Haunted Places in Japan

Haunted Places in Japan
Paul Dale Roberts, HPI’s Esoteric Detective
Halo Paranormal Investigations
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The year was 1980, I was in the Army and just passed my Intelligence Analyst exam. I was now headed for Seoul, South Korea – 501st Military Intelligence Battalion. Before touching down in Seoul, we had an overnight stay in Tokyo. All my life I have been interested in the paranormal and it’s because I lived in a haunted house when I was a little boy. Thinking about it, I was a paranormal investigator back in 1980 and just didn’t realize it. Now that I was in Tokyo, I wanted to visit Toyama Park in Shinjuku. This park was known for its eerie atmosphere, screams at night, and urban legends of lost souls, stemming from its history as part of a wartime burial ground and site of horrible atrocities. While most of the soldiers wanted to experience the night life and meet some girls, I instead wanted to head over to this park and see if I could encounter any ghosts. I had a different mindset from the other soldiers. I must have sat in this park for about 3 hours. The only thing I experienced was a tingling sensation on my hand. The tingling lasted for about an hour. I am not sure if this was something paranormal, or just my over-active imagination. When I finally left the park, I was disappointed that I did not see a full body apparition. There were practically no people in the park and many areas of the park, I was all by myself. The park has a very dark reputation. This is what I learned about the park.

Toyama Park in Shinjuku, Tokyo, is rumored to be haunted due to its grim World War II history as a dumping ground for remains from facilities linked to the infamous Imperial Army’s Unit 731, leading to reports of ghostly orbs, mysterious lights (Hitodama), and the discovery of over 100 human bones during construction, making the Hakoneyama Hill section especially eerie at night. The park’s eastern side, Hakoneyama, was once part of a medical college where horrific human experimentation by Unit 731 is alleged to have occurred, with bodies disposed of on-site. In 1989, hundreds of human remains were unearthed during construction, confirming the area’s dark past and fueling ghostly tales. Visitors report hearing disembodied sobbing and groaning, especially from Hakoneyama Hill. There are sightings of Hitodama, mysterious will-o’-the-wisp lights believed to be lost souls. Some experiences include seeing apparitions, and even public toilets in the park are rumored to be haunted by a man who hanged himself. You would think a park like this with so much dark history, I would have experienced something extraordinary. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen. The only thing I have to talk about is the strange tingly sensation I felt on my hand.

Japan has many haunted places. A very haunted place is Kyoto. Kyoto is widely considered one of the most haunted cities in Japan due to its thousand-year history as the imperial capital, marked by numerous battles, executions, and spiritual legends. Here are some of the paranormal hotspots of Kyoto.

Kiyotaki Tunnel:
Often cited as the most haunted spot in Japan, this tunnel was built in 1927 under harsh conditions resulting in many workers dying horrible deaths. Local legends claim its 444-meter length (an unlucky number associated with death) changes between trips. There have been drivers reporting of seeing a “woman in white” jump on car hoods or appearing in their rearview mirrors.

Rokudo Chinno-ji Temple:
This temple is rumored to have a portal to the underworld. Legend says the 8th-century official Ono no Takamura used the well to descend into hell nightly to assist the King of Hell in judging the dead.

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest:
While scenic by day, the forest is a site for “ghost hunting” tours at night. It has a dark reputation for suicides and sightings of “shadowy figures” that disappear when approached.

“Bloody Ceilings” (various temples):
Several temples, including Yogen-in and Genko-an, have ceilings made from the floorboards of Fushimi Castle, where hundreds of samurai committed ritual suicide in 1600. To this day, blood-stained handprints and footprints of the deceased are still clearly visible.

Minatoya Yurei Kosodate-Ame Honpo:
Known as the “Ghost Mother Candy Shop,” this 400-year-old store sells candy based on a legend of a ghostly woman who bought sweets every night to feed her baby, who had been born after she was buried.

My half-brother Andres Somprise Soyo is a Vietnam veteran and spent some R&R in Japan. One of the places he visited was Osaka Castle. Osaka Castle in Japan is widely considered to be a haunted location, with numerous local legends and ghost stories associated with its turbulent history. The castle grounds are described as one of the most spiritually active areas in the prefecture. The castle, originally built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1583, has a history marked by significant battles, sieges, and deaths, leading to various paranormal legends. Visitors have reported seeing Samurai spirits. A local historian says that many locals believe the grounds are haunted by the ghosts of defeated samurai and courtiers who committed hara-kiri (ritual suicide) after the famous Battle of 1615. A prominent ghost that is often seen at this castle is the ghost of the castle’s founder, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. His apparition is seen roaming the grounds. Workers of the castle have at times complained about being cursed by evil spirits. Anyone visiting this castle will hear stories about Warrior Monks and Vengeful Spirits. There is a warning of not taking any castle stones or rocks home, because those stones and rocks are cursed. My brother Andy was going to take a rock home as a souvenir and was told by a local that he will bring terrible misfortune upon himself if he brings that rock home. The local says the curse could affect his health and he could die. Andy dropped the rock immediately. Andy says…”why take the chance?”