The 7 most haunted places in Japan

With Halloween right around the corner, we thought we’d take a look at some of Japan’s most haunted places for the latest information 7 list. Our journey begins in the country’s northernmost prefecture, Hokkaido.

White round school building

Located between Sapporo and Asahikawa in central Hokkaido, Bibai is known as a quiet and peaceful town, but it’s also home to one of Japan’s most famous haunted houses. There is an abandoned circular building in the forest that was once part of Songtao Elementary School. Some people claim to see mysterious lights and shadows around the school. Others said they heard screams and a girl giggling.

An education center was initially built on the site 1906. After changing its name several times, the school was expanded in the 1950s with the influx of Mitsubishi coal miners. The mine closed in 1972, and the school closed two years later. The official reason given was declining enrollment, but that didn’t stop rumors from spreading about something more sinister, namely that a girl went missing during recess.

osor mountain

Osama (Japanese for “Ore Mountain”), along with Mount Koya and Mount Hiei, is known as one of Japan’s three sacred sites and is said to be the gateway to hell. Translated as “Mountain of Fear,” it is an active volcano in Aomori Prefecture whose geographical elements resemble Buddhist descriptions of heaven and hell. The sight of fumaroles (steam vents) scattered here and there contrasts sharply with the sight of Girakuhama (Paradise Beach) Located slightly beyond the volcanic landscape.

In order to reach the beach, visitors need to pass through a road called River of Three Waysaccording to Buddhist mythology, all dead souls must pass through it on their way to the afterlife. This legend is similar to the legend of the River Styx in ancient Greek mythology. In summer and autumn, Osorezan hosts festivals during which I’m here — Blind woman trained as a spiritual medium — Performance ceremony Communicate with the spirit of the recently deceased.

Japan Railway Clinic

The abandoned village of Kokurazawa is located about 50 kilometers from Chichibu Station in Saitama Prefecture. It is commonly known as the “Sunrise Ghost Town” in English and is a famous tourist attraction. Haiku hunter. In the 1600s, it was discovered that the area was rich in resources gold deposit. Three centuries later, Japan Steel purchased the mines there, modernized them and lent its name to local facilities such as clinics. A mining village emerged, with two schools and a few facilities, including a post office and a cinema. At its peak, 3,000 residents lived in the area.

However, by the late 1980s, the village was completely abandoned. Now it has become a creepy place that looks like a scene from a horror movie. Therefore, it is very popular with ghost hunters. The scariest place was the clinic, where people claimed to hear children laughing or crying. In the doctor’s office, visitors discovered human organs, including the brain. According to haikyo photographer Jody MeowHowever, the brain has since disappeared.

Aokigahara forest

Aokigahara

Aokigahara was formed from lava that hardened after the eruption of Mount Fuji in AD 864. According to folklore, Aokigahara was a place where people once practiced Ubasut – A form of suicide involving the abandonment of an elderly person in a remote location. It was subsequently associated with death and evil spirits and was known as Yure. It’s a hauntingly beautiful destination with lush greenery and deep lava caves that has become one of Japan’s leading suicide sites in recent decades.

Suicide rates there reportedly began to rise after Seicho Matsumoto’s 1960 novel was published Tower of Wavesa couple ended their lives in the forest. A sign stands at the entrance to the woods reminding visitors that life is a precious gift. “Just think quietly again about your parents, siblings or children,” explain Japanese. “Please don’t suffer alone, reach out first.”

Himeji Castle

Known as “White Heron Castle” for its elegant appearance, Himeji is the largest and most visited castle in Japan. It is also said to be one of the most haunted places. There is Okiku’s Well in the castle, which is said to have inspired Suzuki Koji. ring novel and subsequent film adaptation. There are many theories about Daju’s death. The most famous is in bunraku Play title is Geng Yashiki Banchang 1741.

According to the story, Oikku worked as a maid under the samurai Tetsuzan Aoyama. After she rejected his advances, he hid a precious plate and blamed her for losing it. He promised not to think about it again if she became his lover. Again she refused. Aoyama and his servants then tortured Daju before slashing her with swords and throwing her into a well. Then she became a cool (Revengeful Ghost).

The closed entrance to the old Inunaki Tunnel. Author: Pontafon – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,

Old Inunaki Tunnel

in 2021 opinion poll When people were asked to name the scariest place in Japan, the old Inunaki Tunnel topped the list. This may be because the tunnel and surrounding area have been linked to several murders over the years, the most famous of which occurred in 1988 when five teenagers were kidnapped, robbed and tortured for 20 years. -Kouichi Umeyama, an old factory worker, because they tried to steal his car.

Meishan was found burned to death and the perpetrator was sentenced to life imprisonment. The tunnel has been sealed off with concrete blocks, but people claim they can still hear his screams coming from inside. There is also a so-called urban legend about Inuning Villagedoes not exist on any map. It is said that at the entrance, there is a sign that reads: “From now on, the Japanese Constitution no longer applies.”

hashima

The inspiration for Raoul Silva’s abandoned hideout in the James Bond films heavy rainHashima – often called Battleship Island because of its resemblance to a battleship – was home to thousands of residents until the coal mine closed in 1974. Many of the buildings on the island were built by Korean and Chinese prisoners who were forced to work there in the 1930s. and the 1940s. Many conscripted laborers died as a result of the harsh conditions – estimates range from around 100 to more than 1,000 people.

Some believe the ghosts of dead workers have taken over the island. There are fishermen sailing nearby claim Although there was no power, flickering lights were seen. There have been Report Weird noises and cold spots. In 2009, Nagasaki issued a license allowing ferry operators to take tourists to a small area of ​​Gunkanjima. Six years later, the island was controversially approved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution Site series.

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