[2026 Latest] Top 3 Paranormal Rumors Ranking of 3 Castle Ruins in Ibaraki Prefecture, Comparing Rumors and Official Records

This study compares the information found in online paranormal reports about the castle ruins of Ibaraki Prefecture—Sabashiyama (Kasama Castle ruins), Tarasaki Castle ruins, and Obata Castle ruins—with historical records published by local governments. Paranormal reports are treated as such, and only claims that can be specifically compared, such as the castle's age, remains, legends, and access information, are considered.

Survey methods and evaluation criteria

For each location, I first read the separate rumor-posting pages and analyzed the specific atomic claims written there. Then, I checked the official local government pages and compared the existence of the subject, records as a historical site, dates, remains, legends, and management precautions. The judgments were categorized into five levels: agreement (agreement on core claims), partial agreement (coexistence of support and unconfirmed points), disagreement (official records directly indicate contradictory facts), indetermination (insufficient evidence for direct comparison), and new facts (meaningful official information not found in the rumors). The judgments were made on a claim-by-claim basis, not based on the quantity of information or the level of frighteningness.

1st Place: Mt. Sabayama (Kasama Castle Ruins) | Unmeasurable (91 points)

The rumored details

The page listing rumors includes stories about a female ghost appearing at Mt. Sashiro (the site of Kasama Castle), such as a woman's face appearing in an old well, a ghost standing in front of the well, and that those who find and look into all four wells will be cursed or spirited away. It also includes claims of a samurai ghost in the Sashiro Mountain Tunnel and that children's handprints appear on cars at night.

Source of the rumor and date of verification

The page I checked was the Sashiroyama (Kasama Castle Ruins) page on the National Haunted Map. The page lists female ghosts, wells, tunnels, etc., as haunted places, but the incidents and accidents section says "No news." Since I cannot independently verify the original publication or individual experiences, I will treat this as a secondary publication or an unknown source.

• Nationwide Haunted Map: Mt. Sashiro (Kasama Castle Ruins)(Confirmed on 2026-10-04) — A rumored paranormal phenomenon at Sashiroyama (Kasama Castle Ruins). The ghost of a woman appears. There is an old well here, and it is said that a person who was assaulted was thrown into the well and left there.

Things that could be confirmed from official and primary source materials

The Kasama City Tourism Information website explains that Kasama Castle, built on the summit of Mt. Sabayama, was the residence of successive lords of Kasama for approximately 750 years, and mentions the remains of the moat, the stone walls, and the Sashino Shrine in the castle keep enclosure. It also clearly states the damage to the stone walls and steps caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake, as well as the restricted areas around the castle keep. There is no mention of the female ghost, the curse of the well, or the samurai ghost in the tunnel.

• Kasama City Official Site: Kasama Castle Ruins(Confirmed on 2026-10-04) — Kasama Castle was built on the summit of Mt. Sashiro. For approximately 750 years, from its construction by Kasama Tokitomo (1203-1265) during the Kamakura period, it served as the residence of successive lords of Kasama. Currently, traces of the moat and stone walls remain.

Points of agreement/contradictions

Official documents confirm that Kasama Castle ruins are located on the summit of Mt. Sabayama and include moats, stone walls, and the Sashino Shrine. However, no official records can be found to support the various claims made in the rumors, such as the ghost of a woman, a face appearing when looking into a well, being cursed by four wells, the ghost of a samurai in a tunnel, or the handprint on a car. The existence of the object and the existence of the supernatural phenomena are separate issues.

The rumored atomic claim	Matching results	reason	Corresponding documents
A female ghost appears	Unconfirmed	Although it is listed on the rumors page, the official Kasama City castle ruins guide does not record any sightings of a female ghost.	No official data available for direct comparison.
You will be cursed if you find and look into all four wells.	Unconfirmed	The official website describes the castle ruins, including the moat, stone walls, shrine, and restricted areas, but there are no records confirming the four wells or the curse.	No official data available for direct comparison.

Alternative interpretation

Environmental factors such as mountain paths, tunnels, well ruins, dark areas, and acoustic and lighting conditions may have influenced the interpretation of experiences like faces, voices, and handprints. However, it is not possible to determine the cause of individual phenomena from the current data, and this is merely a possible alternative interpretation.

Scope and limitations of the investigation

The official Kasama City website provides information on the history of the castle ruins, remains, transportation, disaster recovery, and restricted areas, and is not a resource for verifying supernatural occurrences or individual eyewitness accounts. The locations of the four wells, the origin of the rumors, and the date and time the child's handprints appeared could not be determined from the materials we directly examined.

Verification result: Unmeasurable

Official documents confirm the location of Kasama Castle ruins, its history, remains, and restricted areas. However, there are no records that directly support or refute the rumors surrounding the female ghost, the face/curse/disappearance in the well, the samurai ghost in the tunnel, or the handprint on the car. Since the mere existence of the subject cannot be used as evidence of paranormal activity, it has been deemed immeasurable due to a lack of comparable evidence.

Document Quality Score

Source transparency	27/30	We have separated the source of the rumors from the official Kasama City website, and have not confused individual claims of supernatural occurrences with the official history.
Historical and spatial context	24/25	The age of the castle's builder, its history of approximately 750 years, the moat, the stone walls, and the shrine have all been officially confirmed.
Safety information	19/20	The information is specific regarding restricted areas near the castle tower, earthquake damage, traffic, and parking precautions.
Newness of information	13/15	I checked the current status information on the official website and the rumor page, which shows an update date of 2026.
Transparency of the source of rumors	8/10	I checked the source of the rumor and the news section, and treated it as having an unknown origin.
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

The official guide from Kasama City explains that the stone walls and steps were damaged in the earthquake, and there are restricted areas near the castle keep. Do not enter the restricted areas, be careful of parking during strong winds, fallen trees and branches, and avoid exploring at night.

Map location: This is a representative coordinate indicating the vicinity of the summit of Mt. Sashiro. Please prioritize the restricted areas indicated in the official guide.

Check the area around Mt. Sahaku (Kasama Castle Ruins) on Google Maps.

2nd Place: Obata Castle Ruins | Partial Match (90 points)

The rumored details

The page listing the rumors mentions that "the ghost of a young girl appears" at the Obata Castle ruins, and lists a legend that a princess threw herself into a well holding a golden bird when the castle fell, descriptions of suicides by hanging and the discovery of skeletal remains around the well, and sightings of the ghosts of fallen warriors and suicide victims. Here, we will treat each of these as separate claims.

Source of the rumor and date of verification

The page I checked was the Obata Castle Ruins page on the National Haunted Map website. The page itself is a paranormal spot introduction based on user submissions, and the news section for incidents and accidents displays "No news available." Therefore, the descriptions of the girl's ghost and the skeletal remains are quoted as rumors published on the same page and are not treated as independent official incident records. The original publication could not be confirmed, so it is listed as a secondary publication or of unknown origin.

• Nationwide Haunted Map: Obata Castle Ruins(Confirmed on 2026-10-04) — The ghost of a young girl appears. There is a well where, according to legend, a princess threw herself into while holding a golden bird when the castle fell. Suicides by hanging and skeletal remains have been discovered around the well.

Things that could be confirmed from official and primary source materials

The official website of Ibaraki Town designates the Obata Castle ruins as a historical site of Ibaraki Town, and states that a sad legend remains about the well in the main enclosure, saying that "a princess holding a golden bird threw herself into the well when the castle fell." On the other hand, it explains that the builder and year of construction are unknown, but that archaeological excavations suggest it was built in the 15th century. The website also officially confirms the remains such as deep dry moats and complex enclosures, the dimly lit grounds, and the warning not to cross the fence.

• Guide to Obata Castle Ruins, a designated historical site of Ibaraki Town(Confirmed on 2026-10-04) — A sad legend remains about the well in the main keep, where a princess, holding a golden bird, threw herself when the castle fell. The grounds of Obata Castle are dimly lit, so please be careful of your footing when visiting. Also, please do not cross the fence.

Points of agreement/contradictions

The legend that the princess threw herself into the well can be found on both the rumor-posting page and the Ibaraki Town official website. However, the official website does not record any information about the ghost of the girl, suicide by hanging, skeletal remains, or the spirits of fallen warriors or suicide victims mentioned in the rumors. Official documents support legends and material descriptions of historical sites, not supernatural phenomena or specific incidents.

The rumored atomic claim	Matching results	reason	Corresponding documents
Legend says that when the castle fell, the princess threw herself into a well, clutching a golden bird.	support	The official website of Ibaraki Town also states that there is a legend that a princess, holding a golden bird, threw herself into the well in the main castle grounds.	Guide to Obata Castle Ruins, a designated historical site of Ibaraki Town
The ghost of a young girl appears	Unconfirmed	Although it is mentioned on the page where the rumors are posted, the official Ibaraki Town historical site guide that we obtained does not contain any record confirming the existence of a girl's ghost.	No official data available for direct comparison.
There are reports of suicides by hanging and the discovery of skeletal remains around the well.	Unconfirmed	Aside from the information on the rumored page, we could not find any records of specific deaths or the discovery of skeletal remains on the official page.	No official data available for direct comparison.

Alternative interpretation

It's possible that real-world elements like wells, deep moats, and dimly lit passageways were linked to the legend of the princess and the impressions of the nighttime environment. However, this is merely a possible psychological and environmental explanation, and not evidence to negate or prove the rumored paranormal phenomena.

Scope and limitations of the investigation

The official page we checked is a guide explaining the history, legends, remains, and visitor precautions of the historical site, and does not contain comprehensive police records or individual death cases. The original source of the paranormal map posts, as well as the specific date and location of the skeletal remains mentioned in the rumors, cannot be determined from this information alone.

Verification results: Partial match

The claim that "there is a legend that the princess threw herself into the well" is consistent with rumors and the official Ibaraki Town website. On the other hand, claims that "the ghost of a young girl appears," "suicides by hanging and skeletal remains have been discovered around the well," and "the ghosts of fallen warriors and suicide victims have been sighted" cannot be confirmed in the official records obtained. When separating the records of legends from the actual occurrences of strange phenomena and incidents, there is a partial agreement because both support and unconfirmed aspects coexist.

Document Quality Score

Source transparency	28/30	This is because the rumor page and the Ibaraki Town official page were presented separately, separating the legends and supernatural occurrences into individual claims.
Historical and spatial context	23/25	We were able to confirm the unique context of the historical site, including its estimated 15th-century origins, castle remains, and legends about a well.
Safety information	18/20	The official website provides specific visitor information regarding the dimly lit grounds, fences, parking, and restrooms.
Newness of information	13/15	I was able to confirm the update date of the official announcement and the 2026 update indication on the rumor page.
Transparency of the source of rumors	8/10	The source of the rumor, update status, and news section status were clearly indicated, and the initial publication date was listed as unknown.
total	90/100	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 official guide from Ibaraki Town advises visitors to be careful of their footing due to the dim lighting on the premises, not to climb over fences, and not to park their cars anywhere other than the designated parking area. Avoid exploring at night or trespassing on private property, and please check the latest local information.

Map location: This is a representative coordinate indicating the vicinity of the entrance as shown in the official guide. Please prioritize the local government's guidance regarding the area accessible on site.

Check the area around Obata Castle ruins on Google Maps.

3rd Place: Tarasaki Castle Ruins | Partial Match (89 points)

The rumored details

The page listing the rumors mentions that "a female ghost appears" and "voices can be heard" at the Tarasaki Castle ruins, and describes the site as an open field with red signs that read "Ichinokido" and "Honmaru." It also mentions numerous accounts of ghost sightings and experiences of hearing a woman's voice.

Source of the rumor and date of verification

The page I checked was the Tarasaki Castle Ruins page on the National Haunted Map website. The incidents and accidents section of the page displays "No news," and personal experiences and comments are placed in the submission section. Here, the female ghost and voice are treated not as independent facts, but as rumors presented on the page. The original source could not be confirmed, so it is listed as a secondary publication or of unknown origin.

• Nationwide Haunted Map: Tarasaki Castle Ruins(Confirmed on 2026-10-04) — A female ghost appears. Voices can be heard. This is the site where Tarasaki Castle once stood, but now there is no trace of it left, only a red sign standing in what looks like an open field.

Things that could be confirmed from official and primary source materials

The official Hitachinaka City page for designated historical sites lists Tarasaki Castle ruins as a castle site from the late Kamakura period to the Nanboku-cho period. It explains that remains such as the main enclosure, second enclosure, third enclosure, dry moat, and earthworks still exist, that fragments of a large Tokoname ware jar were unearthed from the main enclosure, and that the site is designated as an Ibaraki Prefecture Green Space Environment Preservation Area. There is no mention of female spirits or voices.

• Hitachinaka City Official City-Designated Historic Site(Confirmed on 2026-10-04) — Tarasaki Castle Ruins: From the late Kamakura period to the Nanboku-cho period. The main enclosure is located at the highest point on a plateau that juts out like a peninsula into the former Masakiura, with the second and third enclosures built below it. Remains such as dry moats and earthworks crossing the plateau are also well preserved.

Points of agreement/contradictions

The material and historical aspects, such as "the location where Tarasaki Castle once stood" and "the presence of castle elements such as the main enclosure," are consistent with the description of the castle ruins on the Hitachinaka City official website. On the other hand, the claims of numerous experiences of female spirits, voices, earthbound spirits, and paranormal phenomena cannot be corroborated by the official historical site documents we have examined. The red color of the sign and the program description cannot be confirmed on the official website either.

The rumored atomic claim	Matching results	reason	Corresponding documents
The place where the castle once stood looks like an open field.	support	The official Hitachinaka City website lists Tarasaki Castle Ruins as a city-designated historical site and explains the castle's structure and age.	Hitachinaka City Official City-Designated Historic Site
A female ghost appears	Unconfirmed	While the description on the page containing the rumor can be verified, the official city-designated historical site page does not contain any records to support the existence of a female ghost.	No official data available for direct comparison.
I can hear a voice	Unconfirmed	Official historical site records describe the remains and unearthed artifacts, but they do not record voices or individual experiences.	No official data available for direct comparison.

Alternative interpretation

It is possible that the local environment, including the topography of the castle ruins, the surrounding woodlands, sound sources, and the echoes of voices, influenced the interpretation of the personal accounts. However, the collected materials alone are insufficient to identify the specific causes of individual voices, so these remain only possibilities.

Scope and limitations of the investigation

The official website is a resource that explains the age, structure, excavated artifacts, and designation information of cultural properties; it is not a record of investigations into nighttime sounds or individual eyewitness accounts. The date, time, speaker, and sound source location indicated in the experiences shared on the rumors page cannot be verified, and the current state of the red sign cannot be confirmed from the official documents alone.

Verification results: Partial match

The claim that this is the site of Tarasaki Castle, with remnants such as the main enclosure, is supported by official records, but the claims that "a female ghost appears," "voices can be heard," and "there are numerous accounts of experiences with vengeful spirits and paranormal phenomena" remain unconfirmed. Since the supported historical site information and the unsupported paranormal claims coexist on the same rumor page, we have listed them as partially consistent.

Document Quality Score

Source transparency	29/30	Rumors and official city cultural property documents are listed separately, allowing for the comparison of historical site elements and supernatural elements.
Historical and spatial context	24/25	We specifically confirmed the date, the main enclosure, baileys, dry moats, earthworks, excavated artifacts, and designated information.
Safety information	14/20	The official documents primarily focus on cultural property information, and details regarding local safety are limited, so we have given them a conservative evaluation.
Newness of information	14/15	I checked the 2025 update date on the city's official website and the 2026 update date on the rumors page.
Transparency of the source of rumors	8/10	I recorded the source and the status of the news section, and clearly indicated that the first publication was unknown.
total	89/100	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

Tarasaki Castle Ruins is a city-designated historical site. When visiting, please do not damage the remains and do not trespass on private property or in areas restricted by management regulations. Avoid exploring at night or staying for extended periods while making loud noises, and prioritize local signage and the latest information from the local government.

Map Location: This is a representative coordinate showing the area around the location of the official cultural property record. Please prioritize on-site signage regarding the extent of the remains and whether entry is permitted.

Check the area around Tarasaki Castle ruins on Google Maps.

What I learned by crossing locations

At all three locations, the pages listing the rumors include place names and locations of castle ruins, but there is no official record confirming the occurrence of supernatural phenomena. At Sashiroyama (Kasama Castle Ruins), official records specifically describe the history of the castle and restricted areas, but no descriptions supporting claims of a well or ghost can be found. At Tarasaki Castle Ruins, the main enclosure, second enclosure, third enclosure, dry moat, and earthworks are connected in the official records and the rumored historical site description, but no female ghost or voice has been confirmed. At Obata Castle Ruins, the legend of a well and a princess is also mentioned on the official page, so it is necessary to distinguish between the existence of the legend and the actual existence of supernatural phenomena.

summary

Official documents from three locations confirmed the existence of the castle ruins, their remains, legends, and management information. However, the official documents obtained did not confirm any supernatural claims such as the ghosts of women or girls, voices, or curses for looking into the wells. Only the Obata Castle ruins include the legend of the princess and the well, which is mentioned in local government documents, but this is a record of legend and not proof of any supernatural occurrence. Avoid nighttime exploration and entering restricted areas, and prioritize the latest information from each local government when verifying information on-site.

FAQ

Is it inconsistent if a rumor isn't on the official website?

No. We do not consider something to be a discrepancy simply because it is not mentioned in official documents. If there are no records that can be directly compared, we consider it unmeasurable. We only consider it a discrepancy if the opposite date or use is indicated.

Is the legend of the well at the Obata Castle ruins evidence of a supernatural phenomenon?

The local government's website records the existence of the legend, so we can confirm that the legend is being told. However, this is not official evidence that the ghost of the princess or the ghost of the suicide victim actually exists.

May I visit the location?

Please avoid visiting at night or entering private property or restricted areas. At Mt. Sashiro (Kasama Castle Ruins), there are signs indicating restricted areas near the castle keep, and at Obata Castle Ruins, visitors are instructed not to climb over fences and to watch their footing.