Hoy, dear residents of AA!!!

I am with you, Raccoon-san, and today we will look at three mysterious places in Japan. I won’t delay the greeting for long, let’s begin)))

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INTRODUCTION

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Many people like to listen to scary stories at night, especially on hikes, when everything around makes the atmosphere tense. And everything is fine as long as it feels like it’s fiction. But completely different feelings are evoked by real legends, or even real stories with confirmation. And even if you say that this is not creepy at all, then remembering this story without goosebumps will not be easy... Now I will tell you just such stories, about three mystical places in the land of the sun. They won't be about murders and so on, but I'm not responsible for your nightmares:smiling_imp: :smiling_imp: :smiling_imp:

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O S T R O V KH A S H I M A

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Hashima Island (Hashima) is an abandoned island located in the East China Sea, about 15 km from the city of Nagasaki. This island is also called "Gunkanjima", which translates as "cruiser", because when you look at it from above, it resembles a ship (due to the buildings).

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The island was settled in 1810, when coal was first discovered there. The island was originally created by people. By the 30s of the 20th century, Hashima had become a serious industrial center. There were not only mines, but also military factories. For some time, Chinese and Koreans were forcibly brought here. Many of them died from harsh working conditions.

During the most populated years of its history, the island had 30 residential buildings, 25 shops, a school, two swimming pools, hospitals and a cemetery. For 50 years, the island was one of the most densely populated places on the planet: in 1959, the island's population numbered 5,259 people per km². But the minerals began to gradually dry up and every year there were fewer and fewer mines. In 1927, the island was completely deserted. For many years, visiting the island was prohibited and even punished.

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Items from the ghost town were in demand among wealthy collectors. And there were always those who were not averse to “spending a vacation” on an abandoned island.

Trophy hunters had their own beliefs. One of them said that the island must be left before midnight, so as not to cause trouble. Not everyone believed in these beliefs. Many died on that island under very strange circumstances. But only when an experienced climber, trying to climb through the window of a blocked floor of one of the buildings, fell from the roof and crashed, despite the safety rope, did everyone begin to believe in them more willingly.

Visits to the abandoned mining town are currently permitted. But only with a guide and only in the “safe zone”. After all, any step to the side is a chance to try your luck...

INTERESTING FACTS

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Hashima has also made his mark in the film industry. In 2009 in the series “Life after People.” And in 2011, some episodes from the film “007: Skyfall” were filmed on it.

G O R A O S O R E Z A N

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Mount Osorezan is one of the extraordinary creepy places Japan, where the world of spirits meets the world of the living. That's why the mountain is also called Mountain of Fear. This place was discovered over 1000 years ago by a Buddhist priest. Currently, Mount Fear is part of the Bodaiji Temple grounds. There is no such history in this mountain, so let’s move on to beliefs.

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The mountain is considered the gateway to afterlife. Not many believers come here, because the surrounding landscape resembles a Buddhist hell: rocky terrain, the smell of sulfur, a poisonous lake, many snakes, eight surrounding peaks and the Sanzu no Kawa River (according to legends, it must be crossed by all dead souls on their way to the afterlife) .

Around Osorezan you can see Jizo statues (statues of children), toy windmills, and towers made of piles of stones and pebbles, laid out by the parents of deceased children. This is done in the hope that the sacred stones will help the souls of children find their way to heaven.

INTERESTING FACTS

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The Bodaiji Festival is held here every year. People come to communicate with lost loved ones through Itakos (blind women who have undergone extensive spiritual training). But often the dead do not speak in their own voice, and even talk about things they should not know about.

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L E S A O K I G A H A R A

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Aokigahara ("Plain of Green Trees"), also known as Jukai ("Sea of ​​Trees") is a forest at the foot of Mount Fuji on Japanese island Honshu. This forest, located right at the foot of the volcano itself, stands out from the general landscape.

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In 864 there was a powerful eruption of Mount Fuji. An unbreakable lava flow formed a huge lava plateau with an area of ​​40 km², on which a very unusual forest took root. It looks as if the soil is torn up, as if the roots were trying to crawl out of the ground.

The forested terrain is full of caves, some of which extend several hundred meters underground, and in some of which the ice never melts.

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As dusk sets in, people begin to talk about this place only in whispers. Suicides are very common here. Tourists are strictly warned not to deviate from the path. The magnetic anomaly makes the compass a useless item, and similar terrain does not allow finding the exit from memory.

Legends have long been written about the numerous ghosts that live in the forest. This place became notorious back in the Middle Ages (when, in times of famine, people left their relatives here to die). The Japanese say that their ghosts lie in wait for lonely travelers in the forest, wanting to take revenge for their suffering.

There are rumors that here among the trees you can see the white ghostly outlines of yurei. Yurei are those who died violently or committed suicide. They come to our world in the form of legless ghostly figures with long arms and eyes glowing in the dark.

Those who decide to visit Aokigahara must have strong nerves. After all, the crunch under your feet may turn out to be the crunch of bones, and the strange outline of a person in the distance may be the corpse of another hanged man.

For sensitive and impressionable people who are not ready to get acquainted with the dark pages of human history, entry is strictly with the permission of grandmothers.

San Zhi. Taiwan

At first glance, San Zhi is an ideal city: beautiful well-kept houses, high-tech housing, well-thought-out infrastructure, beautiful nature. But not without the “rabble” (otherwise the city would not have made it into this chart). During the construction of this heavenly monastery, dozens of builders died.

One potential reason is that the city was allegedly built on the site of a former Japanese death camp. As soon as this was trumpeted in the media, investors were no longer able to sell a single house here. The country's authorities cannot even demolish the cursed place: local residents are afraid that this will release the ghosts.

This is what San Zhi looks like today:

Poveglia Island. Italy

The island is famous for the fact that in the 14th century people suffering from the plague were brought here (there was no chance to cure them, so they were left there to die). And after death the corpses were burned - mass graves were already so packed that they could not accommodate the bodies. They say that the island's soil is 40% human ash.

Another equally terrible fact: a psychiatric hospital was built on the same island in 1922. In it, scientists conducted their insidious experiments on the mentally ill. This is the fate of the island: strewn with plague, corpses, and a psychiatric hospital with patients.

Source: realfacts.ru

Mary King's Dead End. Edinburgh

But the Edinburgh authorities did not find a similar island for plague patients. Therefore, it was decided to take the poor fellows to one of the city districts. It turned out to be Mary King - a dead end, surrounded by a high wall, behind which the “lucky ones” met the “lady in black”.

Source: dailymotion.com

Winchester House. California

Sarah Winchester claimed that as soon as the sound of hammers died down during the construction of her house, she would die immediately. Therefore, there are as many as 160 rooms, 40 staircases, dead ends, basements, closed rooms without a single entrance, and God knows what else. The housing took 38 years to build.

“Crazy,” you might think. But it was in vain: as soon as construction was stopped, the next day Sarah departed into the other world.

Aokigahara Forest. Japan

The Japanese call it the Suicide Forest. This is because from 1950 to this day people constantly come there to... die. They say that several thousand people have already lost their lives there. The tradition has taken root so much that it is still honored and supported to this day.

According to legend, Himuro mansion is a large traditional Japanese house that is located in a rocky area somewhere on the outskirts of Tokyo. The mansion became known as the site of the worst massacre in Japanese history.

It was said that the Himuro family practiced ancient, forgotten Shinto rituals that had long ago been banned in Japan. One of these occult rituals was called the “Strangulation Ritual,” which involved the sacrificial murder of a young girl.

The purpose of this terrible ritual was to protect the Himuro family from bad karma, which they believed was coming out of a portal in the mansion's courtyard.

The strangulation ritual was carried out every fifty years. The family selected a baby girl who was secretly raised in the mansion. This girl was called the "Maiden of the Rope Temple." The girl was not allowed into the world, she lived in complete isolation, otherwise the ritual would not have worked.

When the time came, the girl was brought to the temple in the courtyard and ropes were tied around her arms, legs and neck. Then several bulls began to pull the ropes in different directions, tearing the victim alive into several pieces. The bloody ropes were then placed on a portal in the mansion's courtyard. If the ritual was successful, then bad karma receded from the family for another fifty years.

This tradition was passed down from generation to generation in the Himuro family. However, during preparations for the last ritual, something went wrong. The Maiden of the Temple of the Rope fell in love with a boy whom she accidentally saw from the window of a mansion. This was a real disaster because she had to remain pure and free from worldly influences. Her blood and soul were tainted, and when she was sacrificed, the ritual failed.

Upon learning that the girl was in love, the head of the Himuro family was distraught. He was responsible for the success of the ritual. Fearing that all the misfortunes would now befall the family, he fell into an indescribable rage. He brutally killed the entire Himuro family, slaughtering all family members with a traditional Japanese katana sword. The head of the family believed that by killing them, he was saving them from a more terrible death. When all the family members were killed, he fell on his katana and committed suicide.

Locals the neighboring village remained silent about the Himuro mansion and everything that happened there for decades. And then began endless eyewitness accounts of strange events going on in the mansion.

Inside the mansion, all the walls were covered in bloody handprints. Ghosts have been seen here both at night and in broad daylight. Legend has it that they are the ghosts of the murdered members of the Himuro family, and they will try to repeat their failed ritual on anyone foolish enough to dare enter the abandoned building.

From time to time, corpses of people who dared to go there are found in the mansion. They have the typical rope marks on their arms, legs and necks, as if they had been strangled.

Several corpses were found in the underground network of tunnels beneath the mansion. The corpses were literally torn into several parts. No one knows who made these tunnels or what purpose they served, but it appears they were made to carry out the Ritual of Strangulation.

The mansion also has a window that has gained a bad reputation. They say that if this window is photographed, a ghostly image of a young girl in a kimono will appear in the photograph.

These incidents have caused panic among people in Tokyo, and many believe that those who approach this mansion will be cursed. The mystery of the deaths of seven people found in this building has still not been solved.

The urban legend of the Himuro Mansion became popular in the west. The haunted house story has become very fashionable. If the legend is true, then the Himuro Mansion is definitely the most cursed building in Japan.

I love Japan. I just love her. And their horror films in all forms are especially close to my heart. So I decided to post my thoughts, reflections and rants on the topic of urban legends of the Country Rising Sun.

Urban legends of Japan. Part I

When walking along quiet Japanese streets, be very careful. There can be danger around every corner. If a beautiful woman with a bandage on her face calls out to you and asks: “Am I beautiful?”, do not even think about answering her. Walking along the school corridors, you can hear children crying. But don’t rush to run to help. And if your other half wears a red scarf without taking it off, under no circumstances force you to take it off. Don't want to listen? Well, we warned you. But don't underestimate Japan's urban legends...

“You can have a thousand academic degrees,

but man by nature always believed

and will believe in the existence of something,

not amenable to rational explanation"

Koji Suzuki "Ring" / "Ring"

Japan another country

Japan is a country with a different mentality. It developed along a completely different path, strikingly different from Europe. For a long time the country was closed; access for foreigners was strictly limited. Peculiar natural conditions, social norms and rules, traditions and mythology combined into an interesting, but alien mixture to Europeans. On this basis, a unique layer of culture arose - urban legends.

What are these urban legends? These are actually scary stories based on the mythology and culture of the country. Remember how, as children, we scared each other with stories about a red sheet, a green hand and a black coffin on wheels? So, the Japanese also like to scare their friend with all sorts of horror stories. Only their stories will be more terrible and capable of scaring not only schoolchildren, but also impressionable adults.

Typically, the main characters in Japanese urban legends are onryo spirits - vengeful spirits who have returned from the dead to punish the offender. We are familiar with these ghosts primarily from popular Japanese horror films. Everyone knows Sadoko Yamamura, the girl from the movie “The Ring.” By the way, in the book by Koji Suzuki, on which the movie was based, Sadoko was an adult girl - a classic image of an onryo.

Kaidan or kwaidan is a traditional folklore genre in Japan, designed to frighten the listener with stories of encounters with the supernatural. Undoubtedly, he had a huge influence on the formation of urban legends in Japan. This literary trend created fertile ground for the emergence of modern urban folklore. Moreover, many classic horror stories have been translated into a modern twist, turning them into urban legends.

Traditionally herself Japanese culture is rich in a variety of horror stories: ghosts, monsters, strange creatures inhabit Japan. Therefore, it is no wonder that Tek-Tek, the Woman with a Slit Mouth and other terrible monsters roam around the cities.

In addition, after the fall of the Tokugawa military-samurai regime (Edo period), stories from Europe poured into the Land of the Rising Sun along with foreigners. They, of course, also influenced the formation of Japanese urban folklore. To many modern Japanese scary stories we can recall similar legends from the USA, Germany or other countries.

For convenience, Japanese urban legends can be divided into several categories.

Revenge

One of the main themes of Japanese horror stories is revenge. The ghosts of the dead take revenge on their offenders, their descendants, children, neighbors, friends, and even those who accidentally got in their way. “Wrong time, wrong place” is a very relevant expression in relation to legends telling of reckoning.

Sometimes the injustice is so great and the thirst for revenge is so strong that the soul cannot find peace. She remains attached to a place that is meaningful to her. Typically this is the place where the person died. It’s good if punishment overtakes the offender. But most often it is innocent citizens who get the nuts.

Everyone knows the 2003 film “The Grudge” directed by Shimizu Takashima and its American remake. A curse born from the enraged mind of a dying man cannot disappear without a trace. The image of an innocently ruined soul appears again and again to everyone who tries to comprehend the secrets of its fate. No one can be saved by coming into contact with all-consuming rage. Similar stories exist in all corners of Japan. Sometimes having a real basis because of the tragedies that have happened.

There are also legends where others take revenge for the victim. The boy was bullied by his classmates. Often it came to assault. The child’s grandmother knew that her grandson was being bullied, but she could not do anything. And one day the boy was beaten so badly that he died. The woman immediately told the police that her grandson was killed at school. But school officials said it was an accident and the case was closed. The woman achieved nothing. “I don’t want to hear this,” she said and cut off her ears. The old woman was admitted to the hospital, and since then nothing has been heard from her.

A few weeks later, an elderly woman wearing a purple kimono began to appear at the school gates (the color purple is associated with death in Japan). She tore out the livers of those children she spoke to. To drive it away, you need to say “purple,” which means “rest in peace.” Therefore, always be on alert, in case your grandmother turns to you with a request to take her across the road.

Another urban legend tells that a gang of robbers was operating in the Shibuya area of ​​Tokyo. One of them, a handsome guy, met and flirted with girls, then brought them to the hotel, where his comrades were waiting. One day, as usual, the handsome man invited the girl to the hotel. And as usual, his comrades ambushed...

The evening of the next day came, and the guests still did not leave the room. The hotel employees became worried and entered the room. There lay four corpses, torn to pieces...

This terrible story, found in different variations in almost all countries, also contains a certain amount of educational moment - retribution for actions can overtake anywhere and anytime, hidden in the most harmless, at first glance, things. Sometimes the hunter can turn into the hunted.

School inhabitants

A separate group of urban legends are legends about ghostly inhabitants of schools. The place where Japanese schoolchildren spend their time is full of secrets and mysteries. The school toilet is especially mysterious and enigmatic. Yes Yes. You heard right. It's the toilet. There are a great many legends about those who wait for schoolchildren in cabins.

If you don’t have enough thrills and life without adrenaline makes no sense, then come at two o’clock in the morning to the northern building of the school, on the stairs between the third and fourth floors. Bring a candle and something tasty with you. Place the treat behind you and chant to your shadow, “Mr. Shadow, Mister Shadow, please listen to my request.” And then tell him your wish.

If everything goes as it should, Mr. Shadow will come out of your shadow and fulfill your request. But be careful! If the candle goes out, Mr. Shadow will get angry and take away some part of your body. Moreover, he will not ask which organ will be least useful to you in life.

After staying a little longer in the toilet and successfully surviving the arrival of Mr. Shadow, you will hear a voice: “Do you want red or blue paper?” Here, too, you need to gather your willpower and think about what to answer to a caring ghost who is worried about whether you have everything you need to go to the toilet. If you say “red,” then death is inevitable, and the whole body will be covered in blood. If you say “blue”, all your blood will be sucked out. Whatever one may say, one is not better than the other. But there is a way to stay alive - say “yellow paper”. Then the toilet stall will fill up... Well, you understand. As a consolation, let's say that this is not fatal...

Some schools may ask you, “Do you want a red cape or a blue cape?” But now you know how to respond to a malicious ghost. And then go straight to the shower.

For researchers and simply lovers of the paranormal, the Japanese school toilet should become a place of pilgrimage. In fact, you don't need to make any effort, just knock three times on the door of the third stall of the women's restroom on the third floor and say: “Hanako-san, let's play!” In response, you will immediately hear: “Yes...” and you will be able to see the ghost of Hanako-san in person.

An alternative way to call a girl from the toilet requires more effort. You'll have to persuade one of your friends to join you, because you can't do it alone. You will have to push your friend into the second toilet stall from the entrance, and you yourself will remain outside. While propping up the door so as not to let your friend escape from the stall, knock four times on the door. A friend locked inside and doomed to meet a ghost must answer with a double knock, but if he simply kicks the door and demands to be let out immediately, then count his knocks as two. The rest will pass for noise. Then you need to call: “Hanako-san, let's play! Do you want a rubber band or a tag?”

A bored ghost will immediately respond: “Okay. Let's tag." And then the one inside will be touched on the shoulder by a girl.

Of course, you can take a seat in the booth yourself, but the effect will not be the same. Besides, you can always say that you have already called Hanako, just at another school. Now explore the external manifestations of ghostly emanations that influence fluctuations in air flow. Well, or else, come up with something. The main thing is to be more intricate, otherwise your friend won’t believe you and will beat you.

Hanako-san is the most popular ghost in Japan, rumors about which have been circulating since the 50sXXcentury. In addition, there is a ghost girl in almost all Japanese schools. It’s no wonder that Hanako-san became the heroine of several films and anime.

There are a great many stories about how the soul of a poor girl was captured by the toilet. According to one version, Hanako-san was in poor health, and when her classmates locked her in the toilet, the girl’s heart stopped. According to another version, Hanako was attacked by a maniac. She ran away and hid in the school toilet, but it didn't help -

he found her there anyway... The third version talks about the family problems that the girl had to live with. Her father cheated on her mother, and she went crazy with jealousy. The crazy woman strangled the younger children, but Hanako managed to escape and hid in the school toilet. But the mother still found her eldest daughter... And according to the fourth legend, Hanako-san committed suicide because her long hair was cut off.

Damned places

Urban legends associated with cursed houses, hospitals, parks and others popular places a dime a dozen. Every city has a couple of such attractions. They serve as a place of pilgrimage for lovers of the paranormal and an opportunity to test their courage. If you want to tickle your nerves, you can visit the cursed place and leave your name on the wall. But be careful, don't let the curse drag you into its web...

In 1972, a fire occurred in Sennichimae, a district of Osaka, in which one hundred and seventeen people died. There was talk that this place was now cursed.

One employee was late finishing a report for his boss. He hurried home and exited the subway in Sennichimae. Shel heavy rain. So the man opened his umbrella and walked away, dodging the people rushing here and there. The man looked at the passers-by, and a chill ran down his spine: all the people were without umbrellas, pale and gloomy. The empty eyes expressed nothing, their gazes were fixed on one point.

Suddenly a taxi stopped not far from the man.

Come here! - the driver shouted.

But I don't need a taxi.

No matter, sit down!

The man wanted to leave this place as quickly as possible, so he obeyed. The taxi driver was as pale as a sheet. Taking a breath, he said:

I was driving along the route when I saw you walking along an empty street and dodging someone, as if from people passing by...

Age of technology

Computers, players, the Internet, mobile phones - we can no longer imagine life without all this. Technology has deeply entered our lives. And, of course, this could not but affect urban legends. Horror stories appeared related to television, the World Wide Web and mobile phones. Just remember the popular horror films “The Ring”, “One Missed Call” and others.

If there is a maniac on the other end of the line, this is not the worst thing that can happen to phone owners.

Do you know Satoru who can answer any question? No? Then we'll tell you now. To call him, you need a cell phone, a pay phone and a 10 yen coin. Place a coin in the machine, call your cell phone and say: “Satoru-kun, Satoru-kun, if you are here, come to me and please answer my question.”

Over the next twenty-four hours, Satoru-kun will call you on your cell phone. Every time he will say where he is. This place will get closer and closer to you. For the last time he will say: “I’m behind you...” Now you can ask the question for which you decided to risk your life. There will definitely be an answer to it. But if you turn around, wanting to look at the all-knowing alien, or cannot think of a question, Satoru-kun will kill you. And you won’t know the answer and will die ahead of time. Japanese ghosts are not to be trifled with.

Another variation on the theme of telephone calls is the legend of the Mysterious Anser. If communication with Satoru-kun is not enough for you or you want to try your luck again, then take ten mobile phones and call from the first to the second... and so on. To close the chain, send the last tenth call to the first phone - a circle is formed. When all the phones are connected to each other, you will be contacted by a man named Anser, who will answer nine people's questions. Well, Anser himself will ask the tenth member of the spirit-summoning team a question. If he doesn't get a response from the screen mobile phone a hand will come out and drag away some part of the interlocutor’s body. Anser is a freak of a child. He has only one head and in order to become a full-fledged person, he steals body parts and answers any questions along the way. If you are not confident in your erudition, it is better not to take risks. Or at least not being the owner of the tenth phone.

There are many legends surrounding the photographs. For example, you cannot stand in the center if three people are photographed. This threatens troubles and even death.

“To take a photograph is to take out the soul” - this opinion existed for a long time in Japan. It has taken root since the Edo era, when photography came to the Land of the Rising Sun. This attitude towards a new invention initially arose in many countries. Perhaps this is not easy. Who can say whether we are losing part of our soul when we capture our image in the next photograph.

Deformities

Ugliness and beauty attract attention in equal measure. Even if you are running errands and don’t pay attention to the people rushing nearby, your gaze will still catch on a beauty passing by, or on a person missing one leg or arm.

The Japanese did not ignore this topic. Moreover, standing out from the crowd is not accepted here.

One of the most famous urban legends in Japan is the "Gap-Mouth Woman" or "Woman with the Slit Mouth." Based on this urban legend, a horror film of the same name was shot in 2007 by director Koshi Hiraishi. There is a variation of Slit Mouth - Atomic Girl, disfigured by the explosion and asking the children the same question.

Kuchisake Onna or the Mouth-Crack Woman is a very popular horror story, especially famous due to the fact that the police still find many similar messages in their archives. According to legend, an unusually beautiful woman wearing a gauze bandage walks the streets of Japan. If a child is walking down the street alone, then she can come up to him and ask: “Am I beautiful?” If he hesitates, Kuchisake tears off the bandage from his face. A huge scar crosses her beautiful face from ear to ear, a giant mouth filled with sharp teeth, and a tongue like a snake. After which the girl will ask the question again: “Am I beautiful now?” If the child answers “no,” then she will cut off his head with scissors, and if “yes,” then she will give him the same scar. Don't rush to answer! The only way to escape in this case is to give an evasive answer. For example, you can answer: “You look average” or “You look good.”

Another story that scares the Japanese to death is "Tek-Tek". This horror story tells the story of a woman who died under the wheels of a train.

Tek-Tek or Kashima Reiko is the ghost of a woman who was run over by a train and cut in half. Since then, she has been wandering at night, moving on her elbows, making the sound “tek-tek.” If a girl sees someone, she will chase him until she kills him. Reiko will cut her victim in half with a scythe and turn her into a monster just like her. According to legend, Tek-Tek hunts children who play at dusk.

With Tek-Tek, analogies can be drawn with the American children's horror story called “Clack-Clack,” which parents used to scare children who were out late at night. If you are a child, then do not stay out late late. It is still unpleasant when you are deprived of your legs.

As has already become clear, in Japan, before answering any question, you need to think carefully. Otherwise, it may lead to death. Who knows, maybe your words will be taken literally. So in the following urban legend, you can lose your legs if you answer without thinking.

One day the boy was walking home after school. An elderly woman approached him with a question. “Do you need legs?” - she asked. The boy, of course, said no. He has legs, why does he need another one?! His body was immediately pierced by unbearable pain. Passers-by came running to the child's screams. When they saw the boy, they were dumbfounded with fear - he had no legs.

The ghost described in the legend is terrible because it is impossible to immediately come up with the correct answer to his question. If you say “no” you will lose your legs, if you say “yes” you will get a third one. You can cheat by answering: “I don’t need it, but you can ask tago.” The ghost will turn its attention to the one whose name was called, and you will remain unharmed. Therefore, it is better to prepare the name of your enemy in advance so that you can immediately blurt it out if you are approached with a similar question.

Dolls

Long black hair, pale faces, sophisticated features, a mysterious smile. No, these are not beautiful Japanese women, these are porcelain dolls. Forever frozen images, embodiments of once living people. One of the Japanese urban legends tells of a mysterious doll, Okiku, whose hair suddenly began to grow after the death of its owner.

According to legend, the doll was originally purchased in 1918 by a seventeen-year-old boy named Eikichi Suzuki. He bought the toy on Tanuki-koji, a famous shopping street in Sapporo. It was a gift for Okiku's two-year-old sister. The girl really liked the toy, and she did not want to part with it even for a moment. Unfortunately, Okiku suddenly fell ill and died suddenly. The family placed the doll in the home altar and prayed to it every day in memory of Okiku, who left her family untimely.

Some time later, relatives began to notice that the doll's hair began to grow. The restless spirit of Okiku found refuge in a doll...

They say that if a child plays with one toy for a long time, it can come to life. There is some truth in this, because for a child a doll, a teddy bear or wooden soldier not just, but a friend who will listen, understand and share grief and joy. So why shouldn't a toy have a soul? Especially if these are Japanese dolls.

One day a girl named Yuriko moved with her parents to another city. Before leaving, her mother told her to get rid of the Likki-chan doll. From early childhood, the toy was the most beloved and dear to the girl, but she could not disobey her mother and still threw the doll away.

After some time, when Yuriko had almost gotten used to the new place and made friends at school, the phone rang.

It's me, Licca-chan. I'm in ***. “And I’m coming to you,” they whispered at the other end of the line.

*** is the place where the family used to live. The girl got scared and hung up. But after a while the phone rang again.

It's me, Licca-chan. “I’m fucked,” said the same voice.

*** - this was the closest station from the girl’s house.

This went on several times until Yuriko couldn’t stand it anymore and screamed:

Who are you? Tell me who you are!

But the phone rang and the caller hung up. The girl opened the curtain and looked out into the street. There was no one there. And then the phone rang.

It’s me, Licca-chan,” Yuriko heard. - I'm behind you...

The sales agency for these dolls launched the “Likki-chan Phone” service. On this phone you can hear the mysterious whisper of a living doll. Unfortunately, there is a recording playing there. But maybe that's just what they tell us...

No matter how things really turn out, be more careful when choosing gifts and souvenirs for your family and friends. You may accidentally purchase an unusual doll.

***

This is only part of that huge layer of culture called urban legends. We touched a little on the mysterious and scary stories that exist among the population of Japan. But that is not all. To be continued...

Japan is rightfully included in. The Japanese are, by and large, a nation obsessed with creepy ghost movies. From the horror movie icon of the crawling Sadako from The Ring to the creepy scenes of Suicide Club. It is an undeniable fact that Japan has produced a number of films containing the most terrifying moments in the history of the horror genre.

Whether you're a casual movie watcher or a film fanatic who breathes and eats their favorite films, Japanese horror films will definitely captivate you. So, top 18 creepiest places in Japan.

Of course, Sadako and other characters from the plots of Japanese horror films are fictional and generated by the imaginative writers and directors of the Land of the Rising Sun. But did you know that Japan has many scary places that can scare a person for the rest of his life? Believe me, there are dozens of places in this country that are no less frightening than Sadako herself. Do you want to see something as scary as Sadako in the Land of the Rising Sun? Make sure to take our tips into account when planning your trip to Japan.

18 of the scariest places on the planet and in Japan that can scare you no less than Sadako herself

1. Aokigahara Forest

When it comes to terrifying places in Japan, there is no doubt that the most terrible and mysterious is the Aokigahara forest. This place has a well-characterized nickname - “Suicide Forest”. Aokigahara, unfortunately, has the reputation of being the second most popular suicide spot in the world. For decades, thousands of people have been coming to this mystical forest in order to commit suicide. Sounds pretty creepy, doesn't it?

Don't be too surprised if you run into Sadako and her companions during your visit to this chilling forest. Yet it is the Aokigahara forest that is known for the lion's share of paranormal activity in Japan. Even if the government tries to keep a record of suicides in the forest, this place has already acquired numerous terrible myths and legends as the scariest place on the planet. And it is in first place in our ranking.

2. Old Chusetsu Tunnel, Fukuoka

Aren't you afraid of Sadako and other ghosts? In this case, I recommend entering the abandoned old Chusetsu Tunnel, located in the city of Fukuoka. Locals claim that you can hear strange voices in this terrifying tunnel.

3. Oiran Buti, Yamanashi

It looks as if you are trying to deceive us, the most sophisticated people will say, assigning these words to this and the next position on our list. Despite the wonderful landscape around, Oiran Buti occupies worthy place in the list of the most scary places on the planet and in Japan. After all, it was here that in ancient times about 50 oiran (prostitutes) were killed. Also, this place has a creepy suspension bridge, as if copied from a scene from the Silent Hill films.

4. Hiroshima and Nagasaki

In these cities, people often hear crying and cries for help from restless souls at night until dawn.

5. Akasaka Mansion Hotel, Tokyo

Known as Tokyo's scariest hotel, Akasaka Mansion is capable of scaring the living daylights out of guests with a variety of hair-raising visions. In fact, one woman staying at the hotel said that an unknown force grabbed her by the hair and dragged her across the room. Could this be Sadako's work? Spend the night in this hotel yourself and perhaps you can find something.

6. Field hospital, Kanagawa Prefecture.

From unusual sounds to windows opening, there are many reports of paranormal activity at this field hospital.

7. Doryodo Ruins, Tokyo

In the ruins of Doryodo, bystanders can hear the cries of a girl, a student, whose body was dumped here after a brutal murder committed in 1973. She doesn't have to be Sadako, but her moans will definitely make your hair stand on end.

8. Himuro Mansion, Tokyo

Incarnated in the game Fatal Frame, the Himuro mansion was the site of the notorious massacre of his entire clan by the head of the Himuro family. This horrific crime is often considered one of the most brutal and shocking murders in Japanese history. But some say that this story of the Himuro Mansion is nothing more than just a fiction.

Want to know if this urban legend is true? There's only one way to check! Visit one of the scariest places on the planet and make sure!

9. Hakone Yama, Tokyo

Try taking a long night walk through Hakone Yama and listen to the terrifying sobbing, wailing and other mysterious noises in this place. In addition to the mystical sounds, the park leaves a strong feeling that this place has an extraterrestrial, supernatural nature. Although Sadako most likely won't appear here, Hakone Yama remains a tempting destination for thrill-seekers and ghost hunters.

10. Sunshine 60 Skyscraper, Tokyo

Visit this building at sunset and you might be lucky enough to see the appearance of mysterious fireballs floating in the air.

11. Round school building, Hokkaido. One of the most terrible places on the planet.

This school is one of the most famous scary places in Japan, because the creepy building, inhabited by ghosts, can scare even the most courageous lovers of the otherworldly. There are many stories on the Internet about the circular school, including legends about people who entered the building, but disappeared forever or left with their minds damaged.

12. Royal Hotel, Okinawa.

One of the most famous spooky places in Japan, " Royal Hotel is an abandoned hotel built on the once sacred grounds of Nakagusuku Castle. According to legend, the spirits and ghosts that lived in the castle were disturbed by the new construction, causing a number of accidents to the hotel owner and construction workers.

13. SSS Curve, Okinawa

Want to capture ghosts on your trip to Japan? I recommend that you go to the SSS curve on Okinawa Island.

14. Teahouse Ruins, Okinawa

The ruins of this tea house are a goldmine for paranormal activity experts and ghost hunters.

15. Gate No. 3 of Camp Hansen Military Base, Okinawa

Do you want to meet Sadako? You won't find her in this camp, but you may encounter another strange entity. Apparently, here, on this gloomy American military base, the appearance of a bloody soldier from the Second World War has been recorded many times. Some people say that he asks for a light (particularly with a lighter), and then disappears without a trace.

16. Atsugi Naval Base, Kanagawa

At this US Navy base, cases of the appearance of a restless soul have also been recorded. As far as I know, this ghost is connected to a Marine who died in a terrible car accident in the 1960s.

17. Rusted Hangar, Kanagawa

This hangar, located away from the US Navy base, is also known for a number of strange paranormal phenomena. Here you can hear the doors closing by themselves, and ghosts with red eyes have also been observed in this place.

18. Gridley Tunnel, Yokosuka

Want to see the ghosts of Japanese samurai? The Gridley Tunnel at Yokosuka Naval Base is a single-lane, narrow tunnel haunted by the spirit of a once surprised and killed samurai. There is a belief that this warrior set out on a journey to avenge the death of his master, and on the way he was attacked by his enemies. Since he was unable to complete the work he started, the ghost of the samurai was unable to leave this place.

We can't blame this samurai for his appearance in the tunnel. Besides, it must be terribly boring to spend thousands of years in such a cramped place. Fortunately, our good friend Sadako can always pay a visit to this tunnel and offer a few words of encouragement to the fallen warrior.

This is our story from the series the scariest places on the planet finished. If you liked the selection, write in the comments and we will continue in the same spirit!

By the way, did you know that Sadako can pitch in baseball? I must say that she has a very good throw with her right hand.