弘法の三ツ井戸

Beneath the summer sun, a lone traveler, parched and weary, stumbled upon a humble dwelling near Hōben-no-Mitsuido. He asked for a drink of water. A young woman, startled by the request, hurried off to fetch some. She returned, not with a refreshing drink, but with a tale of woe. The woman explained the plight of Hōben-no-Mitsuido and its surrounding village. The area suffered from a scarcity of water, making every well a distant and laborious trek. Intrigued, the traveler inquired further. The young woman recounted a local legend. She spoke of three specific locations where, if one dug deep enough, pure, cool water would spring forth. Hōben-no-Mitsuido’s well, however, remained stubbornly dry. Before departing, the traveler pointed to three spots on the ground, urging the villagers to dig there. Skeptical but desperate, the villagers heeded the traveler’s advice. To their astonishment, clear water gushed forth, defying the summer heat. They named this miraculous well “Mitsuido” (“three wells”) and whispered that the mysterious traveler was none other than the Buddhist saint, Hōben Daishi. News of the Mitsuido, blessed by Hōben Daishi, spread far and wide. Hōben-no-Mitsuido became a symbol of hope and resilience for the village, a testament to the power of faith and the kindness of strangers. A small shrine now stands near Hōben-no-Mitsuido, dedicated to Hōben Daishi, forever commemorating his visit and the life-giving water he brought forth.