Japanese urban legends are a fascinating blend of folklore, horror, and modern-day fears, typically passed down through generations or circulated by word of mouth, literature, and the internet. They range from eerie ghost tales to cautionary tales involving supernatural creatures, with many of them integral to Japanese popular culture. Some of the most well-known Japanese urban legends follow:
1. Kuchisake-onna (The Slit-Mouthed Woman)
Easily the most frightening of all urban legends is Kuchisake-onna, a ghostly woman whose jealous husband cut her mouth from ear to ear. She wears a surgical mask and questions victims, *"Am I beautiful?"* If they answer in the negative, she kills them outright. If they answer in the affirmative, she removes her mask and asks a second time. Answering in the negative prompts her to cut their mouth like hers. The only ways to escape are to distract her or say "You’re average."
.jpg)
2. Hanako-san (Toilet Ghost)
One of the most common school legends, Hanako-san is said to be the spirit of a young girl who can be found in the third stall of the women's restroom. If you knock three times and ask, "Are you there, Hanako-san?", she will answer with, 'I'm here.' In other versions, she drags individuals who invoke her into the toilet, and in others, she grants wishes.
3. Teke Teke
The ghost of a girl who fell onto train tracks and was sliced in half by the train, Teke Teke now drags her top half on the ground using her arms, making a "teke teke" screeching sound. She slices people in half to resemble her when she catches them.
4. Aka Manto (Red Cloak)
A malevolent specter that hangs around public bathrooms, Aka Manto reportedly visits victims there and asks what they want: red paper or blue paper. Choosing the red results in flaying alive, while blue equates to strangulation. Rescuing oneself is only possible by refusing either option or escaping.
.jpg)
5. The Curse of Okiku (Banchō Sarayashiki)
Perhaps the most famous Japanese ghost story is one concerning Okiku, a maid girl wrongly accused of having lost a valuable plate and thrown into a well. Her spirit comes out every night, counting dishes in a sorrowful voice up to nine before letting out a shriek of blood-curdling terror—denoting the missing tenth plate.
6. Gozu and Mezu (Cow Head and Horse Head)
These two underworld demonic enforcers appear in numerous legends, punishing the evil. They are typically depicted as monstrous beings that pull souls down to hell.
7. The Inunaki Village
A so-called "hidden village" where morals and laws are thrown out the window. Legend has it that travelers who happen to stumble upon it are never seen or heard from again. Some versions claim phone signals and GPS don't work close to the village, adding to the mystery.
8. Hachishakusama (The Eight-Foot-Tall Woman)
A towering female entity who stalks children, chanting "Po… po… po…" before abducting them. Some believe she is connected to extraterrestrial or interdimensional beings.
.jpg)
9. Kashima Reiko (The Black-Haired Ghost)
A vengeful spirit with long, black hair covering her face, Kashima Reiko calls victims' phones. If answered, she whispers "I’m Kashima Reiko…" before appearing to kill them.
10. The Vanishing Hotel Room
A traveler books a room in a hotel and is given one that doesn't exist on the books. When they wake up, they find themselves in an empty building or, in other cases, a morgue.
