Japan
A collection of the haunted ghost stories, urban legends, folktales and the paranormal of Japan. Japan has a vast and old tradition of telling ghost stories. The old folk tales […]
A collection of the haunted ghost stories, urban legends, folktales and the paranormal of Japan.
Japan has a vast and old tradition of telling ghost stories. The old folk tales are kept alive in the many horror books and movies.
An Article Detailing the Different Ghosts of Japan
The Ghosts of Japan
In Japan, the ghosts are called Yūrei (幽霊). The word means faint or dim and soul or spirit. And as well as language and cultures divides different types of ghost in different categories, so does the Japanese. Here are some of the ghosts of Japan.
Aka Manto (赤マント): Japan’s Nightmare in the Bathroom Stall
The question about red or blue paper has scared Japanese students for generations now. The spirit of Aka Manto (赤マント) is still haunting the toilets of schools to this day, and is still a mystery of where the legend comes from. Was he a bloodsucking vampire? Serial killer? Perhaps an ancient god?
The Legend of Toire no Hanako-san: The Ghost Haunting School Toilets in Japan
For decades now, students have been terrified of the encounter with Hanako-san, the toilet ghost said to haunt the bathrooms in Japanese schools. Said to have died in one of the stalls, she now lures students into their death.
Teke Teke: The Terrifying Urban Legend of Kashima Reiko
The urban legends of Teke Teke and Kashima Reiko are often so similar, they are thought to have merged or started together. Both of them warn about a vengeful spirit without legs, crawling her way to her victims.
The Silent Sorrow of the Haunted Aokigahara Forest
Perhaps best known for being Japan’s suicide forest, the haunted Aokigahara forest has had a long story of monsters and ghost hiding underneath the thick tree roof on the foot of Mount Fuji. Is there really something ancient and mythological lingering within the trees, or is it only the modern tragedy that has taken its…
Spirited Away in the Forbidden Yawata no Yabushirazu
This forest is not only said to be haunted, but also strictly forbidden for humans to enter. The legends claim that if you dare venture into the haunted Yawata no Yabushirazu, a place for the spirits and the gods, you may never return. Just a short 30-minute journey from the bustling heart of Tokyo lies…
The Japanese Faceless Ghost Noppera-bō
Walking on a dark and lonely road at night, you encounter a person turned away. When the person turns, they reveal that they have no face. This is the faceless ghost from Japan out to scare their victims known as Noppera-bō.
The Haunted Inunaki Village in Japan
The urban legend of Inunaki Village in Japan is about a forgotten village of villagers refusing to conform to the Japanese constitution. They would do everything to protect themselves from the outside world, even killing the ones that trespasses.
Tomino’s Hell — The Cursed Poem
The supposedly cursed poem known as Tomino’s Hell has been a famous creepypasta for a long time and an urban legend before that. But what is the truth behind the dark and twisted poem? A popular Japanese urban legend is about Tomino’s Hell,トミノの地獄. It is a poem that is said you should only read in…
The Ghosts Of the Haunted Himeji Castle In Japan
Explore the supernatural stories of Japan’s Magnificent Haunted Himeji Fortress and find out why this iconic castle is said to be haunted by both monsters and tragic ghosts.
Kuchisake-onna – The Urban Legend of the Slit-Mouthed Woman
In the dimly lit alleys in urban Japan, a woman wearing a mask is terrorizing the children walking home from late school. When she reveals her carved up mouth, it’s over. Kuchisake-onna, or The Slit-Mouthed Woman will get her revenge.
O-shizu, Hitobashira — The Human Sacrifice of Maruoka Castle
Chosen as Hitobashira, a human sacrifice to ensure the construction of Maruoka Castle, O-shizu were promised a bright future for her children. But when the promise were not honoured, her ghost came back to haunt the castle grounds.
Okiku — The Haunted Doll of Hokkaido
The Okiku Doll, is a legend of a haunted doll from Japan were the hair of the doll is said to grow and is preserved in a temple looked after by monks.
The Myth of Oiwa — The Paper Lantern Ghost
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful young woman who died. She went on a murderous rampage and she forever haunts the place of Yotsuya. The end.
Ghosts of the Tsunami
The tsunami disaster in 2011 left large parts of Japan in ruins. And some of the people never being found, are still trying to reach home it seems.
Botan Dōrō – Tales of the Peony Lantern
The Botan Dōrō or Tales of the Peony Lantern is a ghost story told since the Ming dynasty in China to today. Most popular through the Kaidan theater plays, it is now one of Japan’s most well known ghost stories.
Anime Horror Anthology Series
If you are tired of watching the reruns and reboots of the Halloween movies, take a look at what that has been coming out from Japan the last decade. Some are considered classics, some are fairly new, they should all help you get that tingly feeling of a scare. Here are five anime horror anthology…
Games to play in the dark
A collection of five games to play in the dark. Or not, depending how in touch with the spirits one feels.
The Obon Celebration – The Ghost Festival
Light your lanterns and get ready for The Ghost festival in Japan called The Obon Celebration. The festival, also known as Bon festival is a three day long festival each year in the late and hot summer to honor the dead.
Ju-On: Origins – a Look at the Truth Behind “the Grudge”
The new Netflix TV-series Ju-On: Origins gives a new spin on the franchise. From going from classical jump-scares to an actual social commentary installment.
Banchō Sarayashiki — the Ghost of Okiku
The tale of Banchō Sarayashiki (番町皿屋敷, The Dish Mansion at Banchō) is a well known Japanese ghost story (kaidan). It was popularized in the kabuki theater tradition, and lives on in popular culture and folklore alike.
Onryō — the Vengeful Japanese Spirit
In many cultures, ghosts are put in different categories. Such is the case with Onryō (怨霊 onryō,) It basically means “vengeful spirit” or “wrathful spirit” in Japanese and is a mythological spirit of vengeance from Japanese folklore. They also have ghosts, called yurei, but these differ in the will of the ghost. As opposed to…
