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 populous years of its history, the island had 30 housing blocks, 25 shops, a school, two swimming pools, a hospital and a cemetery. For 50 years, the island was one of the most densely populated places on the planet: in 1959, the population of the island was 5259 people per km². But the fossils began to gradually dry up and every year the mines became less and less. 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 by wealthy collectors. And there were always those who were not averse to "spend 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 strong eruption of Mount Fuji. An unbreakable lava flow has created a huge lava plateau with an area of ​​40 km², on which a very unusual forest has taken 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.

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 Land of the 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 that Japanese horror stories are devoted to is revenge. The ghosts of the dead take revenge on their offenders, their descendants, children, neighbors, friends, and even those who happened to be on their way. “Wrong time, wrong place” is a very relevant expression in relation to legends about retribution.

Sometimes the injustice is so great, and the thirst for revenge is so strong that the soul cannot find peace. She remains tied to a place that is meaningful to her. As a rule, this is the place where the person died. It's good if punishment overtakes the offender. But most often "on nuts" goes to innocent citizens.

Everyone knows the 2003 film "The Curse" directed by Shimizu Takashima and its American remake. A curse born from the enraged mind of a dying person 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 her fate. No one can be saved by contact with all-devouring rage. Similar stories exist in all corners of Japan. Sometimes having real grounds due to the tragedies that have happened.

There are also legends where others avenge 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. It was raining heavily. 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 mobile 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 does not receive an answer, a hand will come out of the mobile phone screen 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 on ***, - said the same voice.

*** - this was the nearest station from the girl's house.

This went on several times, until Yuriko could not stand it and screamed:

Who are you? Tell me who you are!

But the phone was ringing - 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, Likka-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.

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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 - "Forest of Suicides". 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 scariest place on the planet. And it is in our ranking in first place.

2. Old Chusetsu Tunnel, Fukuoka

Are 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 they say that in this terrifying tunnel you can hear strange voices.

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 takes 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 oirans (prostitutes) were killed. In addition, 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 the work of Sadako? Spend the night yourself in this inn and you might be able to 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 during your trip to Japan? I recommend you go to the SSS curve in Okinawa.

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.

“I screamed throughout the entire cinema hall in fear!” - ARD author Zhanna Idymova once said about her first experience of watching a Japanese horror film. It seems like the movie “The Ring”...

Japanese horror films are attractive due to their presentation style, and the scary girl climbing out of the well is simply a masterpiece of suspense.

You definitely can’t deny this to the Japanese. Deadly pale faces with inevitably large, frightening eyes, long wet hair covering the face, and a special, incomprehensible to Western viewer, and therefore even more attractive depressing atmosphere - Japanese horror films are significantly different from other world horror films.

For more than fifteen years, the best Japanese horrors - Japanese horror (J-horror, J-horror) have been confidently winning the attention of horror movie lovers all over the world. Unlike Americans and Europeans, well-mannered residents of the Country Rising Sun do not allow themselves to splash out negative emotions on others.

Therefore, Japanese horror films seem lighter and at the same time oppressive. Without copious splashes of blood and dismembered bodies, Japanese horror directors know how to create dark, violent films with apocalyptic contours. The greatest emphasis is usually placed on the psychological component of horror and the potential expectation of an unexpected outcome. It is this thriller orientation that forms the world army of fans of Made in Japan horror.

The regular characters of J-horror are ghosts, poltergeists and yokai - mystical humanoid creatures with different characters, who came into the cinema from Japanese folklore. Japanese folk and world magic are also used: exorcism, foresight, shamanic rituals. The wet girl from the videotape not only brought the famous film by Hideo Nakata the highest box office in the world among films of this genre, but also successfully appeared in the South Korean and American counterparts.

This is a yurei - an ethereal spirit, making itself felt with heavy breathing and heartbreaking groans behind the wall, with quick steps in the corridor. In general, the image of a long-haired girl with oriental features in a long white robe is a kind of calling card of the Japanese horror film, which appears in a significant part of these films and is actively exploited by the world's horror story authors. It seems that there is nothing scary in this image, but a terrible unpleasant feeling inside the stomach appears from just looking at the official poster of the film, not to mention the picture itself.

Manga comics, anime cartoons and unsurpassed horror films - this is Japan's contribution to world cinema. The irresistible desire to watch Japanese horrors to the end can be explained quite simply. Not a single self-respecting director of Japanese horror will leave a grateful viewer without a solution, nor will he disappoint with a blurry and unfinished ending of the film. There is always food for thought and a strong desire to better understand the mystical facet of Japanese culture.

ARD presents its top Japanese horror films of the last 15 years.

Call/Ringu

Production: Japan Genre: fantasy, horror, detective, thriller Type: feature film, 96 min. Premiere: 01/31/1998 Director: Nakata Hideo Cast: Matsushima Nanako, Nakatani Miki and others Original author: Suzuki Koji.

Summary:
After mysterious death niece Tomoko Oishi (Yuko Takeyuchi), journalist Reiko Asakawa (Nanako Matsusoma) decides to independently find an explanation for what happened, distrusting what she believes is a typical urban myth that after watching a certain videotape, a phone rings, and a week later the person dies with face twisted in horror. However, everything predicted begins to come true for Reiko herself - and she, having overcome her initial skepticism, understands that there is no choice left but to understand the reasons for what is happening, asking for support from her ex-husband Ryuji Takayama (Hiroyuki Sanada). The ongoing investigation leads Asakawa and Ryuji to an abandoned house where a tragedy occurred many years ago: a girl named Sadako (Rie Inou) was buried alive in a deep well. Reiko realizes that time is almost up - and does everything to help the soul of the innocent murdered find peace...

Ring 2/Ringu 2
Manufacture: Japan
Genre: horror film

Premiere: 06/10/1999

Director: Nakata Hideo
Cast: Nakatani Miki, Sato Hitomi and others

Summary:
The sequel to The Ring picks up the sinister theme of the deadly videotape and picks up right after the death of the first film's protagonist, journalist Ryuichi. His friend Mai Takano is trying to figure out what happened. The trail leads her, firstly, to the mysterious tape, and secondly, to Ryuichi's ex-wife, Reiko Asakawa, and her son, Yuichi. Gradually, Mai begins to realize that Yuichi has the same sinister paranormal abilities as Sadako Imamura, the ghost living in the tape. Sadako's spirit has taken possession of the boy and he begins to commit one murder after another. A veil of evil begins to hang over the heroes. Will they be able to handle it?

The Grudge
Manufacture: Japan
Genre: horror film
Type: feature film, 92 min.
Premiere: January 25, 2003

Director: Shimizu Takashi
Starring: Okina Megumi, Ito Misaki and others

Summary:
The most terrible of all curses is the dying curse. At the moment when life leaves the body of a person who dies a violent death, all the powerless rage and frantic anger of the unfortunate victim against the tormentor falls on the place where the murder was committed. The soul of the deceased will not find peace. The restless ghost will begin to appear where he was during life, and, obsessed with a thirst for revenge and blind malice, kill everyone who dares to enter his domain. There is no escape from this terrible curse.

Curse 2

Manufacture: Japan
Genre: horror film, thriller
Type: feature film, 95 min.
Premiere: 05/16/2003

Director: Shimizu Takashi
Starring: Sakai Noriko, Niyama Chiharu and others

Summary:
A curse born from the enraged mind of a dying person 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 terrible fate, freezing the blood in the veins of the unfortunate, with the icy horror of the inevitable... Some time after the inexplicable events in damn house, where the bloody drama that took place many years ago marked the beginning of the chain terrible deaths and mysterious disappearances, the charming Kiyoko, the Japanese “queen of horror,” is obsessed with the idea of ​​​​making an investigative film in this ominous place. She is sure that she is creating a sensation, and even the terrible and inexplicable events that have haunted Kiyoko since the beginning of filming are unable to change her fatal intentions, which have become a death sentence for the movie star and everyone around her...

Curse 3

Manufacture: Japan
Genre: horror film, thriller
Type: feature film
Year: 2007

Director: Shimizu Takashi

Dark Waters
Director: Hideo Nakata
Japan, 2002
Horror film, mystical thriller
Duration: 101 minutes
The film is presented by the association of companies "Pan-Terra" - "Cinema without Borders"

Summary: After a divorce, Yoshimi Matsubara is looking for a new apartment where she will live with her daughter. She finds accommodation in strange house, where there are puddles and severe dampness everywhere. The manager will explain this by the rainy season. Nevertheless, the woman decides to move. On the roof, her daughter Ikuku finds a red children's bag with toys, but her mother forbids her to take it. In one of the corners of the room there is a damp spot on the ceiling, which is gradually growing.

"Dollmaker" (2005) / Doll Master

Duration: 90 min.
horror
Director: Yong-ki Jeong
Cast: Yu-mi Kim, Yun-Kyong Lim, Hyong-tak Shim, Chi-yong Ok, Hyong-chun Lim
From the moment you abandon them, their sadness turns to horror.

Have you ever had the feeling that someone is watching you? Horror pierces you, and drops of sticky sweat run down your back... You turn around, but there is no one and nothing behind you except the doll. The cold shine of her glass eyes evokes thoughts of a long and painful death....

Cello/Chello

Year of manufacture: 2005
Genre: horror, mystery
Production:
Country: Korea
Director: Lee Woo-cheol / Woo-cheol Lee /
Cast: Ho-bin Jeong, Yu-mi Jeong, Da-an Park, Hyeon-a Seong
About the film: A mystical horror film that tells the story of a house in which an entire family died while listening to cello music in various places. There are no signs of forced entry and no signs of violence on any of the victims. The only survivor is a cellist. She constantly mutters that it was the cello music that killed them all...

One missed call (Japan)

Chakushin ari (You"ve Got a Call) (2003)

Briefly:
A message sent by you three days later will be sent to your mobile phone. This is a death warning

director: Takashi Miike / Takashi Miike

Main roles Stars: Ko Shibasaki, Kazue Fukiishi, Atsushi Ida, Renji Ishibashi, Goro Kishitani, Yutaka Matsushige, Anna Nagata, Mariko Tsutsui, Shinichi Tsutsumi

Your mobile phone is ringing. But instead of the usual signal there is a strange, unfamiliar melody. You don't have time to answer. The display says “1 missed call.” The caller's number is your own. The time of the call seems very strange - it is shifted into the future from today's date by exactly three days. There is one message on the answering machine. This is your own voice, meaningless words, some extraneous sounds and suddenly - a chilling death cry. This seems like someone's stupid joke, but you only have three days left to live...

Second missed call (Chakushin ari 2)

Cast:Mimura, Yuyu Yoshizawa, Renji Ishibashi, Haruko Wanibuchi, Asaka Seto, Peter Ho

Kyoko works full-time at a daycare center and studies child therapy in the evenings, leaving little time to date her photographer boyfriend Naoto. One day, Kyoko runs into a Chinese restaurant where Naoto works part-time. On the threshold, an eerie call is heard from her cell phone. They recognize this sound as the one that preceded the “death forecast” calls made last year. They remember what happened... a recording of their own voice screaming in horror... the inevitability of the end. And soon a grim death enters the world of Naoto and Kyoko, and it becomes obvious that the curse has not been lifted.

An essential part of summer in Japan are kaidans (Japanese ghost stories). There are probably those who would like to visit a real Japanese haunted house. In this article I will tell you about the most scary places in Japan, which are absolutely forbidden to visit. Will you be able to sleep after reading this article?

Hospital for tuberculosis patients in Kaizuka City (Osaka Prefecture)

Kaizuka City Tuberculosis Hospital is one of the most famous places in Osaka Prefecture, where ghosts live. The building was originally built for a school (in 1948), so there is a swimming pool and showers inside. In 1958, it began to serve as a hospital for tuberculosis patients. There are still medical supplies in the building. Since there have been many deaths of patients in the hospital, it is said that the building is haunted by many ghosts.

Old X-rays can be seen scattered on the floor.

But the worst thing is not the scattered things, but the fact that you can feel the warmth of the people who were once here...

Then we decided to leave this corridor. At this point N said, “I just heard someone say “Hey!”.” I thought: “I think I heard something too, but because of the sound of the footsteps I couldn’t make out.” However, all 11 team members confirmed that they heard "Hey!" We hurried to the cars and quickly left the place.

(from a researcher's blog)

2. Jomon Tunnel (Hokkaido)

The Jomon Tunnel is located in the eastern part of Hokkaido. It connects Tokoro County and Munbetsu County. The length of the tunnel is 507 meters. In 1914, during construction work, due to very difficult working conditions and lack of food, many workers died right in the tunnel and their corpses were buried right there. In 1968, this tunnel also became famous because human bones were discovered in a wall destroyed by an earthquake.

3. Forest in the village of Shizukuishi (Iwate Prefecture)

Over the forest in the village of Shizukuishi on July 30, 1971, an ANA (All Nippon Airways) plane collided with a military fighter. The accident killed 162 people. People still bring flowers to the erected monument.

4. Shitodono Rock Iwaya (Kanagawa Prefecture)

It is known that the rock of Shitodono Iwaya was where Minamoto no Yorimoto took refuge when he was defeated in the war. Here it is a large number of statues of Jizo (bodhisattva). During the daytime it is quite an ordinary tourist attraction, but when night falls the atmosphere changes dramatically. Among the Jizo statues there are statues with far from kind facial expressions. They say that a person who sees the headless statue of Jizo will soon be visited by death.

5. Hospital in Kasumigaura City (Ibaraki Prefecture)

Initially, this place was a naval base, but then the building became one of the buildings of the Tokyo Medical and Dental University. Now the building has turned into ruins. There is no particular reason for the appearance of ghosts here, but fans of horror films know that this building has often become a filming location.

So what do you think?

What do you think of the places presented? They say that you should never visit them, surely there are people who already want to go there? Remember: you may experience such fear that your hair will stand on end; full responsibility for possible consequences you take it entirely upon yourself.