[2026 Latest] Top 10 Scariest Haunted Spots in Shiga Prefecture | Includes Real-Life Experiences

Places in Shiga Prefecture that you should never go near

Shiga Prefecture—The dark history etched into this land is the subject of numerous tales of paranormal phenomena. In this article, we have carefully selected 10 of the most terrifying haunted spots in Shiga Prefecture.Actual experiencesWe will introduce them together.

⚠️ Attention:Never enter private property or restricted areas. This does not endorse illegal activities.

1. Old Sawayama Tunnel (Hikone City)

The old Sawayama Tunnel is located near the ruins of Sawayama Castle, which is associated with Ishida Mitsunari, and rumors persist that the vengeful spirits of samurai who were defeated in the Battle of Sekigahara still linger there. It is said that the weight of history has transformed this tunnel into an eerie place.

• Eerie footsteps can be heard inside the tunnel.
• I feel a cold gaze from behind.
• A figure resembling a defeated samurai crosses my path.
• The inside of the car suddenly became cold.

One night, while driving through the old Sawayama Tunnel, the air conditioning suddenly stopped working, and the car became freezing cold. At that moment, I saw a faint human figure reflected in the passenger-side window. I turned around, but there was no one there. My hands were shaking uncontrollably as I gripped the steering wheel.

2. Yanagase Tunnel (Nagahama City)

The Yanagase Tunnel is known as one of the oldest railway tunnels in Japan, and it has a tragic history in which many workers lost their lives during the arduous construction work when it was first opened. Perhaps that suffering still lingers in the tunnel today.

• I can hear the workers groaning.
• A female ghost in white suddenly appears.
• I can hear a sound like someone hitting a car that's stopped at a traffic light.
• The radio suddenly started to get very noisy inside the tunnel.
• Sometimes a car engine malfunctions.

It was late at night, when I was stopped at a traffic light in the Yanagase Tunnel. I heard a tapping sound on the window of my car, which should have been empty. I frantically looked around, but I couldn't see anything. But the sound definitely came from the window of the driver's seat where I was sitting. That sound still haunts me.

3. Shizugatake Tunnel (Nagahama City)

The Shizugatake Tunnel is located very close to the site of the Battle of Shizugatake, and is said to be a place where the souls of countless warriors who lost their lives in the battle wander. The bloody history seems to cast a shadow even in modern times.

• The spirits of fallen warriors appear in full armor.
• An unfamiliar figure appears in the rearview mirror.
• You can sometimes hear the neighing and war cries of horses.
• At night, I feel a sudden change in air pressure inside the tunnel.

It was late at night, as I was coming out of the Shizugatake Tunnel. I glanced in the rearview mirror and saw a face, faint but clearly visible, in the back seat. I was horrified and turned forward, but when I looked in the mirror again, there was nothing there. That face seemed to be staring at me.

4. Biwako Ohashi Bridge (Otsu City/Moriyama City)

Biwako Ohashi Bridge is a beautiful bridge spanning the majestic Lake Biwa, but contrary to its beauty, it is known as a place where many people have committed suicide by jumping into the water in the past. There are rumors that the vengeful spirits of those who met tragic ends still linger on the surface of the lake.

• A creepy shadow has been spotted walking across the bridge at night.
• It looks as if a white hand is reaching out from the surface of the lake.
• I have the feeling that a ghost suddenly gets into the car.
• Near the center of the bridge, a voice can be heard calling from the bottom of the water.
• I feel the cold wind on the bridge.

It was late at night, and I was crossing the Biwa Lake Bridge. Outside the passenger side window, just above the surface of the lake, as if running parallel to my car, I saw a faint human figure floating. Was that the soul of someone who had sunk into the lake...? I was so scared that I pressed the accelerator.

5. Suzuka Pass (Koka City)

Suzuka Pass has long been a vital transportation hub connecting east and west, but it also has a history of being a dangerous place where many lives were lost due to bandit activity. It is said that the spirits of those victims still wander the pass today.

• On a foggy night, a woman in a kimono stands by the roadside.
• The groans of those attacked by bandits can be heard.
• Suddenly, the car's lights go out or the engine stops.
• Late at night, human voices can be heard coming from a place where no one should be.
• I get the feeling that someone is chasing me from behind.

While driving over the Suzuka Pass late at night, I suddenly saw a woman in a white kimono standing by the side of the road, which was shrouded in thick fog. I slammed on the brakes, but she was already gone in the fog. Since then, I've avoided driving over the Suzuka Pass at night.

6. Usogawa Dam (Taga Town, Inukami District)

The Usogawa Dam is surrounded by beautiful nature, but it is said that its construction came at the cost of many lives, and tragic accidents and suicides have also been reported in the surrounding area. The silence of the dam only seems to amplify its eerie atmosphere.

• A female ghost in white clothing was sighted in a public restroom.
• I can hear voices on the observation deck, even though there should be no one there.
• Human figures are reflected on the surface of the dam lake.
• If you visit in the middle of the night, you can hear children laughing.
• A sudden cold snap hits the area around the dam.

It was one night when I was visiting the observation deck at Usogawa Dam with my friends. There shouldn't have been anyone there, but we heard several women's voices coming from the direction of the public restrooms. They sounded like they were whispering and talking about something... We got scared and ran back to the car as fast as we could.

7. Oujiyama Park (Otsu City)

Oujiyama Park is located in the heart of Otsu City and has been the stage for various events throughout its history. Beneath its beautiful greenery, it seems as if past tragedies are buried, and spiritual phenomena have been reported in certain locations.

• I feel like someone is grabbing my leg in the middle of the night.
• Unexplained footsteps are approaching.
• A figure can be seen on the bench, which should be empty.
• Sometimes you can hear the sound of a child sobbing.
• The camera malfunctions in a specific location.

I was strolling along a secluded path in Oujiyama Park when I suddenly felt something cold grab my ankle. I was startled and crouched down, but there was nothing there. But I can still vividly remember that cold sensation.

8. Omi Ohashi Bridge (Otsu City/Kusatsu City)

The Omi Bridge is an important transportation route crossing Lake Biwa, but like the Biwa Lake Bridge, it is known as a place where suicides by jumping into the water are rampant. Rumors circulate that the souls that have sunk to the bottom of the water wander the bridge.

• Late at night, while driving, I saw an eerie figure running alongside me outside the window.
• The steering wheel suddenly became heavy near the middle of the bridge.
• I sense a ghostly presence inside the car.
• A woman in white clothing was spotted standing on the bridge railing.
• A strange sound suddenly comes from the car radio.

I was driving across the Omi Bridge late at night when, outside the passenger-side window, just above the surface of the lake, I saw a faint white figure, as if it were driving alongside my car. I was startled and squinted, but it was gone the next moment. It was definitely not of this world.

9. Shigai no Mori (Omihachiman City)

The Forest of the Gai, as its name suggests, is an eerie forest said to have once been an execution ground. Many criminals and prisoners met their end here, and it is said that their vengeful spirits still hang over the land. It is a place shrouded in an unsettling atmosphere that seems to repel anyone who approaches.

• Many people feel unwell after stepping inside.
• Countless groans and screams can be heard from deep within the forest.
• Eerie figures and floating spirits have been sighted.
• The temperature suddenly drops, and the air becomes heavy.
• Electronic devices may malfunction or run out of battery.

I remember the time my friend and I went to the entrance of the Forest of the Damned. From deep within the forest, we could hear countless voices. Groans, moans, and low voices that sounded like they were pleading for something...it was like hell. I didn't have the courage to step inside.

10. Seta no Karahashi Bridge (Otsu City)

Seta no Karahashi is a historic bridge, considered one of Japan's three most famous bridges. However, in the past, it was the site of numerous battles, and the blood of many samurai was shed there. It is said that this bloody history casts a shadow over the bridge at night.

• Late at night, if you stop in the middle of the bridge, you can hear a voice calling from the riverbed.
• A samurai ghost has been sighted walking across a bridge.
• Suddenly, I heard a sound like armor clashing.
• On the bridge, you can feel the cold wind and smell strange odors.
• A creepy face emerges from the water's surface.

I was crossing the Seta Karahashi Bridge late at night when I suddenly stopped in the middle of the bridge. Suddenly, I heard a low, resonant voice coming from the riverbed, as if calling my name. I was horrified and hurried across the bridge. It was undoubtedly the voice of a dead person.

🎬 Let's continue the horror experience with horror movies

After experiencing the terror of a haunted spot, how about watching a horror movie?

• The Ring (1998) – A masterpiece of Japanese horror
• The Grudge (2003) – No one who enters that house can escape.
• Inunaki Village (2020) - Based on real-life haunted locations

👉 Enjoy horror works even more

• TSUTAYA DISCAS — You can find horror movies and older DVDs that aren't available for streaming through home delivery rental.
• Geo Home Delivery Rental — You can rent J-horror and supernatural movie DVDs to your home.
• DMM Books — You can read horror manga and ghost stories as ebooks.
• Ameba Manga — Easy to find horror and suspense manga
• Audible — Enjoy audio readings of ghost stories and horror novels.

👉 Search for horror movies on Amazon

summary

There are many haunted places in Shiga Prefecture. Please be careful.Unauthorized entry is strictly prohibited.is.

*These personal accounts are based on information gathered through interviews and research.

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