[2026 Latest] Top 3 Ranking of Paranormal Rumors Related to Lakes, Ponds, and Swamps in Northern Kyushu

From the bodies of water in northern Kyushu associated with paranormal rumors, we selected three locations with distinct characteristics: a temple pond, an agricultural dam, and a reservoir in an industrial city. Beyond simply presenting the rumors, we cross-referenced each claim with information published by the national and local governments and official tourism websites, clearly distinguishing between verifiable regional and facility information and unsubstantiated supernatural occurrences.

Survey methods and evaluation criteria

For each location, we directly verified one external rumor-posting page and one page from a national/local government/official tourism website on September 15, 2026. We divided the core of the rumor into short, atomic claims, supporting those supported by official sources, contradicting those that were clearly different, and unverified those that could not be directly compared. The ranking is not based on the truthfulness of the supernatural occurrence, but rather on an evaluation of the quality of the materials based on source transparency (30 points), historical/spatial context (25 points), safety information (20 points), recency of information (15 points), and source transparency of the rumor (10 points).

1st Place: Eikokuji Temple (Ghost Temple) | Partial Match (88 points)

The rumored details

The rumors page about Eikokuji Temple (the haunted temple) states that "there is a legend that a female ghost appeared in the temple's pond," and then lists strange occurrences such as the female ghost still appearing to stand on the surface of the pond, misfortune befalling those who photograph the hanging scroll, and a man's groaning voice being heard coming from the hanging scroll. The latter two should be treated separately from the traditional temple legends.

Source of the rumor and date of verification

The source of the rumor is "Eikokuji Temple (Ghost Temple) | Rumors of Ghosts," published on May 29, 2025, by Shinrei Kousaku. This is a secondary publication that combines ghost stories passed down at the temple with modern experiences into a single article, and the individual eyewitness accounts, the first appearance of the misfortunes, the people involved, and the date and time of occurrence cannot be confirmed.

• Paranormal Investigation: "Eikokuji Temple (The Haunted Temple) | Rumors of Ghost Stories"(Verification Date: 2026-09-15) — This post contains rumors about a female ghost appearing in the temple's pond, misfortunes occurring after photographing a hanging scroll, and the sound of a man's voice.

Things that could be confirmed from official and primary source materials

Of the temples known as Eikokuji (the "Ghost Temple"), the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's regional tourism resource database confirms that Eikokuji is a Soto Zen temple founded in 1408, has a pond behind the main hall, and a legend is presented about a hanging scroll depicting a woman and a spirit that appeared in the pond, which the head priest guided. It is also stated that the hanging scroll displayed in the main hall is a reproduction. The official page records ghost stories as part of the temple's culture, but does not acknowledge any current paranormal activity.

• Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's Multilingual Explanation Database of Regional Tourism Resources: "Eikokuji Temple"(Confirmed on 2026-09-15) — This explains the temple, founded in 1408, the pond, the hanging scroll depicting a female figure, the legend that the head priest guided a spirit that appeared in the pond, and that the exhibited items are reproductions.

Points of agreement/contradictions

The legends about the pond, the female ghost, and the existence of the hanging scroll appear in both rumors pages and official documents. On the other hand, the official documents support the fact that the legends were told. There are no direct records of ghosts still appearing on the water's surface, misfortunes after filming, or a male voice, so historical traditions cannot be equated with later depictions of the supernatural.

The rumored atomic claim	Matching results	reason	Corresponding documents
There is a legend that a female spirit appeared in the pond on the temple grounds.	support	The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism database also records this as a temple legend in which a female spirit appeared in the pond behind the main hall.	Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's Multilingual Explanation Database of Regional Tourism Resources: "Eikokuji Temple"
Taking a picture of a hanging scroll will bring misfortune.	Unconfirmed	The official documents I checked only described the existence of the hanging scroll and the display of a replica, but did not record any causal relationship between the photography and the unfortunate event.	No official data available for direct comparison.
A man's moans can be heard coming from the hanging scroll.	Unconfirmed	Because the initial source and personal records regarding the male voice are not provided, and there is no information in public documents that allows for direct comparison.	No official data available for direct comparison.

Alternative interpretation

The continuous presentation of the hanging scrolls preserved at the temple and the history of the pond may have led to the addition of new eyewitness accounts and taboos to the old legends. The reflections on the water's surface and the perception of sounds within the quiet temple hall should also be considered, but the cause of individual experiences cannot be determined based solely on the materials presented here.

Scope and limitations of the investigation

I only directly checked one webpage containing rumors and one database entry from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. I did not check detailed records from the temple regarding the hanging scrolls or the pond, the original text of the rumors, or interviews with people who experienced them. Therefore, I lack the material to verify the current phenomenon beyond the legend itself.

Verification results: Partial match

Both accounts agree that the legend linking the pond to a female spirit is recorded in official tourist guides. However, this only indicates the existence of a legend and does not corroborate current sightings, misfortunes after filming, or the male voice. The agreement is partial because supported legendary elements coexist with unconfirmed modern supernatural occurrences.

Document Quality Score

Source transparency	29/30	You can directly check the source of the rumor and the country's tourism explanation at separate URLs, clearly separating the legend from the current strange occurrence.
Historical and spatial context	24/25	The government's explanation provides specific context, including the year of its founding, its religious sect, the pond, the hanging scrolls, and its connection to the Satsuma Rebellion.
Safety information	14/20	While official explanations show the route to the pond through the main hall, detailed usage restrictions and on-site guidance will need to be confirmed separately.
Newness of information	12/15	The rumor page was published in 2025, while the official explanation was created in 2022, allowing us to distinguish and evaluate the two from a different perspective.
Transparency of the source of rumors	9/10	While there are separate rumor pages and clear publication dates, it's impossible to trace the original source or the individuals involved in each individual contemporary experience.
total	88/100	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

As this is a religious site, please prioritize following on-site signs, restricted areas, and instructions from staff during your visit. Access to the pond is via the main hall side; therefore, please do not enter restricted areas, and avoid exploring in the dark or approaching the water's edge unnecessarily.

Check the area around Eikokuji Temple (the Ghost Temple) on Google Maps.

2nd Place: Kitayama Dam | Partial Match (85 points)

The rumored details

The rumors page about Kitayama Dam explains that "Kitayama Dam is located in Saga City," and then mentions that a female ghost has been sighted in the "Tunnel of Happiness" on the lakeshore, and that a boy's ghost has appeared in the "Cycle Tunnel." It also mentions that strange occurrences are said to be happening in the parking lot and surrounding areas, but this page does not include explanations of incidents or deaths that lack official evidence.

Source of the rumor and date of verification

The source of the rumor is "Kitayama Dam | Rumored Ghost Stories," published on January 5, 2025, by the website "Paranormal Investigations." While it is a secondary publication that compiles multiple strange occurrences and personal accounts, the original publication medium, date, participants, and investigation records for each eyewitness account cannot be confirmed on the page. Read this article carefully, distinguishing between the existence of a rumor and the actual existence of the phenomenon.

• Paranormal Investigation: "Kitayama Dam | Rumored Ghost Stories"(Verification Date: 2026-09-15) — This article introduces Kitayama Dam as a facility of Saga City and includes rumors that the ghosts of women and boys appear in its two tunnels.

Things that could be confirmed from official and primary source materials

The official Saga Prefecture tourism website describes Kitayama Dam as an agricultural water dam built by damming Kitayama Lake, which spans Mitsuse Village and Fuji Town in Saga City. Fishing for bass, crucian carp, and smelt takes place in the lake, and the website also lists the dam's location and contact information. There is no mention of female or male ghosts or strange occurrences in the tunnel.

• Saga Prefecture Official Tourism Website Asobo Saga "Kitayama Dam"(Verification Date: 2026-09-15) — This document describes Kitayama Dam as an agricultural water dam on Kitayama Lake, which spans Mitsuse Village and Fuji Town in Saga City, and provides information on its location and fishing facilities.

Points of agreement/contradictions

Both sources agree that the dam in question is a real dam located in Saga City, and official documents confirm its use as an agricultural water facility and for recreational purposes. However, the official pages do not provide any records that allow for direct comparison of the eyewitness accounts of the two tunnels that are central to the rumors. The mere existence of the facilities cannot be used to support the supernatural occurrences.

The rumored atomic claim	Matching results	reason	Corresponding documents
Kitayama Dam is located in Saga City.	support	Because the official Saga Prefecture tourism website indicates the facility's location as spanning both Mitsuse Village in Saga City and Fuji Town in Saga City.	Saga Prefecture Official Tourism Website Asobo Saga "Kitayama Dam"
A female ghost was sighted in the "Tunnel of Happiness".	Unconfirmed	This is because, aside from the rumor page, no initial sightings or verification records are provided, and there is no directly corresponding information in official tourism materials.	No official data available for direct comparison.
The ghost of a young boy appears in the "Cycle Tunnel".	Unconfirmed	Because the parties involved, the date and time, and the original records could not be confirmed, and information that can be used to compare the same phenomenon could not be obtained from public documents.	No official data available for direct comparison.

Alternative interpretation

It is possible that the darkness of the lakeside, the reflections on the water's surface and trees, and the echoes and limited visibility inside the tunnel were perceived as human shapes or voices. There is also the possibility of secondary propagation, where multiple locations were combined into a single Kitayama Dam legend, but there are no documents that recreate individual experiences.

Scope and limitations of the investigation

I only directly checked one website that published the rumor and one official Saga Prefecture tourism website. I did not check individual documents from the entities that manage the two tunnels, the origin of the rumor, eyewitness accounts from that time, or measurement results of the local conditions. I will not conclude that the rumor is inconsistent simply because there is no mention of the strange occurrence on official websites.

Verification results: Partial match

The fact that Kitayama Dam is a real facility located in Saga City can be confirmed in official tourist information. On the other hand, the core supernatural phenomena of female and male spirits cannot be supported or refuted by independent sources. Because the location is supported and multiple unconfirmed claims coexist, the judgments in the sources are only partially consistent.

Document Quality Score

Source transparency	27/30	You can directly check the location-specific rumor page and the prefectural official tourism page, allowing you to present two different types of information separately.
Historical and spatial context	20/25	You can find information about the dam's purpose, its relationship to Kitayama Lake, its location, and its current usage on the official website.
Safety information	16/20	The official website provides location and contact information, allowing you to check before use, but it does not provide information on the specific conditions for each tunnel.
Newness of information	13/15	The rumor page was published in 2025, and the official tourism page also publishes the current location and contact information, so it can be reconfirmed.
Transparency of the source of rumors	9/10	The publication date and location-specific URLs for the rumors are clear, but the original source and information of the parties involved for each eyewitness account are not provided.
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

Around the dam lake, please be careful of falls and getting lost near the water's edge, on slopes, and in dark tunnels. When fishing or using boats, please check the local operating conditions and management rules in advance, and avoid traveling alone at night, entering closed areas, and loitering on roads.

Check the area around Kitayama Dam on Google Maps.

3rd Place: Kawachi Reservoir | Partial Agreement (83 points)

The rumored details

The rumor page about Kawachi Reservoir states that "Kawachi Reservoir is located in Yahatahigashi Ward, Kitakyushu City," and then lists stories such as a woman in white appearing in the middle of Minamikawachi Bridge, footsteps being heard from behind when walking on the bridge, and a string of misfortunes occurring after a visit. The incidents and causal relationships mentioned in the rumors cannot be confirmed in official documents, so they are not accepted as fact.

Source of the rumor and date of verification

The source of the rumor is "Kawachi Reservoir | Rumored Ghost Stories," published on January 15, 2025, by the website "Paranormal Investigations." This is a secondary publication that compiles multiple accounts of experiences, including those involving the bridge and surrounding roads, but there is no confirmation of witnesses to the woman in white clothing or footsteps, the date and time of the incident, or a reference to the original post.

• Paranormal Investigation: "Kawachi Reservoir | Rumored Ghost Stories"(Confirmed on 2026-09-15) — This post contains rumors about a woman in white appearing at Minamikawachi Bridge, footsteps being heard from behind, and a series of misfortunes occurring after visiting.

Things that could be confirmed from official and primary source materials

The Kitakyushu City official website lists the location of Kawachi Reservoir as Oaza Okura, Yahatahigashi Ward, and states that it is about a 15-minute drive from the Otani or Yamaji ramps of the urban expressway, with parking available for approximately 35 cars at the dam. It also highlights the cherry blossoms reflected in the reservoir as a point of interest. There is no mention of any causal relationship between the appearance of a woman, the inexplicable footsteps, or any misfortune.

• Kawachi Reservoir, Kitakyushu City(Confirmed on 2026-09-15) — The location is listed as Oaza Okura, Yahatahigashi-ku, and it provides information on car access, a parking lot with approximately 35 spaces at the dam, and cherry blossoms reflected in the reservoir.

Points of agreement/contradictions

The location identification as a reservoir in Yahatahigashi Ward, Kitakyushu City, is consistent, and access, parking, and cherry blossom viewing spots can be confirmed from official documents. In contrast, the woman at Minamikawachi Bridge, the footsteps in the background, and the misfortune after the visit are limited to rumor pages. The fact that the official page does not mention them is not refutation, but it is also not independent evidence to support the rumors.

The rumored atomic claim	Matching results	reason	Corresponding documents
Kawachi Reservoir is located in Yahatahigashi Ward, Kitakyushu City.	support	The Kitakyushu City official website lists the location as Oaza Okura, Yahatahigashi Ward, and identifies it as the same reservoir.	Kawachi Reservoir, Kitakyushu City
A woman in white appears in the middle of Minamikawachi Bridge.	Unconfirmed	The initial sighting, the individuals involved, and the date and time could not be confirmed, and there are no records in Kitakyushu City's public documents that can be directly compared.	No official data available for direct comparison.
As I walked across the bridge, I could hear footsteps behind me.	Unconfirmed	There are no observation records or reproduction surveys other than those on the rumor page, and no corroborating evidence can be found in bridge management documents.	No official data available for direct comparison.

Alternative interpretation

It is possible to consider the possibility that vibrations and echoes transmitted through the bridge's structure, reflections of lighting on the water's surface, and temporary shadows cast by passing vehicles could be perceived as footsteps or figures standing. Regarding the series of misfortunes, cognitive interpretations linking coincidental events to the visit experience are also possible, but there is no measurement data to determine the cause.

Scope and limitations of the investigation

I only directly checked one website that published the rumor and one official Kitakyushu City website. I did not check the management records for Minamikawachi Bridge, the original source of the rumor, the original testimony of the person who experienced it, or the sound and lighting conditions at night. Since the official website is for tourist information purposes, the mere absence of mention of the supernatural phenomenon is not sufficient evidence to disprove it.

Verification results: Partial match

The location of Kawachi Reservoir matches official Kitakyushu City documents, allowing us to identify the target location. However, the core elements of the supernatural occurrence—the woman's figure, footsteps, and bad luck—cannot be confirmed in independent sources. Because the supported location information and unconfirmed claims of the supernatural occurrence are mixed together, the judgment is only partial.

Document Quality Score

Source transparency	26/30	You can directly access location-specific rumor pages and Kitakyushu City's dedicated pages, separating rumors from administrative information.
Historical and spatial context	16/25	The official website provides information on the park's location and current use, but the history of the reservoir and bridge is limited in this document.
Safety information	18/20	The city's official website provides information on road access and parking at the dam, which can be used to plan a safe visit.
Newness of information	14/15	The rumor page was published in 2025, and the city's official page is also shown as being updated in October 2025, allowing you to check the timeframes for both.
Transparency of the source of rumors	9/10	While the URLs for each location and the publication dates are clearly provided, the original records of the personal accounts regarding women and footsteps are not presented.
total	83/100	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

Around the reservoir and bridge, please be careful not to fall into the water, stop on the roadway, and watch your step in dark areas. Use existing facilities such as the dam parking lot as indicated on the Kitakyushu City official website, and take priority of on-site signs if there are road closures or access restrictions.

Check the area around Kawachi Reservoir on Google Maps.

What I learned by crossing locations

What these three locations have in common is that the darkness, tranquility, and historical background of real ponds and reservoirs are linked to later depictions of the supernatural. However, in the case of Eikokuji Temple (the Ghost Temple), the core is temple culture that was recorded as a legend in official documents, and in the case of Kitayama Dam and Kawachi Reservoir, only the existence and purpose of the facilities could be officially confirmed. Even if there are specific eyewitness descriptions on the rumor pages, they cannot be treated as proof of the phenomenon or as records of an incident.

summary

What we were able to confirm this time is that there is a pond and ghost stories associated with Eikokuji Temple, that Kitayama Dam is an agricultural water dam in Saga City, and that Kawachi Reservoir is located in Yahatahigashi Ward, Kitakyushu City. On the other hand, we could not find any official records to support the causal relationship between the current appearance of spirits, inexplicable voices and footsteps, or bad luck. It is important to read the history and facility information of the waterfront separately from the rumors of strange occurrences that have been secondarily published.

FAQ

Does "partially matching" mean that the paranormal phenomenon is factual?

No. It means that only some elements of the rumor, such as the location, the existence of the pond, and the publication of the legend, were confirmed in independent sources. It does not mean that the supernatural phenomenon itself is real.

Would a detailed account of a personal experience on a rumors page serve as evidence?

While this may serve as documentation to verify the content of the published rumors, it does not constitute independent proof of the phenomenon. If the original publication, records of those involved, and investigation methods cannot be confirmed, it will be treated as a secondary publication.

What precautions should I take if I'm going there?

Please be careful of falling into water, moving around in the dark, facility operating hours, and access restrictions, and prioritize on-site notices and guidance from the administrator. Avoid nighttime entry or approaching dangerous areas for the purpose of verifying rumors.

Will the assessment change if the documents are updated?

This assessment may change once new official records and primary sources are released, allowing for a direct comparison with the rumored atomic claims. This assessment is limited to pages available as of September 15, 2026.