The Tsuchinoko (ツチノコo槌の子, literally translated as "Earth Spawner") is a yōkai in Japanese culture. The name Tsuchinoko is often used in western Japan; in the northeast the creature is known as Bachi hebi (バチヘビ, literally Honey Snake).
According to legend, the Tsuchinoko is described as being approximately 30 and 80 centimeters long, similar in appearance to a snake, but with a central thickness much wider than its head or tail.
It has venomous fangs similar to those of a viper. Some stories claim that the mythological animal is capable of jumping up to one meter away and that it emits an unpleasant sound.
It is popularly said that some Tsuchinoko have the ability to speak and a propensity to lie. It has also been even written that it has a taste for alcohol. It sometimes swallows its own tail so that it can roll like a hoop. In general and according to tradition, the Tsuchinoko is referred to as a peaceful and solitary creature.
Japanese travel agencies often organize Tsuchinoko hunts in rural areas to attract visitors, promising large sums of money to anyone lucky enough to catch one.