A tradition handed down in the Tohoku region is perhaps based on the description of 'a daughter of Dewa no Kuni Gunji' in the catalogue of poets in "Kokinwakashu," but it is also considered that somebody set her birthplace as far away as possible Japan in order to enhance the mystique of ONO no Komachi; therefore, it is difficult to validate such a description.
東北地方に伝わるものはおそらく『古今和歌集』の歌人目録中の「出羽国郡司娘」という記述によると思われるが、それも小野小町の神秘性を高めるために当時の日本の最果ての地の生まれという設定にしたと考えられてもいて、この伝説の裏付けにはなりにくい。