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.

















Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Majority of Japanese women in survey regret marrying their husband, but that’s only half the story
Japan’s kid-friendly ski program is now selling Pikachu snowboards for a limited time only
Godiva Dessert joins the cute crepe game in Harajuku
The Yellow Lucky Bag from Village Vanguard is so bad it may damage Japan-US relations
Hokkaido has an Ice Festival that’s less famous than the Snow one, but beautiful in its own way
The three ways to say “love” in Japanese, and when to use them
Pokémon Lego kits are finally on their way!【Photos】
Private booths are coming to Japan’s Shinkansen bullet trains even sooner than we’d thought【Video】
Hey, Japanese taxi driver! Take us to the best Turkish rice restaurant in Nagasaki!
Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino and latte for Valentine’s Day
Our 52-year-old pole dancing reporter shares his tips for achieving your New Year’s exercise goal
Ramen restaurant’s English menu prices are nearly double its Japanese ones, denies discriminating
Giant hotel rooms in Osaka reflect the new non-niche face of travel in Japan.
Japanese women showing rebounding interest in giving Valentine’s Day chocolate【Survey】
Totoro cream puffs and Catbus cookies are finally available in downtown Tokyo
Princess Mononoke magnets return just in time to treat yourself to awesome anime decorations
10 times to avoid traveling in Japan in 2026
What’s inside Starbucks Japan’s fukubukuro lucky bag for 2026?
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
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
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
Hokkaido has an Ice Festival that’s less famous than the Snow one, but beautiful in its own way
The three ways to say “love” in Japanese, and when to use them
Pokémon Lego kits are finally on their way!【Photos】
Private booths are coming to Japan’s Shinkansen bullet trains even sooner than we’d thought【Video】
Hey, Japanese taxi driver! Take us to the best Turkish rice restaurant in Nagasaki!
Burgers soaked in a plate of hot cheese served at American Diner Andra in Tokyo
This official Pokémon horror video is surprisingly terrifying【Video】
We tried Tokyo’s “rent a middle-aged Japanese man” service, and it was awesome!
The best Starbucks Japan Frappuccinos we want to drink again in 2026
Luxembourg-based hobbyist’s video game dioramas are epic, wonderfully nerdy, and not for sale
Massive manga collaboration bringing 100 years of Shueisha manga to Uniqlo T-shirts【Photos】
Totoro cream puffs and Catbus cookies are finally available in downtown Tokyo
Meet and eat nostalgic Sanrio characters from the 80s at limited-time cafe in Tokyo