Supernatural Japan

The Legend of Inunaki Village tells of a remote, cursed settlement in Fukuoka Prefecture that was sealed off after its residents rejected the modern world and declared they would follow their own laws. According to the tale, in the 1970s, a tunnel near the village was the site of a brutal murder and subsequent supernatural occurrences; anyone who enters the abandoned village or hears its gate’s to...

A beautiful woman waits by a misty waterfall… but she’s no human. In this chilling episode of Supernatural Japan, we dive into the legend of the Jorōgumo — Japan’s deadly spider-woman yōkai. Explore her Edo-period origins, eerie encounters at Jōren Falls, and terrifying tales like Genbe the fisherman and Samurai Hiroshi. Blending folklore, history, and horror, this episode uncovers how the Jorōgum...

Far out in the Philippine Sea lies Hachijōjima—a remote island once used to exile disgraced nobles and powerful figures. In this episode of Supernatural Japan, we explore its dark history, from the legendary banishment of Minamoto no Tametomo to eerie modern hauntings. At the abandoned Hachijō Royal Hotel, ghostly encounters and unsettling stories linger. Why do the spirits of the exiled still hau...

Step into one of Tokyo’s darkest hidden histories in this chilling episode of Supernatural Japan, as we explore Jōkan-ji—infamously known as the “Throw-Away Temple.” Located in the historic Yoshiwara district, this unassuming temple holds the remains of thousands of women, many of them courtesans who lived and died in hardship, disease, and isolation during Japan’s Edo period. We uncover the haunt...

In this episode of Supernatural Japan, we explore the eerie world of Japan’s haunted love motels. Learn the surprising history of Japanese love hotels, their rise during the economic Bubble era, and how some later became abandoned haikyo ruins. From the infamous Seline Love Motel in Nagano to the mysterious “haunted room” legend of the Akasaka Love Hotel, we uncover chilling urban legends, real cr...

In the 1970s, a quiet corner of rural Japan was shaken by a series of chilling murders. The killer struck on the same day each week, earning a terrifying nickname — the Wednesday Strangler. In this episode of Supernatural Japan, we explore a disturbing true crime case from Saga Prefecture, the investigation that gripped the nation, and the mysterious suspect at the center of it. Was the truth ever...

Send a text British author, podcaster, and reverend Peter Laws joins this chilling episode of Supernatural Japan to discuss his fascinating career exploring the dark side of belief, horror, and the unexplained. Known for his book The Frighteners: Why We Love Monsters, Ghosts, Death & Gore, the Matt Hunter thriller series, his atmospheric YouTube channel Into the Fog with Peter Laws, and his appear...

Send a text Celebrate the 100th episode of Supernatural Japan as returning contributor Phillip Jackson shares chilling tales from Kyoto, diving into the eerie tradition of goryō worship—the vengeful spirits of wronged nobles. This episode explores the tragic story of Prince Sawara, brother of Emperor Kanmu, who was accused of an assassination plot, exiled to Awaji Island, and whose angry spirit wa...

Send a text Dive into one of Kyoto’s darkest legends in this chilling episode of Supernatural Japan as we explore the haunted history of Nanzen-ji, where legendary outlaw Ishikawa Goemon was supposedly boiled alive after a failed assassination attempt on Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Was Goemon truly a Robin Hood–style hero or a criminal whose story grew in the telling? We separate history from folklore, ex...

Send a text Discover the hidden folklore of Japan’s most mystical flora in this episode of Supernatural Japan, where we explore the ancient beliefs surrounding magical plants like bamboo, mugwort, sakura, cedar, wisteria, and foxglove, and uncover how these plants were once thought to ward off evil, attract spirits, grant protection, or even curse the living, blending Shinto traditions, Buddhist s...

Send a text In this special crossover episode of Supernatural Japan, host Kevin O’Shea sits down with Brandon Schexnayder, creator and host of the acclaimed podcast Southern Gothic. Together, they explore chilling folklore, haunted history, and the dark truths behind some of the American South’s most unsettling legends. From ghost stories and urban myths to real-life tragedies, this interview dive...

Send a text Meet Japan’s most famous ghost in this chilling episode of Supernatural Japan, as we dive into the terrifying legend of Oiwa from Yotsuya Kaidan. Betrayed, poisoned, and murdered, Oiwa returns as a vengeful onryō, haunting her husband and driving him into madness. Explore the dark origins of this Edo-period ghost story, the real-world curses surrounding its stage and film adaptations,...

Send a text Meet Turbo Granny (ターボババア) — one of Japan’s creepiest urban legends. In this episode of Supernatural Japan, we explore the terrifying yokai said to sprint alongside cars, haunt dark roads and tunnels, and chase victims at impossible speeds. Discover the origins of the Turbo Granny myth, real-life encounter stories, and why this bizarre spirit remains one of Japan’s most unsettlin...

Send a text Love, Lies, and Death: Japan’s Black Widows explores chilling true crime cases including Chisako Kakehi, Kanae Kijima, and other infamous Japanese “black widows” who murdered their partners for money and control. This episode of Supernatural Japan examines the psychology, cultural context, and shocking betrayals behind Japan’s deadliest relationships. Follow the podcast:  Instagram: ht...

Send a text In this episode of Supernatural Japan, explore the mysterious origins of Setsubun, Japan’s traditional festival for driving out demons and welcoming good fortune. Learn about oni folklore, bean-throwing rituals (mamemaki), ehō-maki customs, and how families, schools, and temples celebrate this seasonal turning point. Blending Japanese folklore, Shinto and Buddhist beliefs, and modern t...

Send a text In this episode of Supernatural Japan, join us as we explore supernatural paths less traveled in Yawata City in Kyoto, Japan. Host Kevin O’Shea and writer Phillip Jackson explore supernatural sites located in Yawata and on Otokoyama. They visit a house reputed to be haunted, a traditional cemetery, and various shrines and temples on the mountain. A location connected to tales of haunti...

Send a text You’ve heard of Yokai in Japan. They are supernatural beings, spirits, and strange phenomena from Japanese folklore, encompassing monsters, demons, ghosts, shapeshifters, and enchanted objects. Some are better known than others. The Kappa, Tanuki, and Tengu are well-known, but some are not. How about the Yokai that touches your bottom when you visit the toilet, or one that drinks pee!!...

Send a text Explore the haunted legacy of Japan’s most powerful warlord in The Ghost of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. This episode of Supernatural Japan dives into Hideyoshi’s dramatic rise from peasant to ruler, the turbulent history of Osaka Castle, and the lingering ghost stories said to haunt its grounds today. From shadowy apparitions to restless warrior spirits, uncover how history, ambition, and the...

Send a text Journey to southern Kyushu in this episode of Supernatural Japan as we explore Issie, the mysterious monster said to lurk beneath the waters of Lake Ikeda. Discover eyewitness sightings, local folklore, and comparisons to other Japanese lake monsters as we uncover how geography, legend, and the supernatural collide in one of Japan’s most enduring cryptid mysteries. Follow the podcast: ...

Send a text Celebrate Shōgatsu, Japan’s most important holiday, in this episode of Supernatural Japan. Explore New Year traditions, shrine visits, sacred foods, and the hidden spiritual beliefs behind Japan’s fresh start—from welcoming ancestral spirits to driving away misfortune. Discover how folklore, Shinto, and the supernatural shape the heart of Japan’s New Year celebrations. Follow the podca...

Send a text Discover one of Japan’s strangest destinations in this episode of Supernatural Japan. We travel to UFO no Sato (UFO Village) in Fukushima and explore the Iino UFO Museum, a town famous for decades of UFO sightings, mysterious lights, and close encounter stories. From postwar sightings to modern pop culture, this episode examines why Iino became Japan’s UFO hotspot and what the phenomen...

Send a text Dive into the supernatural roots of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba in this episode of Supernatural Japan. Discover some of the real folklore behind the demons, blades, and Taishō-era legends that shaped the hit anime. From cultural symbolism to hidden mythological influences, we uncover the deeper stories that power this global phenomenon. Perfect for anime fans and lovers of Japanese...

Send a text In this episode of Supernatural Japan, we explore the bizarre Curse of the Colonel—the legend claiming a KFC Colonel Sanders statue doomed the Hanshin Tigers after fans threw it into Osaka’s Dōtonbori River in 1985. Discover the team’s passionate fan culture, the chaotic championship celebration, and why many believe the missing statue haunted the Tigers for decades. A mix of history,...

Send a text Dive into the legend of the Namahage, one of Japan’s most iconic winter spirits, in this episode of Supernatural Japan. We explore the origins of these fearsome oni-like figures from rural Akita, their role in the famous Namahage Sedo Festival, and how this ancient folklore tradition continues to shape modern Japanese culture. Perfect for listeners who love Japanese mythology, regional...

Send a text Discover the chilling legend of the Shinjuku Ghost Train in this episode of Supernatural Japan. We explore Tokyo, Japan’s most famous phantom commuter, its eerie origins, late-night sightings, and the unsettling variations of the tale that continue to haunt travelers. From underground mysteries to global ghost train legends, this episode dives into why Shinjuku Station—one of the busie...