Haunted Sapporo, Japan

Haunted Sapporo, Japan
Paul Dale Roberts, HPI’s Esoteric Detective
Halo Paranormal Investigations
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Sapporo and the surrounding Hokkaido region are considered quite haunted, with numerous urban legends and “ghost hot spots” popular among thrill-seekers. Notable haunted locations include the Okiku Doll at Mannenji Temple, reputed to have growing hair, and the ruins of a lakeside hotel near Lake Shikotsu, often associated with ghostly hitchhikers. This is a place I always wanted to go. I heard so much about it when I was in the Army in Tokyo. I placed it on my bucket list and to this day, it’s still on my bucket list…sigh. Let’s dive in and learn about the haunted areas of Sapporo, Japan.

The Okiku Doll (Mannenji Temple):
Located in nearby Iwamizawa (often associated with Sapporo tales), this doll is said to house the spirit of a young girl, with hair that scientists reportedly confirmed is human and continues to grow. The Okiku Doll is one of Japan’s most famous haunted objects. While now kept at Mannenji Temple in Iwamizawa (near Sapporo), the doll was originally purchased at a marine exhibition at Tanuki-koji, Sapporo’s famous shopping street. Locals claim that they have seen the doll move its head, blink its eyes. Many people say the doll looks very creepy. One visitor says that the doll locked eyes with her and she felt a horrible tingly sensation throughout her whole body. Her hands would not stop shaking and they went numb. Moving away from the doll, everything went back to normal, hands stopped shaking, the numbness vanished and the horrible sensation went away.

Bibai’s Round Schoolhouse (formerly part of Shoto/Numahigashi Elementary School) in Hokkaido:
An abandoned, circular school building between Sapporo and Asahikawa where visitors report hearing screams and seeing shadowy figures. This abandoned circular building is a popular destination for ghost hunters and thrill seekers. Witnesses report seeing shadow figures and hearing the sounds of a girl giggling in the surrounding forest. The site was abandoned in 1974 following a coal mine closure, it is notorious for reports of mysterious lights, disembodied screams, and a ghostly girl in a red backpack. Legends say a young girl vanished during a break in the 1970s, and her ghost is often heard laughing or seen in the surrounding forest. Visitors have reported seeing strange, bobbing lights, with some claiming the figures emerge from a “glowing” or “shimmering” patch in the wall. Reported phenomena include hearing footsteps, screams, and twigs snapping. Some rumors suggest visitors have disappeared or lost their sanity after visiting, and it is frequently cited by paranormal investigators as a major hotspot. The site, often covered in snow or flooded in lower levels, is considered dangerous and is frequently visited by thrill-seekers, despite the unsettling rumors. Many locals have encountered “the Vanished Girl” or also known as the “Backpack Girl”. Some investigators have heard “tapping” sounds on trees as they approached. They believe that the Backpack Girl is making those tapping sounds. Locals believe that the Backpack Girl will try and lure people into the woods. One local followed the Backpack Girl into the woods, and he fell and broke his leg. Some spirit mediums reportedly refuse to return to the site due to overwhelming negative energy. An education center was first established on the site in 1906. The iconic circular building was constructed later, in 1959, to accommodate children of local coal miners. The schoolhouse is now a deteriorating ruin deep in the forest.

Lake Shikotsu Road (Route 512):
Known for rumors of “ghost hitchhikers” and white shadows haunting the ruins of a nearby hotel, commonly discussed by local drivers. Lake Shikotsu Road (Route 512) and the surrounding area are widely considered haunted in Japanese urban legend and local folklore. The road, which connects Sapporo and Lake Shikotsu, is associated with several eerie tales. Hakiro Baba (The Crawling Old Woman) is one of the most famous legends tied to the road between Chitose and Lake Shikotsu. She is described as the ghost of an old woman who chases cars or runs parallel to them, allegedly able to keep pace with vehicles until they exceed 80 km/hr. She is known to try and make people crash their cars, so they can join her in the afterlife. Local warnings suggest that ghosts in the area may “attach” themselves to travelers. It is a common local custom to sprinkle salt on oneself before entering home after visiting to drive away these Invisible Hitchhikers. The name “Shikotsu” can be phonetically associated with the Japanese word for “death” (shi) or “skeleton”.

The Haunted Hotel Ruins:
Near the road sit the ruins of a lakeside hotel where mysterious phenomena, such as a “white shadow” or sounds of lapping water, have been reported. It is a popular destination for local bikers and car enthusiasts interested in the occult. One biker saw the White Shadow entity and then felt hands on his legs. The hands were preventing him to ride his motorcycle. Another visitor saw the White Shadow looking down at him from a second story window, he was able to make out 2 glowing red eyes.

Historical Village of Hokkaido (Kaitaku-no Mura):
An open-air museum where some visitors have reported eerie, “ghost town” sensations or strange occurrences, according to some Tripadvisor reviewers. A Japanese ghost hunting group called the Yurei Hantaa claim that they have captured many EVPs at this village and some of their investigators have seen partial apparitions. One apparition that they saw was a “half girl”, they could see her from the waist down, but not the waist up. As they watched her, she walked into a wall and vanished.

Yubari School:
Located in a former coal-mining town near Sapporo, this abandoned school is reportedly haunted by strange noises and a “presence” felt in specific rooms. The presence is felt with extreme cold spots. Sometimes people hear whispering in their ears. One person claims to have received a huge scratch on their back. The scratch mark was singular and somewhat deep, causing it to bleed.

Tanuki-koji Shopping Arcade:
As one of the oldest shopping districts in the city, parts of it (especially the less renovated sections) are sometimes associated with old-city urban legends. Some people claim that they have seen apparitions walking around. Locals say that the spirits are benevolent and will cause you no harm.