Osaka has many attractive sightseeing spots, such as Namba, Tsutenkaku Tower, Osaka Castle, and the Kofun ancient burial sites.
However, since a diverse range of people have lived in this land, do you know that there are also many haunted places?
This time, for those who love horror stories and are interested in scary stories, I will introduce five famous haunted places in Osaka that I often hear rumors about as a resident of Osaka.
1. Osaka Castle
Osaka Castle, known as a popular tourist spot in Osaka, is surprisingly one of the most haunted places in the city.
Osaka Castle has a history of many battles, and horror stories have been passed down through the ages, including tales of the terrible deaths of warriors and anecdotes about ghosts.
There are many rumors that ghosts walk around after sunset, such as Hideyoshi Toyotomi, who built Osaka Castle, haunts his old residence and still roams the castle... or other rumors of people seeing ghosts of samurai who died a gruesome death.
Although some say that the rumors have recently simmered down, please be careful when walking around Osaka Castle after sunset.
| Location | Osaka Castle |
| Address | 1-1, Osaka-jo, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka |
| Phone | 06-6941-3044 |
| Business Hours | 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (admission until 4:30 pm) |
| Access | Osaka Metro Tanimachi 4-chome Station on Tanimachi Line and Chuo Line Morinomiya Station and Osaka Business Park Station on the Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line JR Osaka Loop Line Morinomiya Station and Osaka Castle Park Station |
| Official website | https://www.osakacastle.net/ |
2. Kaizuka Tuberculosis Hospital ruins
Known as one of the most terrifying haunted places in Osaka is the Site of Kaizuka Tuberculosis Hospital, an abandoned hospital in Osaka.
Kaizuka Tuberculosis Hospital, Osaka, Japan https://t.co/m71n3Eni2p # Ghost Spot # Psychic Experience pic.twitter.com/VyEvGoWdG8
Ghost Spot Horror Stories (@shinreijapan) October 27, 2023
The Kaizuka Tuberculosis Hospital, located in Kaizuka City, Osaka Prefecture, was built in 1940 and specialized in treating tuberculosis patients, who had a high mortality rate at the time.
It is now demolished and in ruins, but it is said to be haunted by the ghosts of many people who have died a regretful death.
The building was demolished in 2014 and is now closed to the public, but if you walk near the off-limits area, you may hear a man shouting, "Go home" or a ghost may come and grab you by the foot. These are just a few of the many scary rumors that have been heard.
| Location | Kaizuka Tuberculosis Hospital ruins |
| Address | 1175 Jizodo, Kaizuka, Osaka, Japan |
| Access | About 10 minutes by car from Mitsumatsu Station on the Mizuma Railway |
Near the Kaizuka Tuberculosis Hospital Site, there is a posterior-rectangular round burial mound called Maruyama Kofun (Maruyama Tumulus).
(source:Maruyama Tomb / Kaizuka City)
It is registered as a national historic site and is a recommended spot for those interested in Japan's ancient history.
If you have a chance to visit Kaizuka City, go there.
3. Site of Sennichi Department Store
Sennichimae is a well-known haunted spot in Osaka's Minami district.
- Kawauso (@wug0029) May 22, 2023
It was the site of an execution site where Isamu Kondo of the Shinsengumi was hanged, and the site of the Sennichi Department Store fire that claimed the lives of 118 people 65 years ago. The site is lined with commercial buildings, but it is said to have remained unbuyable until the Meiji era. pic.twitter.com/lDi3Xmt351
Located in Namba, Osaka City. The Sennichi Department Store Fire Site, where the Bic Camera Namba electronics store now stands, is another famous haunted spot in Osaka.
The Sennichi Department Store Fire, occurred at around 10:30 pm on the night of May 13, 1972, is said to be the worst accident in the history of department stores in Japan, with 118 victims, including customers and employees, left on the seventh floor.
There are rumors that ghosts appear at night at the site of the department store fire, and even after the building was demolished, there have been many sightings of ghosts in the form they appeared at the time of the fire, as well as rumors that ghost photos have been taken.
Originally, Sennichimae was used as an execution site from the beginning of the Edo period until around the 3rd year of Meiji (1615-1870).
Many people were executed by hanging, crucifixion, and other cruel punishments, including the head of one of Japan's most famous and respected men, Isamu Kondo (1834 - 1868), who was hanged on the Sanjo Riverbank in Kyoto, He was also beheaded at Sanjo-Kawara in Kyoto, then salted and hanged again at Sennichimae.
It is a haunted place where centuries-old grudges swirl, and it is said that psychic people will never go near this place.
It is located just a short distance from Namba Station on the Osaka Line, so you can visit while enjoying food and shopping in Namba, Osaka, but those with strong psychic senses should be especially careful.
| Address | 2-10-1 Sennichimae, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka |
| Access | Nankai Main Line, Kintetsu Line, Osaka Metro Namba Station Kintetsu Line, Osaka Metro Sennichimae Station |
4. Dark Pass (Ikoma Skyline)
Shiki Ikoma Skyline, a national road running from Mt. Ikoma to Mt. Shigi on the border between Osaka and Nara prefectures, is a road with many steep inclines, so you must be careful of accidents when driving, but it is also a haunted place that requires attention.
Ikoma, located between Nara and Osaka, is a popular spot for beautiful night views, but while driving to enjoy the night scenery on Ikoma Mountain, people have had frightening experiences such as unattended cars and chanting coming out of nowhere. Many people have had frightening experiences such as unmanned cars and chanting coming out of nowhere.
It is said that the reason there are so many ghosts on this road is because many people have had accidents and died a horrible death, and some witnesses have reported seeing a man on a headless motorcycle.
Please drive safely to avoid accidents.
| Location | Shigi Ikoma Skyline |
| Address | Minamihata, Misato Town, Ikoma County, Nara Prefecture - Uetawara Town, Shijonawate City, Osaka Prefecture |
| Access | Approximately 25-30 minutes by car from Osaka City and Nara City |
5. The Hanging Ruins
The fifth and final famous haunted place in Osaka is the Hanging Ruin in Shinsekai, a famous downtown area of Osaka.
Just hearing the name of this haunted place is enough to make you fear for your life.
Hanging Ruins
Okada Snowo (@pilpil3pil) July 18, 2022
This is one of the most haunted spots in Osaka, where three hanged bodies are said to have been found!
The overwhelming sense of a rusher that still continues to be there as the foundation work progresses.
Do you see something? pic.twitter.com/RsTAZMGlFH
The name Hanging Ruins comes from the fact that three hanging corpses were found in a building that had burned down in a fire.
The building will be demolished by the end of April 2023, and the ruins themselves are no longer in existence, but there are rumors that ghostly phenomena such as seeing ghosts and hearing moans have been confirmed even now.
The area is close to Tsutenkaku Tower and Spa World, so it is visited by many domestic and international tourists as well as residents of Osaka, but locals never go near the ruins.
If you are a first-time visitor to Osaka, you should be wary while enjoying Tsutenkaku Tower and Spa World, which are standard tourist attractions in Osaka.
Osaka has many haunted spots in various places if you look for them
As you can see, Osaka, the city of gourmands, has many tourist attractions that can be enjoyed for the first or second time, such as famous historical sites and shopping spots, but because of the large number of people, there are also many haunted places.
Many buildings have already been demolished and are closed to the public, or other buildings have already been erected.
It is recommended to be vigilant, especially at night.
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