Aokigahara: The Suicide Forest

Aokigahara, at the base of Mount Fuji, is Japan’s most notorious haunted location. Known as the Sea of Trees, it has become associated with death after becoming one of the world’s most common suicide sites.

The Deaths

Since the 1950s, Aokigahara has been a destination for those seeking to end their lives. Hundreds of bodies have been recovered, but the dense forest means many more remain undiscovered. The forest holds profound tragedy.

The Spirits

Japanese tradition holds that the spirits of those who die violently or in sorrow become yūrei—ghosts bound to the location of their death. Aokigahara is said to be thick with such spirits, calling to the living, inviting them to join.

The Experience

Visitors report overwhelming feelings of sadness and dread. Compasses malfunction due to iron in the volcanic soil. People hear voices and see shapes in the trees. Some feel hands on their shoulders or hear whispers to go deeper into the forest.

Prevention Efforts

Authorities have installed signs encouraging suicidal visitors to seek help. Volunteers patrol the forest looking for those in crisis. The spiritual weight of the place is acknowledged even by officials.

Assessment

Aokigahara may be the saddest place on Earth. Whether the spiritual phenomena are projection of the location’s associations or genuine hauntings by the desperate dead, the forest carries a burden of sorrow that visitors feel immediately.