Top 3 Park Ghost Stories in Kyushu: A Comparison of Taharazaka, Saga, and Kami no Shima

The daytime scenery, and another story.

Footsteps can be heard from beyond the trees. An unfamiliar shadow appears in the corner of a photograph I looked back at. On a hill overlooking the sea, I suddenly feel a presence behind me—

When reading ghost stories related to parks, you can see how the level of fear varies depending on the location. Some stories are linked to past battles, while others take place in open fields where people played on school trips. Even when the same location is mentioned, the ghost stories featured differ slightly depending on the source.

This time,Taharazaka Park and surrounding area, Saga Prefectural Forest Park and surrounding area, Kaminoshima ParkI compared the stories from these three locations. The ranking is based on the number of different types of ghost stories that appeared in the articles I reviewed. It's not a ranking based on how scary or dangerous the stories are, but rather a comparison of three locations that I selected in advance. I didn't choose the top three locations from all of Kyushu.

Please enjoy these ghost stories as rumors and hearsay presented by their respective sources. We'll also explore the charm of each location, making it a place you'll want to visit even during the daytime.

Even if the same type of story appears on multiple websites, it will not be counted as a duplicate. Classification and sources are listed in the latter half."Basis for the ranking"I've summarized it here.

1st Place: Taharazaka Park and surrounding area (Kumamoto)

The sound of soldiers' footsteps echoing through the trees

The ghost stories of Taharazaka often feature images and sounds that evoke the atmosphere of an ancient battlefield.

Takahashi Sake Brewery's column, "Episode 119: Popular and Mysterious Spots"The stories included are tales the author has heard, such as a samurai appearing on the road or the sound of many people walking."Kumamoto Monogatari"These include the sounds of a boy on horseback, soldiers' footsteps, and metal clashing."National Haunted Map"There are also rumors that a male ghost appears there.

It's frightening when a figure appears right in front of you, but stories where only footsteps are heard are particularly unsettling even after you've finished reading. Who is walking, and where? Because you can't see the source of the sound, your imagination wanders to the depths of the grove.

The ghost stories from the old battlefields also include a story about a telephone booth.

A 2014 column by Takahashi Sake Brewery features stories such as a phone booth whose door won't open once you enter, and a tale of feeling like you're being watched by a statue of a boy on a roof. From the era of war to everyday objects, these ghost stories from different eras are told together in Taharazaka.

"Kumamoto Monogatari" includes stories of people feeling like their feet were being grabbed in the surrounding area. A column by Takahashi Sake Brewery also features a story of someone who said something followed them after their visit.People's appearances, sounds, physical contact, malfunctions in equipment, and events that occur after returning home. These five types were identified this time, and they came in first place.

Please note that the telephone booths mentioned are from older articles and do not represent current facilities. Ghost stories related to the roads around Taharazaka and the government army cemetery are presented separately from stories confined to the park.

In the afternoon, we visited the museum to learn about the history of Taharazaka.

If you're going to visit Taharazaka,Kumamoto City Taharazaka Southwest War MuseumIt's a place I'd like to visit as well. Kumamoto City promotes it as a facility where you can learn about the 1877 Satsuma Rebellion and the nationally designated historical site "Satsuma Rebellion Site."

In ghost stories, this place is often described simply as an "ancient battlefield." Knowing its history makes one appreciate anew the fact that footsteps and the figures of soldiers remain as part of the stories of this land.

To read the original article: Enjoy the atmosphere of rumors spreading by word of mouth in Takahashi Sake Brewery's column, and "Kumamoto Monogatari," a collection of ghost stories from Taharazaka. Please also enjoy the different storytelling styles.

Tied for 2nd place: Saga Prefectural Forest Park and surrounding area (Saga)

Rumors of a ghost photo as a memento of a school trip

Even a familiar playground can look a little different after hearing a ghost story about it. The story of Saga Prefectural Forest Park has that kind of familiar kind of creepiness.

"Clip Kyushu"The author recalls that there were rumors of ghosts and paranormal photographs in a park they visited on a school field trip in elementary school. Because it was a place filled with happy memories, the stories heard later became intriguing. Some of you may be able to relate to that feeling.

"National Haunted Map"The article includes rumors that spirits and balls of light appear in photographs taken near Senjinzuka, as well as stories of people being chased by the ghost of a woman."Occult Travel"The video shows a woman near the observation deck and the sound of footsteps following behind her.

The strange occurrences you notice when looking back at photos, and the unsettling sound of footsteps behind you at the time—even in the same park, the moments that send chills down your spine can be vastly different.

Not just photographs, but also voices and bodily sensations.

"The Strange Company"It also includes stories of whispering and sudden headaches. In this classification,There are four types: appearance, sound, photos/videos, and contact/physical condition. The fact that there was a story related to the photographs was what made this location stand out compared to the other two.

The descriptions of Senjinzuka and Kase Execution Ground that appear in multiple articles are presented as background information for the ghost stories told by each respective source. Historical events and the number of victims cannot be verified solely from the ghost story articles. Also, even if several similar stories are listed, they are not necessarily separate personal accounts.

From the observation deck during the day, you can see mountains and rural landscapes.

Park's official websiteThe park features a "Learning Plaza" with playground equipment, a "Babbling Brook Plaza" overlooking the waterfront, and an observation deck. From the observation deck, you can see the mountains of Tenzan, the rural landscape, and the Kase River.

When reading ghost stories, you can't help but be curious about the corners and backgrounds of photographs, but during the daytime, you can enjoy a panoramic view that stretches far into the distance. It's a park worth knowing about, whether for a stroll or playing in the open space.

Please check the official website before you go to see the availability of facilities such as water play areas.

To read the original article: "Occult Travel" presents local photos and rumors, while "Clip Kyushu" recounts the author's memories as a local resident. You can also view the photos in the original articles.

Tied for 2nd place: Kaminoshima Park (Nagasaki)

A hill overlooking the sea, and unseen footsteps

What's intriguing about the ghost stories at Kami no Shima Park is that they include not only stories of people seeing things, but also stories about sounds and presences.

"awe"The sounds described include the rustling of plants and trees, the sound of stepping on fallen leaves, and the sound of things being struck."Paranormal Investigations"There are also stories about people seeing shadows or footsteps, or feeling a presence even though there is no one around.

On a hill overlooking the sea, with the sound of crunching leaves behind you. Just reading the article makes you want to turn around and look. The ghost stories presented here are from various websites and are not firsthand accounts of experiences at the actual locations.

The story continues even after returning home.

The story linked "awe" to the feeling of heat or fever after returning home."National Haunted Map"The book also mentions headaches and rumors of people bringing something back with them. But it doesn't end when you leave the park. What happens next leaves a lasting impression on the ghost stories of Kami-no-shima Park.

Of course, we cannot conclude from these stories that the cause of physical changes is a spirit. This time, we will discuss the content that was published.There are four types: appearance, sound, contact/physical condition, and conversations that continue even after returning home.I've organized them as follows. Since it has the same number as Saga Prefectural Forest Park, it's tied for second place.

"The Crimson Mound"The article includes on-site photos and a visit report, followed by stories about a friend's changed behavior and old sightings related to a corner of the park. On the other hand, it also describes the peaceful surroundings and the great views, giving readers a glimpse into a different side of the park than just the scary stories.

In the afternoon, I took a break and enjoyed the view of the sea.

Nagasaki City's "Nagasaki City Outing Park Guide"According to the information, Kami-no-shima Park is a park located on a hill overlooking the sea. It also has an observation deck, a plaza, and a multi-purpose playground.

A spooky tale featuring the sounds of rustling trees, contrasted with a view of the sea. Reading these stories about the same location evokes images of scenery you'd like to admire while strolling around. Please refer to current city information and on-site signs, rather than relying on descriptions of construction work and facilities found in older travelogues.

To read the original article: For ghost stories involving sounds and sensations, see "Awe," and for photos of the park and descriptions of visits, see "Crimson Mound." If you're interested in any of the stories, follow the original source to find out more.

Basis for the ranking—what was counted?

The rankings this time are:The ghost stories appearing in the reviewed text were divided into six types, and the number of types that fit was determined.This is how it was decided. The source was verified on September 16, 2026. This is a comparison of the three selected locations based on the Horror Story File.

"Yes" means that there was a story of that type in the article I read. "-" means that the item was not counted within the scope of this check, and does not mean that there is no story of that type in that location.

Counting rules

• No matter how many websites list the same type1 typeEven if there are footsteps and voices, they are still considered one "sound."
• Changes in physical condition that only occur after returning home should be included in the "continuation of the story after returning home" category and not counted separately from "contact/physical condition".
• A person's figure near a telephone booth is counted as a "figure." Only when there is a problem with the equipment itself, such as a door not opening, is it counted as a "facility malfunction."
• If the number of types is the sameTied rankWe do not differentiate based on the number of listings or search results.

This classification includes editorial judgment. For example, the results may change if the classification method is changed, such as counting "footsteps" and "voices" separately. The rankings presented here are based solely on using the six categories listed above.

To the extent of my research

For each location, we searched using two keywords: "location name + paranormal" and "location name + ghost story." We then examined the full text of up to four websites from the top 10 results for each keyword. Videos, social media posts, company articles, duplicates from the same website, and stories only found in comments sections were excluded from the analysis.

The sites actually used as evidence for the ghost stories were 3 sites in Taharazaka, 4 sites in Saga Prefectural Forest Park, and 4 sites in Kaminoshima Park. In Taharazaka, one of the candidate sites did not contain a specific ghost story in its text, so it was not included. Because the scope of what could be checked was limited, this ranking does not reflect any unpublished stories or the overall number of published stories.

For stories whose original publication or reprinting history is unknown, there are no additional points to be added to the same category.We do not consider the number of websites to represent the number of independent testimonials, nor do we rate the plausibility of the ghost stories. I refer to the official facility guide as a resource to learn about its history, scenery, and location.

After the scary story, we also saw the daytime scenery.

The sound of footsteps on Taharazaka and an old telephone booth. Photographs and figures of people in Saga Prefectural Forest Park. The story of Kaminoshima Park, which continues even after returning home.

Even though they were all ghost stories about the same park, what I found interesting after reading them differed. Moving from one rumor to another original article allows you to encounter stories you didn't know before, as well as glimpses into the scenery of the place.

These are ghost stories that you can enjoy reading without having to go and check them out at night. If you do visit, a daytime stroll or a visit to the museum would be a good idea. Follow the instructions of the staff and remember to be considerate of the cemetery, historical sites, and the local community.

How about enjoying a scary story and then seeing what the place looks like during the day?