The relation between Ashio and Nikko is so deep because Ashio is adjacent to Nikko. There are also some legends about "Shodo Shonin" who opened Mt.Nikko. He is said to have a connection with the origin of the area's name of Ashio. The "Mikouchi" area is one of them.
"A maiden who became a jizo"
Long time ago, a maiden in the service of a shrine tried to train at Mt.Nantai. However she had a stomachache, and she passed away near Jizozaka in the Mikouchi area. "SHODO-SHONIN" felt pity for her, so he built a Jizo-Son for her. After that, it is said that this place was called "the Jizo zaka", and the area was called "Mikouchi" written "神子内" in kanji.
It is also famous "A girl who became a monkey" as Ashio's folk tale.
Long time ago, a hunter went to Mt.Koshin. He was caught in a snowstorm: he lost a way and fell into a ravine.When he was going to die because of cold, a big monkey came to him. The hunter said "If you help me I'll give you my daughter as your wife", the monkey understood his words, and helped him. After he came home, he had talk to his daughters about the monkey. Only third daughter agreed to become the monkey's wife. When the hunter met his daughter again at Mt.Koshin, his daughter had become a monkey. They had to part from each other with tears.
