Japan is home to countless urban legends, ranging from eerie school ghost stories to terrifying supernatural encounters. Some of these stories are mere folklore, while others have real-life eyewitness accounts, making them all the more unsettling.
You may think these legends are just fiction, but now that you know about them, something might be watching you…
Here are 10 spine-chilling urban legends from Japan. How many of them have you heard before?
1. Kune-Kune: The Unseen Horror That Drives People Insane
In rural Japan, some people have reported seeing a tall, white, wavy figure swaying in the distance—in fields, on riverbanks, or even in the mountains. This entity, known as Kune-Kune, is said to be harmless as long as you don’t look at it too closely.
🔹 Why is it terrifying?
- Those who get too close or try to see its true form lose their sanity.
- Some die mysteriously or vanish without a trace.
- The only way to stay safe is to pretend you never saw it.
2. The Slit-Mouthed Woman: “Am I Pretty?”
During the late 1970s, rumors spread across Japan about a mysterious woman wearing a surgical mask who would approach people on the street. She would ask a chilling question: “Am I pretty?”
🔹 Why is it terrifying?
- If you say “No,” she kills you immediately.
- If you say “Yes,” she removes her mask, revealing a mouth slit from ear to ear, and then asks, “How about now?”
- The only way to escape is by distracting her or shouting ‘Pomade!’
3. The Red Room Curse: A Deadly Internet Popup
In the early days of the internet, a story spread about a cursed popup that would suddenly appear on users’ screens, displaying the words “Do you like the red room?”
🔹 Why is it terrifying?
- No matter how hard you try, the popup won’t close.
- Eventually, the text changes to “You will die in the red room”.
- The next day, the victim is found dead, their room covered in blood.
4. Hachishaku-sama: The 8-Foot-Tall Woman
In a remote Japanese village, locals warn of a mysterious entity called Hachishaku-sama, or the Eight-Foot-Tall Woman. Witnesses describe her as a giant woman dressed in a white dress and a wide-brimmed hat, making a strange “Po… po… po…” sound as she moves.
🔹 Why is it terrifying?
- Once you see her, she will never stop following you.
- Victims usually die within days unless a powerful ritual is performed.
- Villagers claim she was sealed away for generations, but her return is feared.
5. Kashima Reiko: The Bathroom Spirit That Steals Your Legs
Have you ever felt an eerie presence in a public restroom? Some people claim to have encountered Kashima Reiko, a ghostly woman who lost her legs in a tragic accident.
🔹 Why is it terrifying?
- She appears in bathrooms at night and asks, “Where are my legs?”
- If you don’t give the correct answer (“At Kashima Shrine”), she will tear off your legs.
- Even if you escape once, she may return for you later.
6. Merry-san: The Doll That Calls You on the Phone
One night, your phone rings. When you answer, a chilling voice whispers: “Hello, I’m Merry. I’m coming to see you.”
Merry-san is said to be a Western-style doll that was thrown away but refuses to be abandoned.
🔹 Why is it terrifying?
- She keeps calling, each time getting closer:
- “I’m near your house.”
- “I’m at your front door.”
- “I’m right behind you.”
- No one who receives the final call is ever seen again.
7. The Cursed Story of Cow Head: A Tale That Kills
Legend has it that there exists a story so horrifying that anyone who hears it dies of pure terror. Known as Cow Head, this tale is so dreadful that those who have read or heard it were never able to recount its details before dying.
🔹 Why is it terrifying?
- No one knows the full story because everyone who hears it dies.
- Even speaking about it causes unbearable fear.
- Some say the manuscript was burned, but fragments might still exist.
8. Teke-Teke: The Half-Bodied Spirit That Chases You
After a tragic train accident, a young girl lost her lower body. But she did not find peace in death—her upper body now crawls the streets, dragging itself with terrifying speed. She is called Teke-Teke, after the scraping sound of her movement.
🔹 Why is it terrifying?
- She is faster than you can run.
- If she catches you, she cuts your body in half, just like hers.
- Sightings continue to this day, especially near train stations.
9. Hiki-san: The Vengeful Spirit That Won’t Let You Escape
Years ago, a girl was brutally bullied and disfigured before she ultimately died. But she did not disappear—she returned as Hiki-san, a ghost determined to take revenge on anyone she encounters.
🔹 Why is it terrifying?
- She moves at impossible speeds, making escape impossible.
- Victims are said to have their faces slashed, just like hers.
- Some claim carrying a white stone may protect you, but there’s no proof.
10. Satoru-kun: The Child Spirit That Knows Your Future
It is said that if you send a message saying “Satoru-kun, please come”, you will soon receive a phone call from an unknown number.
🔹 Why is it terrifying?
- He knows everything about your past and future.
- If you ask too many questions, he will come to visit you in person.
- No one who has met him has ever been seen again.
Are these urban legends just scary stories, or could there be truth behind them? Many people have reported real-life encounters, and some even disappeared under mysterious circumstances.
Now that you’ve read these stories, be careful where you go and what you say… something might be listening.