[2026 Latest] Top 3 Ranking of Ghostly Rumors Around Water in Saga Prefecture

In Saga Prefecture, sea caves, dam lakes, and castle moats are associated with unverified stories of strange occurrences and events, often accompanied by specific dates and facility histories. This article examines three locations—Nanatsugama, Kitayama Dam, and Saga Castle Park—and compares external rumor-sharing pages with publicly available information from the tourism association, the prefecture, and park managers. The ranking is not based on the perceived frightness or truthfulness of the phenomena, but rather on the quality of the information itself, evaluating factors such as transparency of sources, historical and spatial context, safety information, recency of information, and the transparency of the rumor's origin.

Survey methods and evaluation criteria

We divided the rumors into atomic claims such as date, structure, use, events, and phenomena, and compared them with independent official and administrator documents dealing with the same subject. If all claims are supported, it is marked as "agreement"; if there is a coexistence of supported and unconfirmed claims, it is marked as "partial agreement"; and if even one claim is directly contradictory, it is marked as "disagreement". If a direct comparison is not possible, if we can confirm an important record not mentioned in the rumor, it is marked as "new fact"; otherwise, it is marked as "unmeasurable". The existence of a location or facility, or the fact that the rumor is published, does not support the supernatural occurrence. The document quality score is an indicator of verifiability, not the degree of danger or the truthfulness of the supernatural occurrence.

1st Place: Nanatsugama | Partial Match (87 points)

The rumored details

The page listing the rumors introduces Nanatsugama as a basalt sea cave located in Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture, noting that it is designated as a "national natural monument" and that "the largest cave reaches a depth of 110 meters." It then lists specific strange occurrences, such as "sightings of a woman throwing herself off a cliff," "sobs heard from inside the cave," and "feeling like you're being watched or hearing strange footsteps from the observation deck."

Source of the rumor and date of verification

The source of the rumor is a separate article about Nanatsugama on the paranormal information website "Shinrei Kosaku" (Paranormal Investigation), dated January 5, 2025. While specific details are included, no documentation is provided to verify the individual experiences, nor are there any recordings, investigation reports, or the original source of the legend. Therefore, this is treated as a secondary publication.

• Paranormal Investigations: Nanatsugama | Rumors of Ghost Stories(Verification date 2026-09-17) — The article describes Nanatsugama as a national natural monument with the largest cave reaching a depth of 110 meters, and includes rumors of a woman being sighted, sobbing, being watched, and footsteps.

Things that could be confirmed from official and primary source materials

The Karatsu Tourism Association explains that Nanatsugama is designated a national natural monument and was formed by the erosion of basalt by waves in the Genkai Sea. The columnar jointing was caused by the contraction of the lava as it cooled and solidified, and the largest sea cave is 3 meters wide and 110 meters deep, and is accessible by boat depending on the wave conditions. There are no descriptions in this management and tourism material of observing or confirming the presence of a woman, sobbing, or footsteps.

• Karatsu Tourism Association / Nanatsugama(Confirmed on 2026-09-17) — "Nanatsugama is designated as a national natural monument and was formed by the erosive action of waves in the Genkai Sea on basalt," and "The largest sea cave is 3m wide and 110m deep," it explains.

Points of agreement/contradictions

The claims that the area is a "national natural monument" and that "the largest cave is 110 meters deep" are supported by the Karatsu Tourism Association's explanation. However, there are no records of the woman's sighting, sobbing, gaze, or footsteps, nor are there any corresponding observation records in official documents. The coincidence between the topography and the cultural property designation cannot be substituted for evidence of the supernatural occurrences.

The rumored atomic claim	Matching results	reason	Corresponding documents
National Natural Monument	support	The Karatsu Tourism Association has clearly stated that Nanatsugama is designated as a national natural monument, so the subject and polarity match.	Karatsu Tourism Association / Nanatsugama
The largest cave is 110 meters deep.	support	The Karatsu Tourism Association also describes the largest sea cave as having an opening of 3 meters and a depth of 110 meters.	Karatsu Tourism Association / Nanatsugama
The sound of sobbing can be heard from inside the cave.	Unconfirmed	The rumor article lacks the date and time of the incident and the original recording, and there are no observational records in the administrator's documents that can be directly compared.	No official data available for direct comparison.
Witness accounts of a woman jumping off a cliff	Unconfirmed	No records confirming eyewitnesses, search records, or the date of the incident have been provided, making it impossible to verify the information using independent sources.	No official data available for direct comparison.

Alternative interpretation

In sea caves, waves reverberate within the cave, and the way sounds are heard may change depending on wind direction, tide level, and the position of the sightseeing boat. Strong winds, wave noise, and the sense of distance in dark places can also affect perception at cliffs and viewpoints, but since the individual experience conditions are unknown, it is not possible to definitively determine that a specific physical phenomenon is the cause.

Scope and limitations of the investigation

The only sources I directly checked were the specified rumor article and the Karatsu Tourism Association's dedicated page for Nanatsugama. I was unable to confirm the origin of the rumor, the date and time of the experience, the original recordings or photographs, the weather and tide levels at the time, or rescue/search records. The tourism association's materials are intended for topography and user guidance, and are not intended to investigate the supernatural occurrences.

Verification results: Partial match

Two specific claims—the designation as a cultural property and the depth of the sea cave—were supported by independent administrator documents, but the sighting of a woman, sobbing, gaze, and footsteps remain unconfirmed. Because supported material claims and claims of phenomena that cannot be independently confirmed coexist, it is classified as "partial agreement." This judgment does not support the existence of a supernatural phenomenon.

Document Quality Score

Source transparency	28/30	I was able to directly obtain rumor articles specific to the location and the Karatsu Tourism Association's dedicated webpage, and individually verify the cultural property designation and the size of the cave.
Historical and spatial context	22/25	The topographical background, including basalt, wave erosion, columnar jointing formation, and the size of the largest sea cave, is documented in the administrator's records.
Safety information	17/20	The environment of the cliffs and sea caves, as well as the conditions for boat entry based on wave conditions, clearly demonstrate why priority should be given to waterfront and management guidance.
Newness of information	12/15	The rumor article is dated 2025, and the tourism association page also lists current fares and transportation information, but the timing of the individual experience is unknown.
Transparency of the source of rumors	8/10	The type of phenomenon and the location are specific, but the first appearance, the person who experienced it, the date of occurrence, and the original recordings or photographs are not provided.
total	87/100	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

Do not approach the edge of the cliff or beyond the fence, and follow the instructions of the tour boat operator and local manager when approaching the sea caves. Avoid high waves, strong winds, wet roads, and poor visibility at night, and prioritize access restrictions.

Map location: We used the coordinates confirmed as the entrance to Nanatsugama Cave in publicly available geographic information.

Check the area around Nanatsugama on Google Maps.

2nd Place: Kitayama Dam | Partial Match (86 points)

The rumored details

The page containing the rumors describes Kitayama Dam as a multi-purpose dam "completed in 1957 (Showa 32)," and states that "106 houses were submerged at the bottom of the lake," forcing the residents to relocate. The phenomena described include sightings of a female ghost in the "Tunnel of Happiness," the appearance of a boy in the cycle tunnel, and reports of inexplicable figures and sounds in and around the campground parking lot.

Source of the rumor and date of verification

The source of the rumor is a separate article about the Kitayama Dam in "Paranormal Investigations," dated January 5, 2025. The article specifically mentions the completion year, the number of houses submerged, the name of the facility, and several phenomena, but it does not provide the date and time of the phenomena, the original testimony, accident records, or the first publication source, so it is treated as a secondary publication example.

• Paranormal Investigation: Kitayama Dam | Rumors of Ghost Stories(Verification Date: 2026-09-17) — The Kitayama Dam is stated to have been completed in 1957, and it explains that 106 houses were submerged at the bottom of the lake, along with descriptions of phenomena around the tunnel, parking lot, and cemetery.

Things that could be confirmed from official and primary source materials

The Saga Prefectural Archives explains that the Kitayama Dam was completed in 1957 (Showa 32) as the prefecture's first concrete dam, and plays an important role in securing agricultural water and hydroelectric power generation. The Kitayama Dam was constructed as part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's Kasegawa Agricultural Water Utilization Project. The Saga Prefectural Archives records that 110 households were relocated from 11 areas that were submerged. The specific original text reads, "With the construction of the Kitayama Dam, 11 areas in Koseki Village, Saga District; Kitayama Village, Ogi District (both now Fuji-cho, Saga City); and Mitsuse Village, Kanzaki District (now Mitsuse Village, Saga City) were submerged, and 110 households were relocated." There is no description identifying any women or boys.

• Saga Prefectural Archives - Kitayama Dam Special Exhibition(Confirmed on 2026-09-17) — The document records that "due to the construction of the Kitayama Dam, 11 districts in Koseki Village, Saga District, Kitayama Village, Ogi District (both now Fuji-cho, Saga City), and Mitsuse Village, Kanzaki District (now Mitsuse Village, Saga City) were submerged, and 110 households were relocated," and also explains that it was completed in 1957 (Showa 32).

Points of agreement/contradictions

The claim that it was completed in 1957 is supported by records at the Saga Prefectural Archives. On the other hand, regarding the rumor that "106 houses were submerged," the archives records that "11 districts were submerged and 110 houses were relocated." Since the number of houses submerged and the number of houses relocated are not the same indicator, we did not conclude that there was a direct contradiction, and the claim of 106 houses remains unconfirmed. The phenomena of tunnels and parking lots cannot be confirmed from independent sources.

The rumored atomic claim	Matching results	reason	Corresponding documents
Completed in 1957 (Showa 32)	support	The Saga Prefectural Archives records that Kitayama Dam was completed in 1957 as the prefecture's first concrete dam.	Saga Prefectural Archives - Kitayama Dam Special Exhibition
106 houses were submerged at the bottom of the lake.	Unconfirmed	While the archives document the flooding of 11 districts and the relocation of 110 households, the same indicator of 106 houses being flooded cannot be found.	No official data available for direct comparison.
A female ghost was sighted in the "Tunnel of Happiness".	Unconfirmed	The date and time of the incident, original testimonies, video footage, and audio recordings have not been presented, and there are no corresponding observation records in the public archives.	No official data available for direct comparison.

Alternative interpretation

In tunnels and wooded areas surrounding the dam lake, echoes, wind, rain, wildlife, and the sounds of other users may affect perception. It's also possible that the number of submerged homes and the number of homes relocated were confused during the transmission process. However, without the lineage of the original data or individual experience conditions, it's impossible to determine which explanation is correct.

Scope and limitations of the investigation

The only sources I directly checked were rumor articles and the Kitayama Dam special exhibition page at the Saga Prefectural Archives. I did not check the entire construction ledger, the original records of relocated households, the original testimonies of the phenomenon, recordings, the date and time of occurrence, or the individual management records for each tunnel. The archives materials deal with the history of the dam and are not records intended for the purpose of investigating the strange occurrences.

Verification results: Partial match

The comparable claim of completion in 1957 was supported by archive documents, but the number 106 units could not be confirmed using the same indicators, and there are no independent documents for several of the phenomena. Because the supported completion year and the unconfirmed number of units/phenomena coexist, it is only a "partial agreement." The relocation record of 110 units is included as new information that clarifies the background of the rumor.

Document Quality Score

Source transparency	27/30	By directly obtaining the individual articles in question and the exhibit materials from the Saga Prefectural Archives, we were able to compare the completion year and relocation records on a case-by-case basis.
Historical and spatial context	24/25	The purpose of construction, completion year, areas submerged, number of households relocated, agricultural water use, and hydroelectric power generation can all be traced in detail using archive documents.
Safety information	17/20	It is necessary to differentiate between different management environments such as dam lakes, tunnels, and campgrounds, and to prioritize regulations at the waterfront and facility areas.
Newness of information	11/15	The prefectural documents were updated in 2023, and the rumors are dated 2025, but the timing of each phenomenon and current access conditions need to be checked separately.
Transparency of the source of rumors	7/10	The facility name and the phenomenon are specific, but the first mention, the person who experienced it, the date of occurrence, accident records, and original recordings or photographs are not provided.
total	86/100	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

Please observe the restrictions on access to the dam body, water intake facilities, and access roads, and do not carelessly approach the water's edge or dark tunnels. Check the latest information regarding operating hours, weather, and management at campgrounds and surrounding facilities.

Map location: We used the coordinates confirmed as the embankment of Kitayama Dam in publicly available geographic information.

Check the area around Kitayama Dam on Google Maps.

3rd Place: Saga Castle Park (Soap Bubble Park) | Unmeasurable (75 points)

The rumored details

The rumor-posting page registers Saga Castle Park (Soap Bubble Park) as a park and castle ruin in Saga City and claims that "three suicides have been confirmed there." Furthermore, it includes a description that "a young man committed suicide in the early morning of February 2023," while the summary on the same page explains that "there have been no ghost sightings or paranormal phenomena." No links to official records or news reports that would serve as evidence for these events are provided.

Source of the rumor and date of verification

The source of the rumor is a page on the user-submitted website "National Ghost Map," with an update date of February 14, 2023. The page itself warns that it lacks primary information and contains unverified content, and shows zero personal accounts, news articles, and comments. It is treated as an example of secondary publication where the original source and contributor cannot be confirmed.

• Nationwide Haunted Map - Saga Castle Park (Soap Bubble Park)(Date confirmed: 2026-09-17) — While it states that "three suicides have been confirmed" and "a young man committed suicide in the early morning hours of this month (February 2023)," it also indicates that there is a lack of primary information and that the information is unconfirmed.

Things that could be confirmed from official and primary source materials

Regarding the broader Saga Castle Park area, which the rumor page refers to as Saga Castle Park (Soap Bubble Park), the park administrator explains that it is a prefectural urban park encompassing the Saga Castle ruins, a history museum, a museum, an art museum, a library, and other facilities, covering approximately 33.2 hectares and surrounded by a moat. Development began in 1961, and has continued, including the restoration of the eastern moat. The park's pathways around the moat have a total length of approximately 4 kilometers. There is no mention of the number of people mentioned in the rumor or any information confirming the events of February 2023.

• Saga Castle Park Management Office/Park Overview(Confirmed on 2026-09-17) — It describes Saga Castle Park as "located in the heart of Saga City, the prefectural capital," and "a park surrounded by a moat, a place of relaxation for the citizens of the prefecture." It also mentions a planned area of approximately 33.2 hectares, restoration work on the eastern moat, and a park path of approximately 4 kilometers around the moat.

Points of agreement/contradictions

Administrator documents confirm the location, size, and development history of Saga Castle Park, which is surrounded by a moat. However, the park overview obtained does not include any accident records corresponding to the rumored "three people" or the events of February 2023. Since the park overview is not an accident log, the lack of information alone does not mean that the rumor is inconsistent. Furthermore, the statement "no phenomena occurred" on the page coexists with descriptions of a haunted spot in another section, and the explanation of the source of the rumor itself is inconsistent.

The rumored atomic claim	Matching results	reason	Corresponding documents
Three suicides have been confirmed.	Unconfirmed	The rumor page lacks references to official records or news reports, and the park administrator's profile does not include individual accident records, so it cannot be verified.	No official data available for direct comparison.
A young man committed suicide in the early morning of February 2023.	Unconfirmed	The date of the incident, news reports, institutional records, and the source of the poster are not provided, making a direct comparison with independently obtained materials impossible.	No official data available for direct comparison.
There have been no reports of ghost sightings or paranormal activity.	Unconfirmed	This is an explanation from the rumor posting page, and the administrator's documentation is not a record of observations or investigations into the phenomenon's absence.	No official data available for direct comparison.

Alternative interpretation

The landscape—moat, trees, castle ruins, and quiet nighttime paths—may have created an unsettling impression, potentially leading to its association with an unsubstantiated event. It's also possible that automatically generated summaries and classifications on user-submitted pages repeated strong language without specific evidence, but this cannot be confirmed as there are no records indicating the transmission route.

Scope and limitations of the investigation

The only sources I directly verified were the designated rumor page and the park overview provided by the Saga Castle Park administrator. I did not obtain any records from the police, fire department, media, or judicial sources that could individually verify the events. The administrator's documents are intended to explain the facilities and maintenance, and do not comprehensively record whether or not the events mentioned in the rumors actually occurred.

Verification result: Unmeasurable

Based on the independent sources obtained, we could neither confirm nor deny the rumored number of people and the events of February 2023. While the existence of the park, its moat, and its maintenance history can be confirmed, these do not constitute evidence of any events or supernatural occurrences. All core claims are unconfirmed, and since there is no direct support, contradiction, or new discovery that satisfies the requirements, they are "unmeasurable."

Document Quality Score

Source transparency	25/30	I directly obtained the rumored page and an overview of the park's designated manager, but I could not find any independent records corresponding to the rumored events.
Historical and spatial context	20/25	You can check the park's boundaries as a prefectural urban park, its moats, area, the year development began, the restoration of the eastern moat, and the length of the park paths in the administrator's documents.
Safety information	16/20	While the area will be open to the public as an urban park, it is essential to prioritize the use of the waterfront, pathways, and surrounding facilities, as well as consideration for neighbors.
Newness of information	10/15	The administrator site displays update information for 2026, but the description on the rumor page is from 2023 and lacks supporting documentation.
Transparency of the source of rumors	4/10	The number of people and the month are listed, but there is a warning about a lack of primary source information, and the date of occurrence, source, news report, and poster cannot be confirmed.
total	75/100	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

Please avoid getting too close to the moat's waterline and use the designated pathways and public areas. Avoid making noise at night or disrupting the use of surrounding facilities, and prioritize following instructions from management regarding construction areas, restricted access, and other necessary information.

Map location: We used coordinates confirmed to be within the area of Shabon-dama Park using publicly available geographic information.

Check the area around Saga Castle Park (Soap Bubble Park) on Google Maps.

What I learned by crossing locations

At Nanatsugama and Kitayama Dam, we were able to compare the material claims included in the rumors, such as completion year, designation, structure, and relocation records, with official documents, but we could not confirm any information about voices or appearances from independent sources. At Nanatsugama, several specific facts are supported, but the phenomena remain unconfirmed. At Kitayama Dam, the completion date of 1957 is consistent, but the indicators and numbers for the number of houses submerged or relocated differ between the rumors and official documents. At Saga Castle Park, although administrator documents show the moat and park history, they do not contain records dealing with the events mentioned in the rumors, so we could neither confirm nor deny them.

summary

At Nanatsugama, which ranked first in document quality, we were able to confirm from the Karatsu Tourism Association's documents that it is a national natural monument and that the largest sea cave is 110 meters deep. While the completion date of Kitayama Dam in 1957 matches, the public archives record that 110 households were relocated from 11 districts, contrary to the rumored description of 106 households. We were able to confirm the moat and the actual state of Saga Castle Park as a park, but the events mentioned in the rumors could not be independently confirmed. At all locations, it is necessary to distinguish between the factual accounts of the strange occurrences and the actual existence of the phenomena.

FAQ

Does "partially matching" mean that the supernatural phenomenon actually exists?

This does not mean that only some of the specific facts included in the rumors, such as the year of completion, cultural property designation, and structure, are supported by independent sources, while the rest, including the phenomenon, remains unconfirmed.

What is the difference between "unmeasurable" and "inconsistent"?

Inconsistency occurs when independent sources clearly present different facts regarding the subject, date, use, or events. "Unmeasurable" is used when there are no records for direct comparison, making it impossible to proceed with either affirmation or denial.

Is it okay to visit the listed locations at night?

This article does not encourage nighttime visits or daredevil activities. Prioritize local regulations and guidance from administrators when visiting cliffs, waterfronts, dam facilities, and managed areas, and do not enter restricted areas.