In the legends related to the origin of hot springs, many tales are found such as the one saying to the effect that a dear, a crane or an egret successfully cured their injuries and the one saying to the effect that famous Buddhist monks, such as Kukai, discovered the hot spring.
各温泉の起源伝説には、シカやツル目や鷺（サギ）などの動物が傷を癒した伝説や、空海等高名な僧侶が発見した伝説が多い。