Supernatural Japan

Discover the chilling world of jiko bukken—Japan’s infamous “accident properties”—in this episode of Supernatural Japan. From apartments marked by suicide, murder, or unexplained deaths to the lingering stigma that drives prices down, we explore the dark reality behind these haunted listings. Why do these properties carry such fear, and how can buyers uncover their hidden histories? Blending true...

How did people in Japan protect themselves from evil spirits, bad luck, and natural disasters? In this episode of Supernatural Japan, host Kevin O’Shea explores Japanese folklore and protective traditions, from sardine heads hung at doorways and purification with salt to Shōki rooftop guardians, paper figures that carry away misfortune, and earthquake talismans depicting the giant catfish Namazu....

A beautiful stranger. A dark mountain road. A hunger for human flesh. In this episode of Supernatural Japan, host Kevin O’Shea explores Nikusui, the flesh-sucking yōkai of Japan’s Kii Peninsula. Discover the regional folklore recorded by Minakata Kumagusu, the chilling tales of a woman who approaches travelers at night, and an original horror story inspired by her legend. Journey into Japanese fol...

Discover the dark secrets of Nagoya Castle, one of Japan's most iconic historical landmarks, in this Halloween-themed episode of the Supernatural Japan podcast! Join host Kevin O'Shea as we uncover forgotten Japanese ghost stories, mysterious yokai, vengeful fox spirits, and eerie supernatural legends hidden within the castle's 400-year history. Drawing on the fascinating research of Professor Jun...

Red paper or blue paper? In this spooky-season episode of Supernatural Japan, host Kevin O’Shea explores Aka Manto, the Red Cloak—a chilling Japanese urban legend about a mysterious spirit haunting school bathrooms and public toilets. Discover the deadly choices at the heart of this ghost story, the unsettling variations in how to escape, and its roots in Japanese schoolyard folklore. Perfect for...

Could a mysterious big cat be hiding in Japan’s subtropical forests? In this Supernatural Japan mini-episode, host Kevin O’Shea explores Yamapikaryā, the mystery cat of Iriomote Island in Okinawa. Discover the real, endangered Iriomote cat and the unconfirmed accounts of a larger, long-tailed feline sharing its jungle home. Explore the island’s geography, local animal names, tourism mascots, and c...

Discover five of Tokyo’s most famously haunted places in this episode of Supernatural Japan (Originally an episode of Japan Ghost Stories for Patreon). From the vanishing taxi passengers of Aoyama Cemetery and the eerie Sendagaya Tunnel to Oiwa Inari Tamiya Shrine, Sunshine City’s dark prison history, and the legendary curse of Taira no Masakado’s head mound, we explore the history and ghost lore...

Japanese ghost stories, haunted places, and the mysteries of Japanese folklore take centre stage in this episode of Supernatural Japan. Host Kevin O’Shea chats with Osaka-based creator Darren Vickers, the storyteller behind the YouTube channel and podcast Did I Wake You? Stories from 3 a.m. We explore his approach to telling eerie stories from Japan, from the ancestral spirits and rituals of Obon...

What if you woke up in your own bedroom, unable to move, with someone standing beside your bed? In this episode of Supernatural Japan, we explore kanashibari, the Japanese name for sleep paralysis. From shadowy figures and footsteps to the terrifying weight on your chest, we look at why the experience feels so real, how REM sleep helps explain it, and why it has become part of Japanese ghost stori...

In this episode of the podcast, host Kevin O’Shea joins Phillip Jackson to share some tales of haunted places and ghostly stories from around Kansai. Learn about the legend of the slain samurai, Taira no Atsumori, who died on Suma Beach in Kobe. His head remains at the nearby Suma Temple, and his ghost is said to roam the nearby beach. Phillip shares a tale of a ghostly apparition of a samurai and...

Discover the dark history and ghost stories of Suzugamori Execution Ground, one of Tokyo’s most infamous former execution sites. Located in Shinagawa along the old Tōkaidō road, Suzugamori was once a place of crucifixion, burning, beheading, and public punishment during the Edo period. In this mini episode of Supernatural Japan, we explore the chilling legend of the head-washing well, the tragic s...

Kevin is joined by regular Supernatural Japan podcast contributor Phillip Jackson to explore the latest paranormal news in Asia, plus stories about U.S. Marines and a very haunted firebase. Did a Chinese paranormal influencer seal her own fate? They also answer a listener question about the most eerie places they've visited in Japan. You can also learn about supernatural spots they've visited outs...

Explore the haunted history of Shakujii Park in Nerima, Tokyo, where the ruins of a medieval samurai castle overlook the dark waters of Sanpōji Pond. According to legend, after Shakujii Castle fell in 1477, defeated lord Toshima Yasutsune rode his horse—and its magnificent golden saddle—into the pond, while his grieving daughter, Princess Teruhime, followed him to a watery death. Today, visitors r...

Step beneath the autumn moon and discover the eerie folklore behind Tsukimi, Japan’s traditional moon-viewing festival. In this episode of Supernatural Japan, we explore the festival’s ancient origins, offerings of tsukimi dango and pampas grass, the mischievous custom of Otsukimi Dorobō, and the rabbits said to live on the moon. We also examine how modern Japan celebrates with seasonal treats—inc...

Discover the dark folklore surrounding higanbana, Japan’s striking red spider lily known as the “flower of death.” In this episode of Supernatural Japan, we explore its connection to cemeteries, the autumn equinox, Buddhist beliefs about the “other shore,” poisonous bulbs, and chilling superstitions warning people never to pick the flowers or bring them home. We also uncover the unsettling legend...

Dive into Japan’s most terrifying maritime legend with Supernatural Japan as Kevin O’Shea confronts the Funayūrei (Funayurei)—vengeful drowned spirits, haunted ghost ships, and deadly sea demons said to drag sailors into the abyss. Uncover the chilling truth behind their impossible demands for a ladle, the bottomless hishaku that could save your crew, and the fog, storms, cursed waterways, and Obo...

Explore haikyo—Japan’s abandoned places—in this episode of Supernatural Japan. From deserted hotels to forgotten schools, discover the history behind these ruins, the appeal of urban exploration, and why liminal spaces feel so unsettling. Host Kevin O’Shea examines how YouTube, social media, and ghost stories can turn an empty building into a supposedly haunted location. Learn why abandoned doesn’...

Summer Scares in Japan In this episode of Supernatural Japan, Japan’s “spooky season” is coming to an end! Listen to host Kevin O’Shea and writer Phillip Jackson talk about summer chills in Japan and the end of the Obon season. Although Halloween is the time when people in many parts of the world tell ghost stories and tune into the paranormal, summer- specifically Obon- is when the veil between t...

In this episode of Supernatural Japan, I catch up once again with Hibagon researcher Kyle Brink to hear the latest developments in his ongoing search for Japan’s legendary wild man. We revisit the mystery of Hibagon, the Bigfoot-like creature reportedly seen in Hiroshima’s Mount Hiba region since the 1970s, and explore Todd’s latest research, investigations, sightings, and theories. If you’re fasc...

Why are so many tunnels in Japan considered haunted? In this episode of Supernatural Japan, we descend into three of the country's most notorious haunted tunnels: Kyoto's eerie Kiyotaki Tunnel, Tokyo's Sendagaya Tunnel beneath a cemetery, and the mysterious Old Komine Tunnel in Hachioji. We explore the ghost stories, urban legends, tragic histories, and reported supernatural encounters associated...

In this episode of Supernatural Japan, host Kevin O’Shea talks to Zack Davisson, award-winning writer, translator, folklorist, and one of the leading English-language experts on Japanese folklore and the supernatural. They discuss his translation work and relationship with the late, great Shigeru Mizuki, creator of GeGeGe no Kitaro, as well as the evolution of yōkai from feared monsters to pop-cul...

The release day for the main episode of Supernatural Japan will now be on Tuesday, and the smaller, companion episodes will be released on Thursdays. Have no fear, you will all get the same number of episodes a month, they will just come out on diferent days from now on. Thanks for being so awesome and so spooky! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Black Flash Of Provincetown (The Devil of the Dunes). Dave and Sarge take a look at the high-jumping, flame-spitting, cloaked entity that terrorized Provincetown, MA during the late 1930s/early 1940s.  Find Cryptid Cocktail Party on Apple Podcasts Listen to Cryptid Cocktail Party on Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Supernatural Japan, we explore the haunting legacy of Taira no Masakado, the legendary 10th-century samurai whose violent death gave rise to one of Japan's most enduring ghost stories. Discover the history behind his rebellion, the terrifying curses linked to his restless spirit, and why his grave in the heart of Tokyo is still respected—and feared—by politicians, business leade...

In this episode of Supernatural Japan, host Kevin O’Shea and returning guest Phillip Jackson explore the streets of downtown Osaka, Japan, while sharing haunting tales about the area. Phillip shares some dark history about why many say the area around Yodoyabashi in downtown Osaka is haunted. Will they see ghostly hands reaching out from the nearby river? Kevin shares a story about samurai ghosts,...