Podcast
Supernatural Japan
Hosted by Supernatural Japan · EN
Explore the dark side of Japan with the Supernatural Japan Podcast — where chilling true crime, eerie urban legends, and spine-tingling folklore come together. Each episode dives deep into Japan’s haunted history, mysterious disappearances, yokai encounters, and unsolved cases that blur the line between myth and reality. Perfect for fans of paranormal podcasts, Japanese culture, and true crime. Subscribe now and uncover the secrets lurking in the shadows of Japan.
23episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Girl on the Crossing Sign (Urban Legend)
2w ago00:09:59Tap to summarizen this eerie episode of Supernatural Japan, we investigate the chilling urban legend behind Japan’s famous pedestrian crossing signs — the mysterious story of the “Girl on the Crossing Sign.” According to legend, the iconic blue-and-white sign was inspired by a real photograph of a kidnapped child walking beside her captor. Was it simply a dark rumor, or is there something more unsettling hidden in plain sight across Japan’s streets? Join us as we explore the origins, cultural impact, and supernatural twists behind one of Japan’s creepiest modern legends. Website: supernaturaljapan.com Supernatural Japan locations map: Google Map Get lots of Premium and Exclusive Content and Ad-free Episodes! Premium membership: @patreon Support on: @BuyMeACoffee Tales from Kevin (my expat diary podcast) Connect with Supernatural Japan: Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan BlueSky: @MadForMaple X: @MadForMaple YouTube: @BusanKevin Email: supernaturaljapan@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The Headless Riders of Japan
2w ago00:21:24Tap to summarizeIn this chilling episode of Supernatural Japan, we explore the terrifying urban legends and ghostly folklore surrounding Japan’s infamous Headless Riders. From phantom bikers speeding down lonely mountain roads to spirits seeking revenge after deadly motorcycle accidents, these eerie tales have haunted Japan for decades. Discover the origins of these legends, real-life inspirations, and the supernatural encounters that continue to fuel sightings across the country. Perfect for fans of Japanese urban legends, ghost stories, yokai lore, and paranormal podcasts. Website: supernaturaljapan.com Supernatural Japan locations map: Google Map Get lots of Premium and Exclusive Content and Ad-free Episodes! Premium membership: @patreon Support on: @BuyMeACoffee Tales from Kevin (my expat diary podcast) Connect with Supernatural Japan: Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan BlueSky: @MadForMaple X: @MadForMaple YouTube: @BusanKevin Email: supernaturaljapan@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The Ghosts of Golden Gai
3w ago00:45:43Tap to summarizeExplore the haunted alleys of Tokyo’s Golden Gai in this episode of Supernatural Japan. Returning guest Riki Ohkanda guides us through the district’s gritty history, ghostly legends, and its transformation into a nighttime tourist hotspot. We also uncover the eerie connection to Taira no Masakado, one of Japan’s most infamous spirits, and how his legend still lingers in modern Tokyo. Packed with folklore, hauntings, and insider stories, this episode reveals the supernatural side of one of Tokyo’s most iconic nightlife districts. Website: supernaturaljapan.com Supernatural Japan locations map: Google Map Get lots of Premium and Exclusive Content and Ad-free Episodes! Premium membership: @patreon Support on: @BuyMeACoffee Tales from Kevin (my expat diary podcast) Connect with Supernatural Japan: Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan BlueSky: @MadForMaple X: @MadForMaple YouTube: @BusanKevin Email: supernaturaljapan@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Japan’s Most Haunted Love Story (Ohatsu Tenjin)
4w ago00:16:18Tap to summarizeStep into the heart of Osaka’s Umeda district and uncover the haunting legend of Tsuyu-no-Tenjinja Shrine, better known as Ohatsu Tenjin. In this Supernatural Japan episode, we explore the shrine’s 1,300-year history, its ties to the scholar-deity Sugawara no Michizane, and the tragic 1703 love-suicide of Ohatsu and Tokubei—immortalized in the famous bunraku play Sonezaki Shinju. Blending folklore, history, and ghostly romance, this episode dives into why Ohatsu Tenjin remains one of Japan’s most powerful spiritual sites for love, loss, and lingering spirits. Website: supernaturaljapan.com Supernatural Japan locations map: Google Map Get lots of Premium and Exclusive Content and Ad-free Episodes! Premium membership: @patreon Support on: @BuyMeACoffee Connect with Supernatural Japan: Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan BlueSky: @MadForMaple X: @MadForMaple YouTube: @BusanKevin Email: supernaturaljapan@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Mud and Terror - Japan’s Paantu Festival
May 1200:15:25Tap to summarizeDive into one of Japan’s strangest and most chilling traditions—the Paantu Festival of Miyako-jima in Okinawa. In this episode of Supernatural Japan, discover why mud-covered, masked figures roam the streets, terrifying children and “blessing” villages in a centuries-old ritual of purification and protection. Is it folklore, fear-based discipline, or something more supernatural? Explore the history, meaning, and eerie energy of one of Japan’s most unforgettable festivals. Website: supernaturaljapan.com Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Supernatural Japan locations map: Google Map Get lots of Premium and Exclusive Content and Ad-free Episodes! Premium membership: @patreon Support on: @BuyMeACoffee Connect with Supernatural Japan: Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan BlueSky: @MadForMaple X: @MadForMaple YouTube: @BusanKevin Email: supernaturaljapan@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Haunted Toyama Park: Tokyo’s Ghostly Secrets
May 900:22:42Tap to summarizeDiscover the chilling past of Toyama Park in Tokyo in this episode of Supernatural Japan. Once linked to the dark experiments of Unit 731 and the site of tragic events, the park is said to be haunted by restless spirits. We explore its eerie history, local ghost stories, and the lingering supernatural presence that continues to fascinate visitors. Perfect for fans of Japanese folklore, haunted locations, and urban legends. Website: supernaturaljapan.com Supernatural Japan locations map: Google Map Get lots of Premium and Exclusive Content and Ad-free Episodes! Premium membership: @patreon Support on: @BuyMeACoffee Connect with Supernatural Japan: Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan BlueSky: @MadForMaple X: @MadForMaple YouTube: @BusanKevin Email: supernaturaljapan@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The Keukegen - The Filthy Yokai
May 500:10:01Tap to summarizeDive into the eerie world of the Keukegen, a mysterious Japanese yokai known for spreading illness and bad luck. In this episode of Supernatural Japan, we explore the origins of this shaggy, unsettling creature, its appearances in historical texts, and its role in modern pop culture, including GeGeGe no Kitaro. Discover the lessons this unique yokai teaches about care, neglect, and the unseen forces around us. Perfect for fans of Japanese folklore, supernatural tales, and mysterious creatures. Website: supernaturaljapan.com Supernatural Japan locations map: Google Map Get lots of Premium and Exclusive Content and Ad-free Episodes! Premium membership: @patreon Support on: @BuyMeACoffee Connect with Supernatural Japan: Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan BlueSky: @MadForMaple X: @MadForMaple YouTube: @BusanKevin Email: supernaturaljapan@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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More Haunted Tales from Kyoto
May 200:57:07Tap to summarizeExplore the chilling and mysterious side of Japan in this episode of Supernatural Japan: More Haunted Tales from Kyoto. Join host Kevin O’Shea as he chats with regular contributor and Kyoto-based writer Phillip Jackson, uncovering eerie stories from the Kannonji Gate of 100 Beatings near Nijo Castle and the Cursed Mansion of Yoshioka Gondayu. We also dive into the Tsuchinoko Festival in Gifu Prefecture this Golden Week, the enigmatic Rock Ship of Masuda in Nara, and a strange, mysterious deer that has been visiting Phillip’s yard. Perfect for fans of Japanese folklore, haunted history, and supernatural tales, this episode blends local legend with spine-tingling storytelling. Website: supernaturaljapan.com Contact Phillip Jackson for amazing guided historical walking tours of Kyoto, Japan. Supernatural Japan locations map: Google Map Get lots of Premium and Exclusive Content and Ad-free Episodes! Premium membership: @patreon Support on: @BuyMeACoffee Connect with Supernatural Japan: Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan BlueSky: @MadForMaple X: @MadForMaple YouTube: @BusanKevin Email: supernaturaljapan@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Betobeto-san the Invisible Yokai (Mini-episode)
Apr 2800:08:24Tap to summarizeDiscover the eerie legend of Betobetosan, one of Japan’s most mysterious yokai, in this chilling mini-episode of Supernatural Japan. Said to follow travelers at night with the unmistakable sound of footsteps—beto beto—this invisible spirit has haunted roads from Nara to Shizuoka for generations. Learn the folklore behind Betobetosan, how to escape its presence, and how it was popularized through the work of famed yokai artist Shigeru Mizuki. Blending history, superstition, and storytelling, this episode explores one of Japan’s most unsettling supernatural encounters—perfect for fans of Japanese folklore, urban legends, and ghost stories. Website: supernaturaljapan.com Supernatural Japan locations map: Google Map Get lots of Premium and Exclusive Content and Ad-free Episodes! Premium membership: @patreon Support on: @BuyMeACoffee Connect with Supernatural Japan: Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan BlueSky: @MadForMaple X: @MadForMaple YouTube: @BusanKevin Email: supernaturaljapan@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Enoshima - Japan’s Dragon Island
Apr 2500:19:02Tap to summarizeExplore the mystical island of Enoshima in this episode of Supernatural Japan, where ancient dragon legends come to life. Discover the story of the five-headed dragon, the sacred shrines, and the supernatural myths that have shaped local culture for centuries. From breathtaking coastal views to haunted tales hidden in Enoshima’s caves, we dive into the island’s folklore, history, and spiritual significance. Perfect for fans of Japanese mythology, ghost stories, and supernatural adventures, this episode will transport you straight to one of Japan’s most enchanting islands. Website: supernaturaljapan.com Tales from Kevin Podcast: Apple Podcasts - Spotify Supernatural Japan locations map: Google Map Get lots of Premium and Exclusive Content and Ad-free Episodes! Premium membership: @patreon Support on: @BuyMeACoffee Connect with Supernatural Japan: Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan BlueSky: @MadForMaple X: @MadForMaple YouTube: @BusanKevin Email: supernaturaljapan@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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