Regarding three rumors surrounding a park in Yamagata Prefecture, we have broken down the claims made by the source and compared them with publicly available information from the local government and park administrators. Without assuming the existence of supernatural phenomena, we have organized each claim based on what can be confirmed in the text, such as the structure of the castle ruins, the park's uses, events, and mentions of accidents.
Survey methods and evaluation criteria
We will categorize the source of the rumor as "Rumor Description" and the municipal/administrator pages as "Official/Primary Source Materials," and standardize the verification date to 2026-10-05. Claims have been divided not only into experiences of the supernatural, but also into the date, time, event, purpose, structure, and history of the legend as actually stated by the source. "Agreement" means that all of the divided core claims are supported by independent sources; "Partial Agreement" means that specific supporting facts and unconfirmed claims coexist; "Disagreement" means that there are direct contradictions regarding the subject, time period, purpose, events, etc.; "Unmeasurable" means that there are no comparable records and the lack of publication is not used as a basis for denial; and "New Facts" means that a comparative judgment is not possible, but meaningful facts not found in the rumor have been confirmed in official sources. New facts do not prove the existence of the supernatural. Agreement only in location or facility name will not be counted as support for the supernatural. The document quality score is calculated by summing 30 points for source transparency, 25 points for historical and spatial context, 20 points for safety information, 15 points for the recency of the information, and 10 points for the source transparency of rumors. It does not indicate how scary or dangerous something is.
| Rank | point | The main points of the rumor | judgement | Document quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kajo Park (Yamagata Castle Ruins) | The source of the rumor mentions that a male ghost appears and a figure can be seen at "Kajo Park (Yamagata Castle Ruins)." It also states that in the park located on the site of Yamagata Castle, near the former second bailey of the old Yamagata Castle, there is a "blood..." | unmeasurable | 85/100 |
| 2 | Higashizawa Rose Park | The source of the rumors mentions that a female ghost appears at Higashizawa Rose Park, that paranormal photos can be taken there, and that ghosts have been sighted at Juro Falls. Furthermore, there are stories of a car crashing into Higashizawa Reservoir... | unmeasurable | 81/100 |
| 3 | Tendo Park (Maizuru Mountain) | The source of the rumor claims that a female ghost appears at Tendo Park (Maizuru Mountain). It also mentions that the park, located in the center of Tendo City, is "also known as a famous cherry blossom viewing spot" and that "mid-April..." | Partial match | 76/100 |
1st Place: Kajo Park (Yamagata Castle Ruins) | Unmeasurable (85 points)
The rumored details
The source of the rumor states that a male ghost appears and figures can be seen at "Kajo Park (Yamagata Castle Ruins)." It also explains that the park, located on the site of Yamagata Castle, had a "blood-stained cherry tree" near the former second bailey of Yamagata Castle, which withered and collapsed in 1957. Here, we will not accept the rumors and historical legends mentioned on the page as fact, but will treat them as individual claims. The official name of the article is Kajo Park (Yamagata Castle Ruins).
Source of the rumor and date of verification
The source of the external rumor is the Kajō Park (Yamagata Castle Ruins) page on the National Haunted Map website. The page was last updated on 2022/12/29, and it states that there are 0 personal accounts and no news of incidents or accidents. Since the original source of the rumor, the original eyewitness accounts, and primary sources to corroborate the content cannot be identified from the page, it is treated as a secondary publication with an unknown origin.
- Kajo Park (Yamagata Castle Ruins) | Nationwide Haunted Places Map(Confirmed on 2026-10-05) — Kajō Park (Yamagata Castle Ruins) is a park and castle ruin located in Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture, and is considered a haunted spot. It is known as a haunted spot because there are rumors that a male ghost appears there.
Things that could be confirmed from official and primary source materials
The official Yamagata City website describes Kajo Park (Yamagata Castle Ruins) as an urban park of approximately 35.9 hectares in the center of the city, stating that it was developed utilizing the main and second baileys of Yamagata Castle. It also lists the history of the castle, stating that construction began in 1356, and that the current castle structure was built by Mogami Yoshiaki. The website also mentions its designation as a national historic site in 1986, its inclusion as one of Japan's Top 100 Castles in 2006, and provides information on opening hours and parking. The official website does not contain any descriptions of the legend of a male ghost, a human figure, or the blood-stained cherry blossoms.
- About Kajo Park (Yamagata Castle Ruins, a National Historic Site) | Yamagata City Official Website(Confirmed on 2026-10-05) — Kajō Park is an urban park located almost in the center of the city, utilizing the main and second baileys of Yamagata Castle, which cover an area of approximately 35.9 hectares.
Points of agreement/contradictions
The rumored male ghost, the shadowy figure, and the claim of the cherry tree collapsing in 1957 do not directly correspond to the information obtained from the Yamagata City official website. The fact that official documents show the structure and history of the castle ruins and park does not constitute evidence of the supernatural occurrences. We will not consider the lack of information on the official website as a contradiction, and we will consider the comparison between each claim to be immeasurable.
| The rumored atomic claim | Matching results | reason | Corresponding documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| A male ghost appears | Unconfirmed | While the source of the rumor mentions it, the official Yamagata City website that I obtained does not have any records that allow for a direct comparison with this eyewitness claim. | No official data available for direct comparison. |
| A human figure can be seen. | Unconfirmed | Since the date, time, location, and eyewitness records corresponding to the claim of a human figure could not be confirmed from the independent documents obtained this time, this remains unconfirmed. | No official data available for direct comparison. |
| It withered and collapsed in 1957 (Showa 32). | Unconfirmed | We were unable to find any records or primary sources from the official page that would corroborate the specific date explanations on the rumor page. | No official data available for direct comparison. |
Alternative interpretation
The appearance of human figures can vary depending on several general factors such as lighting, trees, passersby, and shooting conditions, but this document lacks on-site observation or image verification. The explanation of the blood-stained cherry tree can only be read as a legend unless the lineage of the historical materials is checked.
Scope and limitations of the investigation
I checked the source of the rumor (1 page) and the official Yamagata City website (1 page). I did not check the first appearance of the rumor, the time and location of the sighting, the original historical materials showing the cherry blossom legend, or official records of former military facilities or individual incidents. I will not conclude that something does not exist simply because it is not mentioned on the official page.
Verification result: Unmeasurable
Regarding Kajō Park (Yamagata Castle Ruins), we could not find any records on the official Yamagata City website that directly corroborate the claims made on the rumor page about a male ghost, a human figure, and the age of the blood-stained cherry blossoms. While the physical context of the park being an urban park utilizing the main and second baileys of Yamagata Castle Ruins can be confirmed, this does not support any supernatural occurrences. As original eyewitness accounts, historical records of the cherry blossom legend, and supporting evidence for individual events remain, it is impossible to determine the core claims.
Document Quality Score
| Source transparency | 26/30 | The rumor page and the Yamagata City official page are presented separately, clearly separating their roles and verification dates. |
|---|---|---|
| Historical and spatial context | 23/25 | Official documents provide detailed information about the castle ruins, including their scale, history, designation as a historical site, and their inclusion in the list of Japan's Top 100 Castles. |
| Safety information | 16/20 | The official guide includes seasonal opening hours, free parking information, and transportation information, allowing you to check essential information for your visit. |
| Newness of information | 13/15 | The Yamagata City official website was last updated on December 24, 2025, and contains newer official information than the last update date on the rumor page. |
| Transparency of the source of rumors | 7/10 | The page where the rumor was posted and its update date are clearly indicated, but the original source or the first record from the person who experienced it is not shown. |
| total | 85/100 | 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
According to the official Yamagata City guide, the park's opening hours vary seasonally, from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM, or from 5:30 AM to 10:00 PM, and free parking is also available. When visiting, please check the latest official information, refrain from exploring at night or entering restricted areas, and be considerate of other facility users and the surrounding environment.
Check the area around Kajo Park (Yamagata Castle Ruins) on Google Maps.
2nd Place: Higashizawa Rose Park | Unmeasurable (81 points)
The rumored details
The source of the rumors states that a female ghost appears at Higashizawa Rose Park, that paranormal photographs can be taken there, and that ghosts have been sighted at Juro Falls. It also mentions a car crashing into Higashizawa Reservoir and the discovery of two decomposed bodies inside the car. All descriptions of accidents and strange occurrences here are presented as rumors and are not assumed to be facts. The subject is Higashizawa Rose Park.
Source of the rumor and date of verification
I checked the Higashizawa Rose Park page on the National Haunted Map. The page was last updated on 2025/02/05, and the posted information shows 0 photos, 4 videos, and 0 personal accounts. There are user-submitted comments. The original source of the rumors and the accident record for Higashizawa Reservoir could not be identified from this page, so it will be treated as a secondary publication with an unknown origin.
- Higashizawa Rose Park | National Haunted Map(Confirmed on 2026-10-05) — Ghosts are frequently sighted, especially at Juro Falls within the park. There are also stories of a car crashing into Higashizawa Reservoir. Two decomposed bodies were reportedly found inside the car.
Things that could be confirmed from official and primary source materials
The Murayama City official website describes Higashizawa Rose Park as a park centered around a rose garden and three lakes, listing its approximately 7 hectares, approximately 750 varieties from around the world, and over 20,000 rose bushes. It also mentions its establishment in 1956 and its grand opening in 2002. The 2026 updated page lists the location as 1-25 Tateoka Higashizawa, Murayama City, Yamagata Prefecture, and provides information on the planned use of the waterfront plaza (fountain) and its winter closure from November to March. The official website does not contain any descriptions of female ghosts, paranormal photographs, or stories of car accidents and bodies.
- Overview of Higashizawa Rose Park | Murayama City Official Website(Confirmed on 2026-10-05) — Higashizawa Rose Park is a beautiful park centered around one of Japan's largest rose gardens and three lakes. The rose garden, which was established in 1956, had its grand opening in 2002.
Points of agreement/contradictions
Regarding the claims made by the source of the rumors about a female ghost, a ghostly photograph, a ghost sighting at Juro Falls, and a car and body at Higashizawa Reservoir, the official overview of Murayama City contains no corresponding eyewitness or accident records. The official description of the park's size, rose garden, and lake does not constitute evidence of the rumored accidents or paranormal phenomena. We will not consider the lack of publication to be a contradiction, and will instead consider the core claims to be immeasurable.
| The rumored atomic claim | Matching results | reason | Corresponding documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| A female ghost appears | Unconfirmed | While the source of the rumor can be confirmed, the Murayama City official website does not have any records that allow for a direct comparison of the woman's claims. | No official data available for direct comparison. |
| You can take photos of ghosts. | Unconfirmed | The original image and shooting conditions of the alleged paranormal photograph are not provided, and there are no corresponding verification records in the independent materials obtained, so it remains unconfirmed. | No official data available for direct comparison. |
| A car crashed into Higashizawa Reservoir. | Unconfirmed | Regarding the accident at Higashizawa Reservoir, we were unable to confirm the date, time, news reports, or administrative records from this official summary. | No official data available for direct comparison. |
| Two decomposed bodies were found inside the car. | Unconfirmed | We do not have independent accident records to correspond to the hearsay descriptions on the rumor page, and therefore there is no comparative basis to treat them as fact. | No official data available for direct comparison. |
Alternative interpretation
The appearance of a photograph can be affected by factors such as the water surface, waterfalls, trees, reflections, and light levels during shooting, but the cause cannot be determined without individual images being provided. Similarly, the story of the accident at Higashizawa Reservoir cannot be inferred as fact based solely on the matching place name.
Scope and limitations of the investigation
I checked the one page of the source where the rumor was posted and the one page of the Murayama City official website. I did not check the original source of the rumor, the original image of the supposed ghost photograph, the sighting record at Juro Falls, or any official documents indicating the accident at Higashizawa Reservoir. I will not conclude that there was no accident or strange occurrence simply because it is not mentioned on the official page, nor will I treat the absence of the original source as an inconsistency.
Verification result: Unmeasurable
The Higashizawa Rose Park rumor page mentions a female ghost, a ghostly photograph, sightings at Juro Falls, and a car and body at Higashizawa Reservoir. However, the official Murayama City overview obtained this time did not contain any records that directly support the core claims. The official information about the park's size and waterfront is location information, not proof of paranormal activity or accidents. Since the original images of the sightings, the date and record of the accident, and the first appearance of the rumors are unconfirmed, we will not use their absence as refutation and will consider it impossible to determine.
Document Quality Score
| Source transparency | 25/30 | By separating the rumor page on the nationwide paranormal map from the official Murayama City page, you can track the source of the claims. |
|---|---|---|
| Historical and spatial context | 20/25 | Official documents provide specific details about the opening date, site size, number of varieties, number of plants, and the presence of the lake. |
| Safety information | 15/20 | The official website lists regular hours, winter closures, pet-friendly rules, and location. |
| Newness of information | 14/15 | The Murayama City official website was updated on September 29, 2026, and reflects the current facility information relatively well. |
| Transparency of the source of rumors | 7/10 | While the update date and number of posts are visible, the original sources of the accident stories and the first appearance of the rumors cannot be traced from the page. |
| total | 81/100 | 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 Murayama City official website states that the usual operating hours are from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and that the park is closed for winter from November to March. It also outlines rules regarding leashes and other park regulations for pets. When visiting, please check the official operating and event information, do not enter closed areas or managed areas, avoid reckless behavior around the pond and waterfront, and be considerate of other visitors.
3rd Place: Tendo Park (Maizuru Mountain) | Partial Match (76 points)
The rumored details
The source of the rumor claims that a female ghost appears at Tendo Park (Maizuru Mountain). It also describes the park's use and events, stating that it is "known as a cherry blossom viewing spot" and "famous for the 'human shogi' event held at the Tendo Cherry Blossom Festival in mid-April." Stories about the fall of the castle and defeated warriors are treated as part of the page's folklore explanation and are not presented as historical fact or supernatural occurrences. The subject is Tendo Park (Maizuru Mountain).
Source of the rumor and date of verification
I checked the Tendo Park (Maizuru Mountain) page on the National Haunted Map. The update date is 2023/03/16, and it shows a female ghost in the paranormal phenomena section, 2 videos in the submitted information section, and 0 personal accounts. Since the original source material or original record of the legend cannot be identified from the page, it will be treated as a secondary publication example or with an unknown origin, and descriptions of history and events will be compared separately as individual claims.
- Tendo Park (Maizuru Mountain) | Nationwide Haunted Places Map(Confirmed on 2026-10-05) — Tendo Park (Maizuru Mountain) is a haunted spot located in Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture, which is also the site of a former castle. It is known as a haunted spot because of rumors that a female ghost appears there.
Things that could be confirmed from official and primary source materials
The Tendo City Tourism Information website describes Tendo Park (Maizuru Mountain) as a park for citizens to relax in, located on Maizuru Mountain in the center of Tendo City. It mentions the observation plaza at the summit, its status as a famous cherry blossom viewing spot, and the Tendo Cherry Blossom Festival "Human Chess" held on Saturdays and Sundays in mid-April under approximately 2,000 cherry trees. The official page does not contain any descriptions of female ghosts or supernatural occurrences involving fallen samurai warriors.
- Tendo Park (Maizuru Mountain) | Tendo City Tourism Information Website(Confirmed on 2026-10-05) — Maizuru Mountain is also known as a famous spot for cherry blossoms. On Saturdays and Sundays in mid-April, the Tendō Cherry Blossom Festival "Human Chess" is held under approximately 2,000 cherry trees.
Points of agreement/contradictions
The specific claims about the park's use and events, such as "it's known as a famous cherry blossom viewing spot" and "it's famous for the 'human chess' event held at the Tendo Cherry Blossom Festival in mid-April," are supported because the city's official website mentions both the cherry blossom viewing spot and the human chess event. However, the core issue of a female ghost cannot be confirmed from the official website, and the coincidence of events is not used as evidence of a supernatural occurrence.
| The rumored atomic claim | Matching results | reason | Corresponding documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| A female ghost appears | Unconfirmed | The official Tendo City website, which we obtained this time, does not contain any eyewitness accounts or official confirmations that correspond to the core claims of the source of the rumors. | No official data available for direct comparison. |
| It is also known as a famous spot for cherry blossoms. | support | The official Tendo City website also describes Maizuru Mountain as a famous cherry blossom viewing spot, which supports the specific park information provided by the source of the rumor. | Tendo Park (Maizuru Mountain) | Tendo City Tourism Information Website |
| The "Human Chess" event held at the Tendo Cherry Blossom Festival in mid-April is famous. | support | The official website states that the Tendo Cherry Blossom Festival "Human Chess" will be held on a weekend in mid-April, and supports the event's claims. | Tendo Park (Maizuru Mountain) | Tendo City Tourism Information Website |
Alternative interpretation
Trees, slopes, bodies of water, and reflections of lights at night could be possible causes, but since there are no on-site observations or eyewitness records, it is impossible to determine the specific cause. As for the story of the fallen warrior, unless its origins as a legend are traced through other sources, it cannot be confirmed as either historical fact or a supernatural phenomenon.
Scope and limitations of the investigation
I checked one page of the source where the rumor was posted and one page of the Tendo City tourism information website. I have not been able to fully investigate the original historical materials concerning Tendo Castle, the battles of the Tensho period, Hachimanyama and Atago Marsh, the sighting records of the female ghost, or the original source of the information. The event information on the city's official website is not material for verifying the paranormal phenomena, so I limited the scope of comparison to park use and events.
Verification results: Partial match
Regarding Tendo Park (Maizuru Mountain), the specific park and event information on the rumor page, such as the famous cherry blossom spot and the Tendo Cherry Blossom Festival "Human Chess" in mid-April, corresponds to the information on the city's official website. On the other hand, the core claim of a female ghost cannot be confirmed from official documents, and the original record of the fallen warrior legend remains unconfirmed. There is some agreement because the supported and unconfirmed areas coexist, but this does not mean that the supernatural occurrence has been proven.
Document Quality Score
| Source transparency | 24/30 | By separating the rumor posting page from the Tendo City tourism information site, it becomes possible to track the source of event information and claims of supernatural occurrences. |
|---|---|---|
| Historical and spatial context | 18/25 | The official website specifically details the use of the observation plaza on Maizuru Mountain, the cherry blossoms, and the parks in the city center. |
| Safety information | 14/20 | The city's tourist information guide clearly indicates the park's location and contact details, making it easy to find what to check before using it. |
| Newness of information | 12/15 | While the official page shows the current information, the rumor page was updated in 2023, creating a time lag. |
| Transparency of the source of rumors | 8/10 | While the update date and number of posts on the rumor page are available, the original source or record of the legend is not indicated. |
| 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 Tendo City Tourism Information website describes Maizuru Mountain as a park for citizens to relax in. When visiting, please check the latest information from the city and facilities, avoid exploring at night, approaching slopes, waterfronts, and restricted areas, and during crowded times such as the cherry blossom festival, please follow local rules and prioritize other visitors.
Check the area around Tendo Park (Maizuru Mountain) on Google Maps.
What I learned by crossing locations
All three locations are publicly accessible parks within Yamagata Prefecture, but the core of the strange occurrences, photographs, and accidents described by the source of the rumors is different from the facility information released by the local government or administrators. At Kajo Park (Yamagata Castle Ruins) and Higashizawa Rose Park, we could not find any records that directly linked to the core of the rumors from the official pages we obtained, so we did not use the lack of publication as refutation. At Tendō Park (Maizuru Mountain), only the information about it being a famous cherry blossom viewing spot and a specific event, the spring human shogi, corresponds to official documents. The common point across all three locations is that even if we can confirm the existence of the park, its address, and its general history, this does not mean that it corroborates the ghosts or paranormal photographs.
summary
Within this scope, Kajo Park (Yamagata Castle Ruins) could not be measured because the claims regarding a male ghost, a human figure, and blood-stained cherry blossoms could not be directly compared. Similarly, Higashizawa Rose Park could not be measured because the claims regarding a female ghost, a paranormal photograph, and an accident at the pond could not be directly compared. While the park information regarding cherry blossoms and human chess at Tendo Park (Maizuru Mountain) matched the city's official information, the claim regarding a female ghost remained unconfirmed, resulting in only partial agreement. In all cases, the mere publication of rumors is not considered evidence of paranormal activity.
FAQ
Does "unmeasurable" mean that the rumor is invalid?
No. This "unmeasurable" result indicates that no official records that could be directly verified were obtained, and it does not mean that the mere fact that it is not mentioned on the official page should be used to deny rumors or confirm the supernatural phenomenon.
Does "partially matching" mean that paranormal phenomena were confirmed?
That's incorrect. The only information supporting the claim about Tendō Park (Maizuru Mountain) is that it's a famous cherry blossom viewing spot and hosts a park event called "Human Chess." The core claim about a female ghost remains unconfirmed. The scope of support is limited to park information.
How were the map coordinates determined?
We used the coordinates found on publicly available maps for each candidate location, and entered the same latitude and longitude into the Google Maps embed URL and search URL. The `location_name` attribute in the URL is the official location name as it appears in the article.
What additional documents would need to be added in the future to change the assessment?
If we can confirm the origin of the rumor, the date and location of the sighting, the original source material for the accident or legend, and independent official records, the scope of comparison for each claim will broaden. When new information is obtained, we will re-evaluate it by separating the proof of the supernatural phenomenon from the confirmation of general facts.
How to read this article and safety precautions
" [2026 Latest] Top 3 Ranking of Paranormal Rumors at 3 Parks in Yamagata Prefecture This is an article compiled by the Horror Tales File editorial team as a story, based on publicly available information, rumors circulating in the community, and information submitted by readers. It does not definitively state the authenticity of paranormal phenomena.
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