The first day of snow" by Miyoko Matsutani, depicts snow rabbits making snow fall.

3. Mountain Gods and White Rabbits

In the San'in region, there's a custom of avoiding mountain work on the day of the mountain god's festival, and it's believed that seeing a white rabbit on that day is a bad omen.
This is because it was thought that the mountain god rode on a white rabbit, so seeing one was considered to provoke the god's anger.

These tales show that white rabbits have long been regarded with awe as sacred beings or symbols of nature.

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