Send us 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: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/supernaturaljapan Bluesky: https://bsky.app...

Send us 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 podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/supernaturaljapan Bluesky: https:/...

Send us 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 phenomenon reveals about belief, folklore, and the unknown. Why This Rural Japanese Town is a UFO Ho...

Send us 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 mythology. Follow the podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/supernaturalj...

Send us 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, sports folklore, and modern Japanese urban legend, this episode uncovers the true story behind...

Send us 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 traditions, and mysterious supernatural beings. Follow the podcast: Instagram: h...

Send us 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 busiest transit hubs on Earth—remains a hotspot for supernatural intrigue. Perfect for fans of Japa...

Send us a text Explore the chilling ghost stories of Kobe City Hall in this episode of Supernatural Japan. Discover how the Great Hanshin–Awaji Earthquake shaped Kobe, Japan’s tragic past, and learn why staff, security guards, and visitors continue to report eerie sightings, phantom footsteps, and unexplained shadows within the building. Blending local history with modern paranormal accounts, this episode uncovers one of Kobe’s most enduring urban legends. Follow the podcast: Instagra...

Send us a text Step into one of Japan’s most mysterious and sacred places in this episode of Supernatural Japan. We explore Izumo Taisha, the ancient grand shrine of Shimane Prefecture—home of powerful legends, ghost stories, and the annual Kamiarizuki, when every god in Japan gathers in Izumo. Discover the shrine’s deep ties to Shinto mythology, its towering ancient architecture, and the supernatural tales of spirits, divine meetings, and wandering hitodama along the Izumo coast. Perfect for...

Send us a text Journey into the dark legends of Kamome Manor (かもめ荘) in this chilling episode of Supernatural Japan. Explore the abandoned seaside residence said to be cursed, haunted by restless spirits, mysterious disappearances, and eerie sightings that locals refuse to talk about. Discover the history, rumors, and supernatural folklore surrounding these ruined halls, and learn why Kamome Manor remains one of Japan’s most unsettling urban legends. Perfect for fans of Japanese hauntings, cur...

Send us a text Explore the eerie world of Tsukumogami in this episode of Supernatural Japan as we uncover the legends of the Chōchin-obake, the haunted paper lantern, and the mischievous Bakezōri, the runaway straw sandal. Learn the folklore, origins, and cultural significance of these everyday objects-turned-yōkai, and discover how they appear in Japanese ghost stories, anime, manga, and modern pop culture. Perfect for fans of Japanese mythology, haunted artifacts, and strange supernatural t...

Send us a text Step into the eerie world of Japan’s most famous school ghost — Hanako-san, The Terrifying Bathroom Ghost. In this chilling episode of Supernatural Japan, we explore the origins of this haunting urban legend, from post-war ghost stories to modern sightings in school bathrooms across the country. Discover why Hanako-san has terrified generations of students and how she became a cultural icon of Japan’s “school ghost” phenomenon. Follow the podcast: Instagram: https://ww...

Send us a text In this special episode of Supernatural Japan, we journey to South Korea to explore real ghost stories and Korean folklore. Host Kevin O’Shea talks with writer and folklorist Shawn Morrissey, author of Supernatural Encounters in South Korea and guide for the Dark Side of Seoul walking tours. Shawn shares chilling paranormal encounters and haunted legends gathered from Koreans and expats alike, revealing how history and culture shape Korea’s supernatural beliefs. From eerie ceme...

Send us a text A woman boards a late-night train—and vanishes into another world. In this eerie episode, Supernatural Japan explores the chilling legend of Kisaragi Station, Japan’s most famous internet ghost story. Was it a hoax, a glitch in reality, or something supernatural? Step aboard and decide for yourself. Follow the podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/supernaturaljapan Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/madformaple.bsky.social X: https://x.com/MadForMaple F...

Send us a text In this chilling episode of Supernatural Japan, we journey to Mount Unzen in Nagasaki Prefecture—one of Japan’s most haunted and tragic places. From volcanic eruptions and the Christian martyrdoms of the Edo era to modern ghost sightings near the mountain’s hot springs, Mount Unzen’s dark past lingers in the mist. Discover how history, faith, and folklore intertwine to create one of Japan’s most powerful supernatural legends. Follow the podcast: Instagram: https://...

Send us a text In this episode of Supernatural Japan, we explore one of Japan’s most unsettling urban legends—the Jinmenken, or Human-Faced Dog. From eerie Edo-period sightings to modern reports of ghostly, talking dogs speeding down Tokyo highways, the Jinmenken continues to blur the line between folklore and fact. Discover its mysterious origins, cultural symbolism, and how this bizarre creature still haunts Japan’s pop culture today. Follow the podcast: Instagram: https://www....

Send us a text In this episode of Supernatural Japan, we explore the eerie legends and lingering spirits of Tokyo’s historic Yanaka Cemetery. Once home to samurai graves, artists, and Meiji-era elites, Yanaka is said to harbor restless ghosts and mysterious energies that have haunted locals for generations. Discover how Japan’s deep respect for the dead intertwines with tales of hauntings, temple guardians, and the supernatural history of Tokyo’s most atmospheric graveyard. Follow the podca...

Send us a text In this episode of Supernatural Japan, we explore the eerie ruins of the Kaizuka Children’s Tuberculosis Sanatorium in Osaka — one of Japan’s most mysterious abandoned hospitals. Once a medical facility for sick children, it now stands as a chilling haikyo (urban ruin) shrouded in ghost stories and local legends. Discover the tragic history of Japan’s tuberculosis era, the isolation of young patients, and the haunting atmosphere that still lingers among its decaying halls. F...

Send us a text In this episode of Supernatural Japan, we follow the eerie footsteps of the Okuri-inu, the “sending-off dog” said to stalk travelers on Japan’s lonely mountain paths. Is it a protector—or a predator? Discover the origins of this wolf-like yokai, its ties to Shinto mountain worship, and the ancient rituals used to stay safe when something unseen walks behind you. Follow the podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/supernaturaljapan Bluesky: https://bsky.a...

Send us a text A centuries-old mermaid mummy rests in Enjuin Temple, Okayama—said to bring luck, warning, or eternal life. In this episode of Supernatural Japan, we dive into the strange tale of this relic, the legend of Yao Bikuni, and Japan’s long tradition of yokai hoaxes and supernatural curiosities from the Edo era. Discover the truth behind one of Japan’s most haunting maritime mysteries. Follow the podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/supernaturaljapan Bluesky:&nb...