[2026 Latest] Top 3 Ranking of Paranormal Rumors Related to Tunnels in Southern Kyushu and Okinawa

We investigated three locations in southern Kyushu that are featured as settings for ghost stories: rumor pages, official or facility websites, and locations where we could directly verify coordinates. We compared not only the presence or absence of paranormal activity, but also specific claims such as construction date, official name, structure, cultural property designation, and use as a road. The rankings and scores are not based on how scary or dangerous each location is, but rather an evaluation of the quality of the materials, summing up transparency of the source, historical and spatial context, safety information, recency of the information, and transparency of the source of the rumor.

Survey methods and evaluation criteria

Rumors are divided into short atomic claims, and if independent sources fully support the same subject, facts, and polarity, it is considered a "match"; if support and unconfirmed information coexist, it is considered a "partial match"; and if there are directly contradictory facts, it is considered a "discrepancy." If there is no comparable evidence, it is considered "unmeasurable," and only if a direct comparison cannot be established, if important information not present in the rumor can be confirmed by independent sources, it is considered a "new fact." The existence of a location or facility alone is not used to support a supernatural phenomenon, and the publication of the rumor itself is not treated as proof of the phenomenon. Even if new discoveries are made, at points where a match, partial match, or discrepancy is established, that determination takes precedence.

1st place: Yamakariya Tunnel | Partial match (93 points)

The rumored details

The National Haunted Map describes the Yamakariya Tunnel as "the first road tunnel in Miyazaki Prefecture, connecting Miyazaki and Kiyotake," and states that "construction began in 1891 and was completed the following year, 1892." On the other hand, it also mentions that in the late Edo period, "the Yamashina settlement existed, and a killer appeared, claiming many lives," and that the old Obi Road was called a demon's lair. It also includes rumors that "the area around the tunnel at night has an eerie atmosphere and is haunted."

Source of the rumor and date of verification

I directly verified the location pages of the National Haunted Map as an example of secondary publication on September 24, 2026. The page itself clearly states the lack of primary information and unconfirmed content, and since the first record, date of occurrence, and witnesses for the stories and appearances from the late Edo period are not indicated, they are treated as having an unknown first appearance.

• Nationwide Haunted Map: "Yamakariya Tunnel"(Verification Date: 2026-09-24) — It states that the Yamakariya Tunnel was the first road tunnel in the prefecture, connecting Miyazaki and Kiyotake, and that construction began in 1891 (Meiji 24) and was completed in 1892 (Meiji 25). While it also introduces the Yamashina settlement in the late Edo period, a murder, numerous victims, and accounts of nighttime appearances, it clearly states that there is a lack of primary information and that some of the content is unconfirmed.

Things that could be confirmed from official and primary source materials

The Miyazaki Prefectural Cultural Properties Division's webpage describes the Yamakariya Tunnel as the prefecture's first road tunnel, connecting Miyazaki and Kiyotake, stating that construction began in 1891 and was completed in 1892. It also records that the side walls were built in the English style, the arch in stretcher bond, and that high-quality bricks were used. The Yamakariya Tunnel was designated a tangible cultural property of Miyazaki Prefecture on October 22, 1998. Its location is said to be Kitakawachi, Kitago-cho, Nichinan City, but there are no records of victims or sightings from the late Edo period on the same page.

• Miyazaki Prefecture Cultural Properties Division, "Yamakariya Tunnel"(Confirmed on 2026-09-24) — Designated by: Prefecture; Type: Tangible Cultural Property; Date of Designation: October 22, 1998; Location: Kitakawachi, Kitago-cho, Nichinan City. This tunnel was the first road tunnel in the prefecture, connecting Miyazaki and Kiyotake. Construction began in 1891 and was completed in 1892. It is explained that the side walls were constructed in the English style, and the arch section was constructed using the stretcher bond method.

Points of agreement/contradictions

Official documents support the purpose of its construction, its status as the first of its kind in the prefecture, the start of construction in 1891 (Meiji 24), and its completion in 1892 (Meiji 25). The explanation of the brickwork can also be independently verified. On the other hand, the history of a serial killer appearing in the Yamashina settlement, resulting in numerous casualties, and the claim that something appears at night, cannot be directly compared from official sources. Because the supported construction history and unconfirmed legends coexist, we have listed them as partially consistent.

The rumored atomic claim	Matching results	reason	Corresponding documents
Miyazaki Prefecture's first road tunnel connecting Kiyotake	support	The Miyazaki Prefectural Cultural Properties Division has clearly stated that it is related to the same section of the road and is the first road tunnel in the prefecture.	Miyazaki Prefecture Cultural Properties Division, "Yamakariya Tunnel"
Construction began in 1891 (Meiji 24) and was completed the following year, 1892 (Meiji 25).	support	The official cultural property page also records the same dates, with construction beginning in 1891 (Meiji 24) and completion the following year, 1892 (Meiji 25).	Miyazaki Prefecture Cultural Properties Division, "Yamakariya Tunnel"
The Yamashina settlement existed, and a killer was known to frequent the area, resulting in many casualties.	Unconfirmed	The acquired cultural property records deal with the history and techniques of construction, but they do not record the people involved in this legend, the time period, or the damage.	No official data available for direct comparison.
The area around the tunnel at night has an eerie atmosphere and is said to be haunted.	Unconfirmed	There is no record of the phenomenon, such as the date of the experience or observation data, and there is no record of the phenomenon corresponding to the cultural property page.	No official data available for direct comparison.

Alternative interpretation

The Meiji-era brick construction, the old road within the forest, the damp walls, the contrast with outside light, and the reverberating environment of the mine could strongly convey a sense of time gap and confinement. However, since the acoustics and illumination at the site have not been measured, it is not possible to definitively link individual experiences to natural conditions.

Scope and limitations of the investigation

While I checked the construction history, brickwork techniques, designation status, and location in the records of the Miyazaki Prefectural Cultural Properties Division, I have not been able to obtain contemporary historical materials to corroborate the legend from the late Edo period. The rumor page also lacks the date and time of the experience, original records, video, and audio, and therefore lacks the observational information necessary to support or refute the sighting stories.

Verification results: Partial match

Of the specific claims included in the rumors, the fact that it was the first road tunnel in the prefecture, that construction began in 1891, and that it was completed in 1892, matches the cultural property records of Miyazaki Prefecture. However, there are no independent documents corresponding to the legends of the assassin and the victims, or the stories of nighttime appearances. This is only a partial agreement, limiting the scope of confirmation to the construction history rather than extending the support for the supernatural phenomena solely based on the existence of a historical facility.

Document Quality Score

Source transparency	29/30	By directly obtaining the rumor page and the individual page from the Miyazaki Prefectural Cultural Properties Division, we were able to clearly separate folklore from official records.
Historical and spatial context	25/25	The purpose of construction, the year construction began, the year of completion, the bricklaying techniques, and the date of designation as a cultural property can all be traced through official records.
Safety information	16/20	Taking into account the preservation of cultural properties and the environment of the old road, it is possible to concretize the need for restrictions on entry and avoidance of contact with structures.
Newness of information	14/15	Both pages were retrieved again on September 24, 2026, and their currently published content was reviewed.
Transparency of the source of rumors	9/10	While the text of the rumor and its publication date can be confirmed, the original sources for the legends and personal accounts from the late Edo period are not shown.
total	93/100	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

This is a prefecturally designated tangible cultural property, and you must not touch or damage the bricks or the mine entrance. Check the on-site signs for the condition of the old road, fallen rocks, fallen trees, road shoulders, and traffic restrictions, and avoid exploring at night, entering closed areas, and staying on the road for extended periods.

Map location: Coordinates matching the name of Yamakariya Tunnel in publicly available geographic data.

Check the area around Yamakariya Tunnel on Google Maps.

2nd Place: Kaimon Tunnel (Mikuramoto No. 2 Tunnel) | Partial Match (91 points)

The rumored details

The page featuring paranormal observations explains that the Kaimon Tunnel is officially known as "Mikuramoto Tunnel No. 1" and "Mikuramoto Tunnel No. 2," and notes that it was "completed in 1966." Structurally, it states that there is no artificial lighting, and natural light enters through skylights. The paranormal phenomena listed include "a female ghost appearing in the skylights on the ceiling," "the back seat of a car being wet," handprints on car windows, footsteps, and a woman's voice.

Source of the rumor and date of verification

I directly verified the paranormal investigation article "Kaimon Tunnel | Rumored Ghost Stories" on September 24, 2026, as an example of secondary publication. Although the article was published on January 8, 2025, the original narrator, date of occurrence, and original record of the listed experiences are not indicated, so the first appearance of each rumor is unknown.

• Paranormal Investigation: "Kaimon Tunnel | Rumored Ghost Stories"(Confirmed on 2026-09-24) — The Kaimon Tunnel is identified as the Mikuramoto No. 1 and No. 2 Tunnel, completed in 1966, without artificial lighting, and with natural light entering through skylights. Rumors are also listed, including a woman appearing in the skylights, water getting into the back seat, handprints on the windows, and sounds of voices and footsteps.

Things that could be confirmed from official and primary source materials

The official blog of Kyukamura Ibusuki explains that two tunnels, including the Kaimon Tunnel (Mikuramoto No. 2 Tunnel), were built in 1966. The Mikuramoto No. 1 Tunnel on the Ei side is 152 meters long, and the Mikuramoto No. 2 Tunnel on the Ibusuki side is 625 meters long, and together they are called the Kaimon Tunnel. It can also be seen that there are no electric lights, there are scattered skylights at the top, and there is a skeletal section called a courtyard between the two tunnels. No sightings or unusual occurrences inside the vehicles are recorded on the same page.

• Kyukamura Ibusuki Official Blog: "We tried going through the Kaimon Tunnel"(Confirmed on 2026-09-24) — The Kaimon Tunnel runs south of Mount Kaimon and was built in 1966. The Mikuramoto No. 1 Tunnel on the Ei side is 152m long, and the Mikuramoto No. 2 Tunnel on the Ibusuki side is 625m long; together they are called the Kaimon Tunnel. It is described as having no electric lights, with scattered skylights at the top.

Points of agreement/contradictions

The two official names, construction date (1966), lack of lighting, and specific structural features such as skylights all match those on the facility's official website. The official website also describes each extension and the intermediate courtyard, allowing for a detailed examination of the physical background. However, there are no corresponding management records regarding the presence appearing in the skylights, the water damage to the rear seats, handprints, voices, or footsteps. Due to the coexistence of supported and unconfirmed information, it is listed as a partial match.

The rumored atomic claim	Matching results	reason	Corresponding documents
They are officially known as "Mikuramoto Tunnel No. 1" and "Mikuramoto Tunnel No. 2".	support	The official blog of Kyukamura Ibusuki clearly states both the official names and the common name that combines both.	Kyukamura Ibusuki Official Blog: "We tried going through the Kaimon Tunnel"
Completed in 1966	support	The facility's official blog also explains that the two tunnels were built in 1966.	Kyukamura Ibusuki Official Blog: "We tried going through the Kaimon Tunnel"
A female ghost appears in the skylight in the ceiling.	Unconfirmed	The official page only describes the physical existence of the skylight and does not include any observational records indicating its appearance.	No official data available for direct comparison.
The back seat of the car is wet.	Unconfirmed	The date and time of the incident, the vehicle involved, the source of the moisture, images, and inspection records are unavailable, making direct comparison with independent sources impossible.	No official data available for direct comparison.

Alternative interpretation

In long sections without streetlights, localized light entering through skylights, the movement of vehicle lights, moisture on the road and walls, and reverberations within the tunnel can enhance visual and auditory impressions. The abrupt changes in light and openness between the two tunnels may also influence the experience, but there is no measurement data to explain individual experiences.

Scope and limitations of the investigation

I checked the facility's official blog for its name, construction year, length, lighting, skylights, and the structure of the middle section, but I did not cross-reference it with the road administrator's inspection log or individual accident records. The rumor page also lacks original photographs, recordings, vehicles, dates, and weather conditions, and there is insufficient reproducible evidence to support or refute the paranormal claims.

Verification results: Partial match

The official name, construction date (1966), two-story configuration, lack of lights, and skylights are supported by the facility's official website. However, there are no records to directly compare the presence of a woman, the wet rear seat, handprints, voices, or footsteps. The partial matches are limited to the structure and date, and the presence of skylights should not be treated as evidence of the sighting.

Document Quality Score

Source transparency	28/30	I was able to obtain the rumor page and the official article from Kyukamura Ibusuki separately and compare them to see if they made the same structural claims.
Historical and spatial context	23/25	It's possible to trace the construction year, official name, two extensions, lack of lighting, skylights, and even the intermediate section in detail.
Safety information	18/20	Based on the conditions of travel, such as the lack of lights, long and narrow roads, and the presence of windows for natural light, the dangers of nighttime driving and stopping can be concretely identified.
Newness of information	13/15	I retrieved the facility's official article, originally published in September 2025, on September 24, 2026, and reviewed its contents.
Transparency of the source of rumors	9/10	The text of the rumor is clear, but the date of occurrence, original record, and first narrator of each individual experience are 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

This is a narrow road with long stretches of unlit road. Avoid exploring at night, stopping on the road, and lingering on foot. Use your headlights and slow down sufficiently. Prioritize oncoming vehicles, bicycles, road surface moisture, and local traffic restrictions, and do not enter closed areas.

Map location: Coordinates indicating the vicinity of the center of the Mikuramoto No. 2 Tunnel section at the mouth of the Kaimon River.

Check the area around Kaimon Tunnel (Mikuramoto Tunnel No. 2) on Google Maps.

3rd place: Takeoka Tunnel | Unmeasurable (71 points)

The rumored details

The nationwide paranormal map lists the Takeoka Tunnel as a place where "the ghost of an old man appears." It explains that "a suicide by hanging is said to have occurred in this tunnel in the past," and continues, "since then, it has become known as a haunted spot where accidents frequently occur," and "furthermore, there is a cemetery above the tunnel." There are also stories that something terrible will happen if you throw trash in there, but no corresponding official news is listed on the page.

Source of the rumor and date of verification

The location page of the National Haunted Map was directly verified on September 24, 2026, as an example of secondary publication. The location is said to have been registered on December 5, 2012, but the date of occurrence, the parties involved, the original news reports, and the first publication medium for each claim (suicide, accident, cemetery, old man) are not indicated, so it is treated as having an unknown first appearance.

• Nationwide Haunted Map: "Takeoka Tunnel"(Verification Date: 2026-09-24) — The page includes rumors about an old man appearing in the Takeoka Tunnel, a history of suicide by hanging, frequent accidents, a cemetery above the tunnel, and that terrible things will happen if you throw garbage in there. The news section for incidents and accidents on the page displays "No news available."

Things that could be confirmed from official and primary source materials

The Kagoshima Prefecture Cultural and Artistic Information Website provides directions to the Nagashima Museum of Art by car, stating, "10 minutes from Kagoshima IC towards Kagoshima city via Takeoka Tunnel." This confirms that the Takeoka Tunnel is treated as an active traffic route towards Kagoshima city. However, this official page does not record the appearance of the old man, the suicide, the frequent accidents, the cemetery, or any unusual occurrences after the garbage was dumped, and does not directly support or refute any of the rumored claims.

• Nagashima Museum of Art, Kagoshima Prefecture's cultural and artistic information website.(Confirmed on 2026-09-24) — The Nagashima Museum of Art's access information states, "By car: 10 minutes from Kagoshima IC on the Kyushu Expressway, via Takeoka Tunnel towards Kagoshima city."

Points of agreement/contradictions

The only public information available confirms that the Takeoka Tunnel is part of the traffic route from the Kagoshima Interchange towards Kagoshima city. The rumors about the old man, past suicides, frequent accidents, and the cemetery above cannot be directly compared in the materials obtained this time. We have not used the mere coincidence of name and route to support the supernatural phenomenon, and have left all core claims unconfirmed.

The rumored atomic claim	Matching results	reason	Corresponding documents
The ghost of an old man appears	Unconfirmed	There is no record of the date and time of the appearance, no video footage, and no original observer records, and no corresponding information is available in official route guidance.	No official data available for direct comparison.
It is said that a suicide by hanging occurred in this tunnel in the past.	Unconfirmed	Independent sources that can identify the same incident, such as the date, location, parties involved, police records, and media reports, have not been provided.	No official data available for direct comparison.
Since then, it has become known as a haunted spot where accidents frequently occur.	Unconfirmed	There are no accident statistics that specify a period and number of incidents, making it impossible to compare the degree of accident frequency with independent data.	No official data available for direct comparison.
Furthermore, there is a cemetery above the tunnel.	Unconfirmed	The public pages obtained only deal with transportation routes and do not include cadastral data that can confirm the land use of the upper land.	No official data available for direct comparison.

Alternative interpretation

On active roads leading to urban areas, traffic volume, exhaust noise, differences in lighting brightness, wall reflections, and fatigue during traffic jams may influence the perception of anxiety and unusual noises. However, the collected data does not include traffic conditions or measurements from individual experiences, making it impossible to definitively identify specific environmental factors as the cause.

Scope and limitations of the investigation

The prefecture's cultural and artistic information page only provides current route guidance and does not contain any data to verify past suicide or accident statistics or the land use of the area above. The rumor page also lacks original news reports, accident statistics, cadastral data, dates of occurrence, and observation records, making it impossible to definitively confirm or contradict the core claims.

Verification result: Unmeasurable

I re-examined the specific claims and official pages related to the rumors I had already obtained, but the only thing I could independently confirm was that it is an active transportation route. This neither supports nor refutes the initial claims in the rumors about an elderly man, suicide, frequent accidents, and a cemetery. I did not make a partial agreement based solely on the matching location and name, and instead clearly indicated the extent of the lack of evidence, making it immeasurable.

Document Quality Score

Source transparency	25/30	I obtained direct access to the rumor page and route information for Kagoshima Prefecture, but there is a lack of official records dealing with the core claims.
Historical and spatial context	10/25	While current transportation routes can be confirmed, the date, location, and history of the events mentioned in the rumors cannot be determined.
Safety information	16/20	Since it is an active urban traffic route, it provides practical advice to avoid stopping or exploring on foot.
Newness of information	13/15	I re-retrieved and checked the Kagoshima Prefecture website's March 2026 update page on September 24, 2026.
Transparency of the source of rumors	7/10	The text of the rumor is readable, but the first appearance and original records of the suicide, accident, cemetery, and sighting stories are not indicated.
total	71/100	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

This is an active transportation route leading to Kagoshima City. Avoid stopping on the road, exploring on foot, driving slowly for photography purposes, and any activities that generate noise. Prioritize the normal flow of traffic, lanes, vehicles ahead, motorcycles, and emergency directions, and do not trespass on surrounding facilities or private property.

Map location: Central coordinates matching the road shape of the Takeoka Tunnel in publicly available geographic data.

Check the area around Takeoka Tunnel on Google Maps.

What I learned by crossing locations

While some of the construction dates and structural details of the Yamakariya Tunnel and Kaimon Tunnel, as described on the rumor page, could be confirmed in independent sources, the legendary victims, ghost sightings, and strange occurrences inside vehicles could not be corroborated. For the Takeoka Tunnel, while it was confirmed that the official page still guides visitors through it as a traffic route, no records were found that allowed for a direct comparison of the various claims in the rumors—about an old man, past suicides, frequent accidents, and a cemetery. Even though they are all tunnel ghost stories, their physical backgrounds differ significantly: one is a Meiji-era civil engineering cultural property, the other a double-decker road with skylights, and the other is an active traffic route in an urban area.

summary

In terms of the quality of documentation, the Yamakariya Tunnel was ranked first, as its construction history and cultural property designation can be traced through official records. The Kaimon Tunnel was ranked second, as its official name, length, construction year, and information on the absence of lighting and the presence of skylights can be confirmed on the facility's official website. While it was confirmed that the Takeoka Tunnel is still an active traffic route, there was insufficient documentation to verify the core of the rumors. The partial similarities between the two locations are based solely on history and structure and do not constitute confirmation of any paranormal activity. It is necessary to avoid nighttime exploration and stopping on the road, and to prioritize local regulations and normal traffic.

FAQ

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

It doesn't mean that. The claims that were supported this time were physical and historical, such as the construction date, official name, length, brickwork technique, lack of lighting, and windows for natural light, but the sightings and any unusual occurrences inside the train remain unconfirmed.

Is the ranking of document quality based on how scary or dangerous they are?

That's incorrect. The ranking is based on the clarity of the source of the rumor and independent documents, historical and spatial information, safety information, and the up-to-dateness of the documents, and does not quantify the truthfulness of the supernatural occurrences or the level of danger at the location.

Does "unmeasurable" mean the rumor is false?

"Unmeasurable" indicates a lack of comparative data sufficient to either support or refute. Unlike "inconsistency," the mere absence of data does not mean the rumor is false.

May I verify the rumors in person?

Nighttime exploration, stopping on roads, noisy activities, and trespassing into closed areas should be avoided. If passage is necessary, prioritize safety by considering dark areas, narrow roads, oncoming traffic, pedestrians, and local regulations.