haunted
Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, including this team of workers who used their own local brand of heroism to prank visitors at night.
Using a Japanese ghost-hunting device, we find out if Chillingham Castle is as haunted as they say.
It’s like a haunted house on wheels, except you can’t choose when to ride the ESP Taxi. It chooses you.
The tree is said to curse those who draw near, but thankfully divine protection is available nearby.
Do you believe in ghosts, Rocketeers? A bloodstained woman with long hair is said to haunt this Tokyo tunnel.
For decades, locals have said a woman’s ghost appears in the park at night, and our visit ended with frightening female fury.
A luxury leisure resort on the lush hillside of Okinawa. Panoramic ocean views. A waterpark, a petting zoo, a night club. Now crumbling into ruins, swallowed up by nature reclaiming the land developers tried to take. Perhaps the owners should have known better than to build on the site of ancient tombs. The local priests warned them. But they didn’t listen.
This is the tale of Okinawa’s Nakagusuku Kogen Hotel, one of the most haunted abandoned sites in Japan.
It’s almost summer and that means a lot of stuff in Japan—Golden Week, brain melting humidity, Obon, and of course, horror movies and haunted houses. While many people in the west binge on horror flicks and spooky attractions as Halloween nears, Japanese people tend to get their fright on during the summer months.
We recently caught up with Margee Kerr, a sociologist who studies fear and helps the world famous ScareHouse terrify their patrons—in a good way of course! Margee was in Japan studying how fear works across different cultures and we were excited to learn about the similarities and differences in the reactions between Japan and America to horror. Check out our interview with a true master of fear at one of Tokyo’s scariest bars: Yurei Izakaya in Kichijoji!
Ginti Kobayashi is a writer who in recent years can be seen in the series, Kaidan Shinmimibukuro Nagurikomi! In these DVDs, we follow Kobayashi and his colleagues as they explore Japan’s most notoriously haunted places.
In the spirit of summer, when Japan likes to cool down by sharing chilling stories, Kobayashi sat down with Spa magazine and laid out his choices for the top 10 most frightening haunted places he has ever experienced.

















Hello Kitty Choco Egg figures are an adorable trip through three periods of Japanese pop culture【Pics】
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
Nagoya’s dark-red miso has continued to capture tastebuds for generations
Japan’s oldest largetooth sawfish in captivity back on display in Mie Prefecture
11 different ways to say “father” in Japanese
More Than a Capsule Stay: Why Solo Travelers Choose “global cabin Yokohama Chinatown”
7 great places to see Mt. Fuji from without having to climb it
New Japanese menstrual product seeks to help women spot unidentified iron deficiencies
Japanese thug wear from Birth Japan perfect for those breaking bad next year
Japan’s best train pass, the Japan Rail Pass, finally being made available for purchase online
Lacquerware supplier to emperor of Japan and Pokémon team up for new tableware
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
7-Eleven Japan’s ramen-cooking robot whipped us up a bowl of noodles【Taste test】
Cyberpunk anime meets traditional culture in Ghost in the Shell gold leaf Japanese changing screens
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new zodiac chilled cup drink for 2026
Japan’s otoshidama tradition of giving kids money at New Year’s gets a social welfare upgrade
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Sanrio theme park in Japan announces plans to expand into a Sanrio resort
Stamina-destroying “Paralysis Noodles” are Tokyo’s newest over-the-top ramen innovation
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
More Than a Capsule Stay: Why Solo Travelers Choose “global cabin Yokohama Chinatown”
7 great places to see Mt. Fuji from without having to climb it
New Japanese menstrual product seeks to help women spot unidentified iron deficiencies
Japanese thug wear from Birth Japan perfect for those breaking bad next year
Japan’s best train pass, the Japan Rail Pass, finally being made available for purchase online
We tried super spicy wasabi ramen and yakisoba that’s rumored to make anyone cry【Taste Test】
How do you beat Bic Camera’s Lucky Box lines, and what’s inside their Sim-Free Phone box?
We visit Tomonoura, the scenic harbor town that inspired Studio Ghibli’s “Ponyo”【Photos】
Our Team Sample a New Strawberry Rice-Cake Flavoured Milk Drink: “Tastes Like Green Peppers…”
Our Osaka native taste-tests the extra-expensive, extra-large Bikkuri Takoyaki octopus balls
7-Eleven Japan’s ramen-cooking robot whipped us up a bowl of noodles【Taste test】
Can a dirty butthole make you filthy rich in Japan? We’re starting a New Year’s lottery experiment