[2026 Latest] Top 3 Ranking of Paranormal Rumors Related to Tunnels in the Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe Area

From the draft candidates linked to tunnels in the Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe area, we selected three locations for which we could verify external rumor-posting pages, administrator or administrative documents, and maps with coordinates. The ranking is based not on how frightening the locations are, but on the quality of the documentation that allows us to trace the location, management information, and the source of the rumor. The mere presence of a rumor does not necessarily indicate the existence of the phenomenon.

Survey methods and evaluation criteria

For each location, we first checked what external paranormal information pages were reporting as rumors, and then cross-referenced the location, purpose, and management status with publicly available information from the government or managing/utilizing body. If there was no independent record directly corresponding to the rumored claims, we did not rely solely on the existence or history of the location to support the supernatural occurrences, and instead classified it as "undeterminable."

1st Place: Old Ikoma Tunnel | Undecided (91 points)

The rumored details

The National Ghost Map lists the old Ikoma Tunnel as a haunted spot in Higashi-Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, and includes stories such as "a male ghost appears" and "a figure can be seen." These should be read as ghost stories and submitted information collected by the page, and should not be treated as official records of phenomena.

Source of the rumor and date of verification

The rumor appears on an individual page of the National Haunted Map. While the page organizes the stories under the heading of paranormal phenomena, it does not indicate the original publication date, narrator, date of occurrence, or independent simultaneous records for each individual story. Therefore, it is classified as a secondary publication/original publication unknown.

• Nationwide Haunted Map: Old Ikoma Tunnel(Verification Date: 2026-09-12) — This page contains rumors of a male ghost or other human figures appearing around the former Ikoma Tunnel in Higashi-Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture.

Things that could be confirmed from official and primary source materials

The Ikoma Tunnel Project's public webpage explains that the old Ikoma Tunnel was a 3,388-meter-long standard-gauge double-track tunnel opened in 1914 by the Osaka Electric Railway, and that it ceased operations after the new Ikoma Tunnel began operation in 1964. It also states that there are still operational facilities in the area around the former Kosaka Station site, and that entry by outsiders is prohibited, with the entrance locked.

• Ikoma Tunnel Project: The History of the Old Ikoma Tunnel(Verification Date: 2026-09-12) — This explains the history of the road, from its opening in 1914 to its decommissioning in 1964, as well as the access control measures for the entrance and surrounding area.

Points of agreement/contradictions

The administrator's information specifically details the railway tunnel's history, current usage and management status, and access restrictions. However, it does not mention the rumored incidents of "a male ghost appearing" or "a human figure being seen," nor does it address the observation conditions or verification records. The fact that it is a historical tunnel and the claims of paranormal activity cannot be linked in the same document.

The rumored atomic claim	Matching results	reason	Corresponding documents
A male ghost appears	Unconfirmed	The administrator's publicly available information explains the history and access control, but it does not show any records or verification results regarding this phenomenon.	No official data available for direct comparison.
A human figure can be seen.	Unconfirmed	The administrator documents reviewed lacked observation records of human figures, observers, and independent verification results, making direct comparison impossible.	No official data available for direct comparison.

Alternative interpretation

The long, old railway line, the closed entrance, and the residential area at the foot of the mountain could all contribute to passersby being acutely aware of the sounds and darkness. However, this alone cannot explain or refute the rumors. The causal relationship between the environmental impression and the ghost stories remains unconfirmed.

Scope and limitations of the investigation

The scope of our review was limited to the rumor-posting pages and the publicly available explanation of the Ikoma Tunnel Project. The official page is not a report on the investigation of the supernatural phenomena, but rather an explanation of the tunnel's history and its management and utilization. We were unable to find any original sources, primary sources of individual experiences, or third-party records of the phenomena.

Verification result: Indeterminate

Regarding the two rumored atomic claims, independent official and administrative documents only show history and access control, making it impossible to directly compare the occurrence or non-occurrence of the phenomenon. While the existence and history of the old Ikoma Tunnel can be confirmed, this cannot be used to support the supernatural occurrences, so a determination is impossible.

Document Quality Score

Source transparency	28/30	The source of the rumor and the administrator's page are separated, and both can be tracked using individual URLs.
Historical and spatial context	24/25	The administrator's documents can be used to confirm details such as the year of opening, the intended use of the route, when it ceased operation, and its current management status.
Safety information	20/20	The administrator has clearly stated that entry by unauthorized persons is prohibited and that the area must be locked, thus clearly defining the boundaries of activity.
Newness of information	10/15	While the current management description on the administrator page can be found, the initial date of the rumor cannot be determined.
Transparency of the source of rumors	9/10	While the publication locations of the ghost stories are clearly indicated, the original source and primary record for each submission remain unknown.
total	91/100	This is the overall quality of the materials. It does not represent the degree of truthfulness or danger associated with the supernatural phenomena.

Safety information and maps

There are operational facilities at the entrance and surrounding area, and the management prohibits unauthorized entry. Location confirmation should be limited to publicly available information and maps; do not approach doors, tracks, equipment, or management areas. Avoid nighttime visits and loitering or making noise in the surrounding residential areas.

Map location: The location is based on the site of the former Kintetsu Koshazaka Station, near the western entrance of the old railway line.

Check the area around the old Ikoma Tunnel on Google Maps.

2nd Place: Kiyotaki Tunnel | Undecided (84 points)

The rumored details

The National Ghost Map lists rumors about the Kiyotaki Tunnel in Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City, such as "a female ghost appears" and "voices can be heard." There are also stories linking the incident to traffic lights and other incidents that occur while passing through, but here we will separate the content of the ghost stories written on the page from the facts that can be confirmed as road facilities.

Source of the rumor and date of verification

An example of a rumor being published is the individual page for Kiyotaki Tunnel on the National Haunted Map. This page lists rumors as submitted information about haunted spots, but the original publication medium, speaker, date and time, and interview records for each story cannot be confirmed. Therefore, although its existence can be confirmed, it is treated as a secondary publication with an unknown original source.

• National Haunted Map: Kiyotaki Tunnel(Verification Date: 2026-09-12) — This page contains rumors about a female ghost and voices at the Kiyotaki Tunnel in Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City.

Things that could be confirmed from official and primary source materials

Kyoto City's "Tunnel Longevity Repair Plan" lists the Kiyotaki Tunnel as part of the Shakado-Kiyotaki Road, a municipal road located in Saga Kiyotaki Fukaya-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City. The plan includes facility information such as its length of 497m, construction in 1927 (Showa 2), and sheet pile construction method, confirming that it is a road tunnel that Kyoto City will handle as part of its maintenance and management.

• Kyoto City: Tunnel Life Extension and Repair Plan(Confirmed on 2026-09-12) — Kiyotaki Tunnel is listed as a 497m long tunnel under maintenance management located on the Shakado-Kiyotaki Road municipal road in Ukyo Ward.

Points of agreement/contradictions

The rumor page lists female ghosts and voices as ghost stories heard while passing through. In contrast, the Kyoto City plan confirms information on the location, length, structure, and maintenance of road tunnels, but does not record the occurrence of paranormal phenomena. While the existence of road facilities and the posting of ghost stories correspond, the core aspects of the phenomena cannot be directly compared.

The rumored atomic claim	Matching results	reason	Corresponding documents
A female ghost appears	Unconfirmed	Kyoto City's maintenance records show information about road facilities, but they do not address whether or not this phenomenon is occurring.	No official data available for direct comparison.
I can hear a voice	Unconfirmed	The official documents do not include sound observation records or research results corresponding to ghost stories, making direct comparison impossible.	No official data available for direct comparison.

Alternative interpretation

In narrow mountain road tunnels, lighting, echoes, traffic signals, and the surrounding darkness can enhance the impression of what one experiences while passing through. However, these environmental factors do not constitute evidence to confirm specific voices or presences. Since there are no records to recreate and verify individual experiences, these remain merely potential explanations.

Scope and limitations of the investigation

The Kyoto City documents are maintenance plans, not documents investigating the veracity of the ghost stories. The rumor page also does not present any supporting documents for the original appearance or experiences. Within the scope of this investigation, we were unable to obtain any documents that could independently compare the two atomic claims, such as primary testimonies or measurement records of the phenomena.

Verification result: Indeterminate

The location of the Kiyotaki Tunnel and its management as a road facility can be confirmed from Kyoto City documents. However, the claims of "a female ghost appearing" and "voices being heard" cannot be supported or refuted by independent sources other than those published as rumors. To avoid making the existence of the facility the sole basis for the supernatural occurrences, the conclusion is that a determination cannot be made.

Document Quality Score

Source transparency	27/30	The rumor page and the Kyoto City documents are linked at separate URLs, allowing for differentiation of what needs to be verified.
Historical and spatial context	19/25	While information on its location, length, and management as a road facility is available, details of its history are limited.
Safety information	18/20	It is clear that this is a road facility subject to maintenance and management, and therefore requires prior confirmation of traffic and surrounding conditions.
Newness of information	12/15	While the current long-term maintenance plan can be confirmed, the origin of the ghost story remains unknown.
Transparency of the source of rumors	8/10	The location where the rumors were published is clear, but the source, date, and original document for each story are not provided.
total	84/100	This is the overall quality of the materials. It does not represent the degree of truthfulness or danger associated with the supernatural phenomena.

Safety information and maps

The site is a road tunnel, and it is essential to avoid obstructing the passage of vehicles and pedestrians. Avoid stopping while driving, approaching traffic signals or facilities, making noise at night, and entering off-road areas or restricted zones. Check the latest information from the local government regarding traffic restrictions and weather.

Map location: Near the center of the Kiyotaki Tunnel as confirmed on publicly available maps.

Check the area around Kiyotaki Tunnel on Google Maps.

3rd Place: Noma Tunnel | Undecided (76 points)

The rumored details

The National Ghost Map website lists rumors about the Noma Tunnel in Toyono-cho, Osaka Prefecture, including claims that "the ghost of a woman in white appears there" and "there are many reports of ghost sightings." While the page also includes warnings about surrounding roads, no primary sources to support the origin of the rumors or individual sightings can be found on the page.

Source of the rumor and date of verification

An example of this rumor being published is the individual page for Noma Tunnel on the National Haunted Spot Map. The content is organized as information on haunted spots and includes a story about a female ghost. However, since the initial publication medium, witnesses, date, and independent verification records are not indicated, it is classified as a secondary publication/first appearance unknown.

• Nationwide Haunted Map: Noma Tunnel(Verification Date: 2026-09-12) — This page contains rumors about a woman in white clothing regarding the Noma Tunnel in Toyono-cho, Osaka Prefecture.

Things that could be confirmed from official and primary source materials

The public webpage of the Ikeda Civil Engineering Office in Osaka Prefecture describes the Noma Tunnel as "Noma Tunnel" and as a tunnel on the Ibaraki-Nose Line, explaining that it is located on the way up to the pass from the Yono side of Toyono Town, at an altitude of approximately 500m. This is information that the prefecture has made public regarding the location and route of a road facility, and is not a certification or investigation result regarding paranormal phenomena.

• Osaka Prefectural Ikeda Civil Engineering Office: Office work(Verification date: 2026-09-12) — The Noma Tunnel is described as a road tunnel located on a mountain pass of the Ibaraki-Nose Line, and its elevation is stated to be approximately 500m.

Points of agreement/contradictions

The rumor page focuses on a woman in white and eyewitness accounts, while the Osaka Prefecture description is limited to road and topographical information such as the Noma Tunnel's route, pass, and elevation. Although both refer to the same tunnel, there is no common factual record that allows for comparison of the frequency of ghost appearances or sightings.

The rumored atomic claim	Matching results	reason	Corresponding documents
A ghost of a woman in white appears.	Unconfirmed	The Osaka Prefectural Government's description of road facilities only deals with location and route, and does not show any record of this phenomenon.	No official data available for direct comparison.
There are many reports of ghost sightings.	Unconfirmed	The official pages I checked lacked information on the number of sightings, observation methods, and independent records, making direct comparison impossible.	No official data available for direct comparison.

Alternative interpretation

In mountain pass tunnels, elevation, curves, nighttime visibility, and sound reverberation can influence feelings of unease and the impression of misinterpretation. However, this does not explain any specific rumor as fact. The relationship between road conditions and the transmission routes of ghost stories cannot be determined from this data alone.

Scope and limitations of the investigation

The only public documents we were able to find were introductions to road facilities, not sources for the ghost stories or historical records of accidents. The rumor page also does not provide original records of individual sightings. Because we could not confirm the first appearance, witnesses, conditions for occurrence, or third-party records, we were unable to verify the core of the rumor with independent sources.

Verification result: Indeterminate

Osaka Prefecture documents confirm that the Noma Tunnel is a road facility located on a mountain pass of the Ibaraki-Nose Line, but they do not address the claims of a woman in white clothing or the frequency of sightings. The page containing the rumor alone cannot determine whether the phenomenon exists or not, and official documents do not provide counter-evidence, so a four-level determination is impossible.

Document Quality Score

Source transparency	25/30	The rumor page and the Osaka Prefecture road facility description can be presented separately.
Historical and spatial context	16/25	While the routes, mountain passes, and elevations can be identified, the detailed history of construction and renovation is limited.
Safety information	17/20	Official documents indicate that it is a road facility on a mountain pass, which encourages consideration for the road environment.
Newness of information	11/15	I checked the Osaka Prefectural Government's public page, but I couldn't track the initial appearance or update history of the rumor.
Transparency of the source of rumors	7/10	The content of the rumor is readable, but the narrator and the source of the original text remain unknown.
total	76/100	This is the overall quality of the materials. It does not represent the degree of truthfulness or danger associated with the supernatural phenomena.

Safety information and maps

The Noma Tunnel is described as a road facility on a mountain pass. Visibility, curves, weather, and road surface conditions can change, so do not stop or approach it on foot for the purpose of a test of courage. Prioritize the latest information from Osaka Prefecture regarding traffic restrictions, road conditions, and impacts on the surrounding area.

Map location: Based on the location near the Noma Tunnel on the mountain pass as shown in Osaka Prefecture documents.

Check the area around Noma Tunnel on Google Maps.

What I learned by crossing locations

At all three locations, the rumor pages describe figures, voices, and female ghosts, while administrative and managerial documents show the location, history, maintenance, and access boundaries of roads and railway facilities. The differences lie in the area: the old Ikoma Tunnel is a managed area, the Kiyotaki Tunnel is part of the road maintenance plan, and the Noma Tunnel is a facility on a mountain pass. In all cases, the existence of the facilities is not the basis for the paranormal phenomena, making it impossible to judge the atomic claim in this case.

summary

All we were able to confirm this time is that three tunnels in the Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe area are listed as ghost stories, and that there is publicly available information about each of them as road and railway facilities. We were unable to find any independent records that would corroborate the core of the ghost stories. The map is for location confirmation only and does not recommend visiting or approaching the managed areas.

FAQ

If there is a page listing it, has the paranormal phenomenon been confirmed?

No. The published page is merely documentation indicating that such rumors are publicly available, not documentation proving the existence of the phenomenon. In this article, we separated the source of the rumors from administrative/management documents, and deemed claims that could not be directly compared to those without records to determine.

Does "undeterminable" mean the rumor is wrong?

No. "Undecidable" means that there is insufficient independent evidence to support or refute the claim, making it impossible to determine a definitive four-level classification. The existence, history, and surrounding environment of the facility alone are not sufficient to support or refute the core claims of the ghost story.

May I check the location using a map?

Maps are publicly available information used to understand spatial relationships. Avoid stopping in controlled areas, on roads, and approaching restricted areas. Traffic restrictions and road conditions change, so check the latest information from each administrator rather than assuming a visit.