[2026 Latest] Top 3 Ranking of Ghostly Rumors Related to Tunnels in Shikoku

Regarding the Sanbe Tunnel, Old Higashiyama Tunnel, and Tateishi Tunnel, which are known as haunted tunnels in Shikoku, we checked external rumor-posting pages and local government/road management documents separately. We compared not only the presence or absence of paranormal activity, but also specific claims such as length, pavement, location, completion date, and origin of the name, and indicate the extent to which we were able to confirm information and the extent to which we could not find evidence for each location.

Survey methods and evaluation criteria

The text on the rumor page was broken down into short, atomic claims and compared with publicly available documents from local governments or road administrators. Agreement was defined as all claims being supported by independent sources, partial agreement as both supported and unconfirmed claims coexisting, and disagreement as direct contradictions in terms such as date, structure, or use. Cases where direct comparison was not possible were classified as unmeasurable, and new facts were only identified when significant historical context not present in the rumor was confirmed despite the inability to make a comparison. The document quality score evaluated source transparency, historical and spatial context, safety information, recency of information, and source transparency of the rumor; the truthfulness or danger of the supernatural occurrences was not scored.

1st Place: Sanbe Tunnel (Old Sanbe Tunnel) | Partial Match (87 points)

The rumored details

The Occult Information Center describes the Sanbe Tunnel (Old Sanbe Tunnel) as a tunnel on the old road connecting the former Uwajima town and the former Sanbe town, and as a "Nationally Registered Tangible Cultural Property with a length of 317m, a height of approximately 4m, and a width of approximately 4m." On the other hand, it also lists rumors that "the ghost of someone who committed suicide by self-immolation appears" in the tunnel, that "if a taxi driver picks up a woman, she mysteriously disappears," and that one should not go there in a white car. These are rumors recorded on the same page, and do not mean that the incidents or phenomena are factual.

Source of the rumor and date of verification

The source of the rumor is the "Sanpei Tunnel" page on the Occult Information Center website, which is a secondary publication that combines the location, structural description, and multiple ghost stories into a single article. Since the public page does not show the original source, witnesses, or date of occurrence for each ghost story, the origin and transmission route of the rumor are unknown.

• Occult Information Center "Sanpei Tunnel"(Confirmed on 2026-09-20) — It describes the tunnel as a 317m long tunnel on the old road connecting the former Uwajima town and the former Sanbe town, and includes rumors of the ghost of a person who committed suicide by self-immolation, a female passenger who disappears midway through, and a warning to white cars.

Things that could be confirmed from official and primary source materials

The cultural property page of Seiyo City records the location of the Sanbe Tunnel (former Sanbe Tunnel) as Gonai, Uwacho, Seiyo City, the registration date as July 25, 2011, the start of construction as August 17, 1916, and the completion date as December 12, 1917. It is a brick tunnel with a length of approximately 317m, a height of approximately 4m, and a width of approximately 4m. Until around 1988, it was a prefectural road, and it is now a city road. The name Sanbe Tunnel comes from the fact that while both tunnel entrances are in Uwacho, Sanbe Village bore approximately 60% of the construction costs, excluding the prefectural funds. This origin of the name is not a supernatural phenomenon, but rather a history of the construction project as shown by the local government.

• Seiyo City: "Nationally Registered Sanbe Tunnel"(Confirmed on 2026-09-20) — Records the location, registration date, construction started in 1916 and completed in 1917, length approximately 317m, tunnel height approximately 4m, width approximately 4m, and brick construction. It explains that "although both the entrance and exit are located in Uwacho, Seiyo City, the name is Sanbe Tunnel," and also shows the relationship between the construction cost burden and the name.

Points of agreement/contradictions

The physical and historical claims—317 meters long, approximately 4 meters square, a nationally registered tangible cultural property, and a Taisho-era structure—matched the Seiyo City documents. The explanation that it connects the former Uwajima town and the former Sanpei town also corresponds to official records. On the other hand, regarding the ghost caused by a self-immolation, the disappearing female customer, and the warning about the white car, we could not find any incident records or phenomena records that could be directly compared with the Seiyo City documents acquired this time.

The rumored atomic claim	Matching results	reason	Corresponding documents
A nationally registered tangible cultural property, measuring 317m in length, approximately 4m in height, and approximately 4m in width.	support	The city of Seiyo has recorded it as a nationally registered tangible cultural property, with a length of approximately 317m, a height of approximately 4m, and a width of approximately 4m.	Seiyo City: "Nationally Registered Sanbe Tunnel"
The ghost of someone who committed self-immolation appears.	Unconfirmed	The cultural property materials acquired from Seiyo City deal with the history and structure of construction, and do not include any records that can confirm this incident or phenomenon.	No official data available for direct comparison.
Whenever I pick up a woman, she suddenly disappears.	Unconfirmed	The rumor page lacks the date of the incident, witnesses, and operational records, and there are no records in official documents that can be directly compared.	No official data available for direct comparison.

Alternative interpretation

The long, old brick tunnel, the stone structures near the entrance, and the low volume of traffic can all contribute to an environment that easily creates anxiety and misjudges of distance. Furthermore, the narrative of passengers disappearing midway is a recurring theme in ghost stories from various regions, and it is impossible to determine from the article alone whether this is an event unique to the Sanbe Tunnel.

Scope and limitations of the investigation

The official documents examined deal with the construction history, structure, location, and road use of the cultural property, but do not include comprehensive records of incidents or individual reports. The mere absence of ghost stories on official pages does not mean that the rumors are false or nonexistent. The initial source and specific date of occurrence could not be identified.

Verification results: Partial match

The length, dimensions, cultural property registration, and purpose connecting the former Uwajima town and the former Sanpei town are supported by independent Seiyo City documents, so the physical and historical aspects are consistent. However, the claims regarding the ghost of the person who committed self-immolation, the disappearing female passenger, and the white car remain unconfirmed as they cannot be substantiated or refuted. Because both support and unconfirmed aspects coexist, it is classified as partially consistent.

Document Quality Score

Source transparency	27/30	By separating the rumor page from the Seiyo City cultural property page, it becomes possible to clearly indicate the appropriate contact for each claim.
Historical and spatial context	23/25	The start and completion dates, structure, road use, cost sharing, and even the origin of the name can be traced using local government documents.
Safety information	16/20	While records confirm that it is currently a city road, I have not confirmed any traffic restrictions or road conditions on that particular day.
Newness of information	12/15	The public page was retrieved again on September 20, 2026, but the Seiyo City page itself was last updated in 2018.
Transparency of the source of rumors	9/10	While the rumor is explicitly mentioned in one published article, the initial publication date, date of occurrence, and witnesses are not provided.
total	87/100	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 Seiyo City records, it is currently designated as a city road, but the latest information on passability and disaster restrictions needs to be confirmed separately. Avoid stopping on narrow old roads or inside tunnels, exploring on foot, and visiting at night, and prioritize the regulations of the road administrator and the safety facilities at the site.

Map location: The location where the coordinates of the place on the rumor page were matched with the road location in Gouchi, Uwacho, Seiyo City.

Check the area around Sanbe Tunnel (Old Sanbe Tunnel) on Google Maps.

2nd Place: Old Higashiyama Tunnel (Anan City, Tokushima Prefecture) | Mismatch (85 points)

The rumored details

The section on paranormal phenomena describes the old Higashiyama Tunnel (Anan City, Tokushima Prefecture) as "a tunnel connecting Tachibana-cho and Niino-cho in Anan City," stating that it opened in 1959 and is "193 meters long." At the same time, it explains that "much of the tunnel's interior is unpaved," and that the unevenness of the rock face and seats adds to its eerie atmosphere. The ghost stories include claims of "a woman in white clothes standing still" at night, a woman appearing in the back seat, and footsteps and voices being heard.

Source of the rumor and date of verification

The source of the rumor is "Old Higashiyama Tunnel (Tokushima) | Rumored Ghost Stories," published by Shinrei Kousaku on January 27, 2025. It is a secondary publication that compiles multiple eyewitness accounts and personal experiences, but no materials are provided to identify the original publication date, the date of occurrence, or the witnesses for each story.

• Paranormal Investigation: "Old Higashiyama Tunnel (Tokushima)"(Verification Date: 2026-09-20) — It explains that the road opened in 1959, is 193 meters long, and connects Tachibana-cho and Niino-cho. It also describes its structure, noting that there are many unpaved sections, and includes rumors about women, the back seat, footsteps, and voices.

Things that could be confirmed from official and primary source materials

The detailed design drawings for the former Higashiyama Tunnel (Anan City, Tokushima Prefecture) in Tokushima Prefecture record the facility name as "Higashiyama Tunnel," the route as the Anan-Aioi Line, and the construction site as Shinno-cho, Anan City, and other locations. The drawings designate the ends as "Tachibana-cho side" and "Shinno-cho side," with a length of 193.0m, a road width of 4.0m, and a design speed of 40km/h. Furthermore, the design conditions explicitly state "road surface pavement: concrete," indicating that it is included in the scope of LED lighting installation work.

• Design drawings for the LED lighting equipment installation project in Higashiyama Tunnel, Tokushima Prefecture.(Confirmed on 2026-09-20) — The detailed design drawings cover the Higashiyama Tunnel on the Anan-Aioi Line, including Shinno-cho in Anan City, and specify the Tachibana-cho side and Shinno-cho side, with a total length of 193.0m, a road width of 4.0m, a design speed of 40km/h, and a concrete road surface.

Points of agreement/contradictions

The relative positions of the Tachibana-cho and Niino-cho sides, and the claim of a length of 193m, match the Tokushima Prefecture map. On the other hand, the statement on the rumor page that "much of the tunnel interior is unpaved" directly contradicts the design condition "road surface paved with concrete" on the prefectural map. The woman's figure, the back seat, footsteps, and voices are outside the scope of the map and cannot be confirmed or refuted. The 1959 opening date could not be verified using only the prefectural documents presented here.

The rumored atomic claim	Matching results	reason	Corresponding documents
A tunnel connecting Tachibana-cho and Niino-cho in Anan City	support	The Tokushima Prefecture map shows the ends of the Higashiyama Tunnel as the Tachibana-cho side and the Niino-cho side.	Design drawings for the LED lighting equipment installation project in Higashiyama Tunnel, Tokushima Prefecture.
Length: 193 meters	support	The detailed design drawings for Tokushima Prefecture clearly state that the length of the Higashiyama Tunnel is 193.0m.	Design drawings for the LED lighting equipment installation project in Higashiyama Tunnel, Tokushima Prefecture.
Many parts of the tunnel interior are unpaved.	contradiction	The design specifications in the prefectural drawings clearly state that the road surface pavement should be concrete, which directly contradicts the description that there are many unpaved areas.	Design drawings for the LED lighting equipment installation project in Higashiyama Tunnel, Tokushima Prefecture.
A woman dressed in white is standing there motionless.	Unconfirmed	The rumor page lacks dates and verifiable records, and the prefecture's equipment diagrams do not address the sighting phenomenon.	No official data available for direct comparison.

Alternative interpretation

Rough rock faces, differences between lined and sprayed sections, variations in lighting, and reflections in the car's interior mirrors can all contribute to the perception of unusual patterns and sounds. Since pavement and wall finishes are separate elements, it's also possible that the visible rock surface was mistaken for an unpaved road.

Scope and limitations of the investigation

The Tokushima Prefecture documents are detailed design drawings of the lighting equipment, not a ledger to verify the opening year, past reports, or individual eyewitness accounts. Therefore, only aspects that can be directly compared with the drawings, such as the condition of the pavement, were identified as inconsistencies, while the claims of strange occurrences and the 1959 opening date remained unconfirmed.

Verification result: Mismatch

While the location and length of 193m were supported by independent sources, the rumor page's specific claim that "much of it is unpaved" contradicts the Tokushima Prefecture map which states "road surface pavement: concrete." Following the priority rule for when there is even one directly contradictory claim, it was deemed a discrepancy. However, this judgment is based on a comparison of the entire rumor, including the pavement description, and does not prove that the anomaly does not exist.

Document Quality Score

Source transparency	26/30	By separating the rumor articles from the technical drawings of Tokushima Prefecture, it is possible to compare the location, length, and pavement of the claimed sections.
Historical and spatial context	22/25	You can check spatial conditions such as the route, the names of the towns on both sides, the length, width, pavement, and lighting facilities.
Safety information	16/20	We have confirmed that the project is subject to prefectural infrastructure construction, but we cannot guarantee the road's condition on that day in 2026.
Newness of information	12/15	Both documents were reacquired on September 20, 2026, but the prefectural drawings are from the construction project in fiscal year 2021.
Transparency of the source of rumors	9/10	While the release date and specific rumor text can be confirmed, the initial source of the eyewitness account and the witness remain unknown.
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

Because there are records indicating that it was treated as a road facility on a prefectural road, stopping or exploring on foot inside the tunnel could lead to traffic accidents. Nighttime visits and roadside parking should be avoided, and it is necessary to check the latest traffic regulations, construction information, and guidance from road administrators.

Map location: The location where the coordinates of the page containing the rumor were compared with the road location of Tokushima Prefectural Road Anan-Aioi Line.

Check the area around the old Higashiyama Tunnel (Anan City, Tokushima Prefecture) on Google Maps.

3rd Place: Tateishi Tunnel (Nakamura Tunnel) | Measurement Undetermined (68 points)

The rumored details

Occult Travel introduces the Tateishi Tunnel (Nakamura Tunnel) as having the official name Tateishi Tunnel, and the common name Nakamura Tunnel derived from the surrounding settlements, describing it as a hand-dug tunnel "completed in 1943 (Showa 18)" with a "total length of approximately 120m". It lists rumors such as "if the Jizo statue appears to be smiling you can't go home," "if the shrine door is open you will have an accident," "a female ghost appears," "you can hear children's voices," and "a cow was buried in the tunnel as a human sacrifice." The article also includes an explanation that the Jizo statue and the cow's grave were moved to the Shin-Tateishi Tunnel side.

Source of the rumor and date of verification

The source of the rumors is a visit report published by Occult Travel on April 29, 2019, and updated on September 7 of the same year. The report contains a mix of the author's on-site descriptions and collected rumors, and does not provide any original sources or dates for each story concerning the woman's voice, the child's voice, the Jizo statue, or the cow sacrifice.

• Occult Travel: Nakamura Tunnel (Tateishi Tunnel)(Confirmed on 2026-09-20) — The official name is Tateishi Tunnel, commonly known as Nakamura Tunnel, completed in 1943, approximately 120m long, hand-dug, and unlit. Rumors of Jizo statues, accidents, women's and children's voices, and a cow being used as a human sacrifice are also listed.

Things that could be confirmed from official and primary source materials

The list of road tunnels in Kagawa Prefecture does not include the Tateishi Tunnel (Nakamura Tunnel) itself, but rather the related "Shin-Tateishi Tunnel" as a facility on the Miki-Mure Prefectural Road. The table records that it was built in 1990, with a length of 376m, a width of 9.5m, and located in Miki Town. This is an official clue to distinguish between the old and new tunnels, but it is not a record that independently supports the old tunnel's completion in 1943, its length of approximately 120m, its unlined construction, its common name, the relocation of stone structures, or the ghost stories associated with it.

• List of road tunnels in Kagawa Prefecture(Confirmed on 2026-09-20) — The Kagawa Prefecture list includes "Shin-Tateishi Tunnel" as part of the Miki-Mure Prefectural Road, completed in 1990, with a length of 376m, a width of 9.5m, and located in Miki-cho. This is a record of a separate facility from the old tunnel.

Points of agreement/contradictions

The rumor page specifically describes the old tunnel, including its date, length, structure, and common name, but the Kagawa Prefecture documents that were obtained record the new Tateishi Tunnel, completed in 1990 and 376m long. Because the subjects are different, the 1943 completion date and the figure of approximately 120m for the old tunnel cannot be used to support or contradict the rumor. There are no official records that can be directly compared to the voices of women and children, the Jizo statue, or the cow sacrifice, so all of these remain unconfirmed.

The rumored atomic claim	Matching results	reason	Corresponding documents
Completed in 1943 (Showa 18)	Unconfirmed	Kagawa Prefecture records that the Shin-Tateishi Tunnel was completed in 1990, but the completion year of the old tunnel, which is a separate subject, cannot be confirmed.	No official data available for direct comparison.
Total length approximately 120m	Unconfirmed	The 376m listed in the prefecture's list refers to the Shin-Tateishi Tunnel and does not serve as evidence to support or refute the approximately 120m length of the old tunnel.	No official data available for direct comparison.
A female ghost appears	Unconfirmed	The rumor article lacks verifiable dates, witnesses, and independent records, and the prefectural documents do not address the phenomenon.	No official data available for direct comparison.
They buried a cow in the tunnel as a human sacrifice.	Unconfirmed	The rumor itself only speculates that it may have originated from Ushino-haka, and lacks any corroborating evidence from official construction records.	No official data available for direct comparison.

Alternative interpretation

The rumor page itself suggests that the story of the cow sacrifice may have originated from a stone monument called "Cow's Grave" that was located nearby. If the explanation that the stone structure was moved to another location is correct, it would be difficult to interpret the past rumors from its current arrangement. The article's description of it as a narrow, unlit, unlined space could also be another factor that intensifies the sense of unease caused by echoes and visual disturbances.

Scope and limitations of the investigation

The Kagawa Prefecture document is a list of road tunnels managed by the prefecture, and not an individual register listing the Tateishi Tunnel on the old road. The absence of the old tunnel from the list is not considered evidence of its non-existence or error. No other official page confirming the completion year, length, common name, or relocation of stone structures, as indicated in the rumor article, could be obtained in this limited investigation.

Verification result: Unmeasurable

While the independent documents obtained confirm the name, route, completion year, and length of the new Tateishi Tunnel, they cannot be directly compared with the specific claims of the old tunnel, Tateishi Tunnel (Nakamura Tunnel). It is not possible to confuse the old and new tunnels to create contradictions or coincidences, and since there are no verifiable dates or records in the ghost stories, it was deemed impossible to measure.

Document Quality Score

Source transparency	20/30	While I was able to obtain external rumors and a list of Kagawa Prefectures, the official documents only cover the Shin-Tateishi Tunnel.
Historical and spatial context	16/25	Although we have obtained clues to distinguish between the old and new tunnels, we cannot determine the age, length, or structure of the old tunnel from official documents.
Safety information	13/20	The rumors mention the road's narrowness and lack of lighting, but the current maintenance status and traffic restrictions on the old road have not been confirmed.
Newness of information	10/15	Both URLs were retrieved again on September 20, 2026, but the rumor article is a record of a publication from 2019.
Transparency of the source of rumors	9/10	While the rumors are listed in detail, their initial appearance, witnesses, and dates are not indicated.
total	68/100	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

We have not been able to confirm the latest official information regarding the maintenance status of the old road, whether it is passable, or the condition of the road surface and any rockfalls. Even based on the description that it is narrow and unlit, nighttime entry is dangerous, and access restrictions should be prioritized. Visits for the purpose of daredevil or roadside parking should be avoided.

Map location: Coordinates of the area near the center of the tunnel, as identified as Tateishi Tunnel on a publicly available map.

Check the area around Tateishi Tunnel (Nakamura Tunnel) on Google Maps.

What I learned by crossing locations

While the length, dimensions, and cultural property registration of the Sanbe Tunnel matched official records, claims of strange occurrences or incidents could not be confirmed. For the old Higashiyama Tunnel, the location and length matched, but the rumor page's statement that "many sections are unpaved" directly conflicted with the prefecture's design requirement of "concrete road surface." Even though the rumors about the Tateishi Tunnel were specific, the prefectural documents obtained this time only record the new Tateishi Tunnel, making it impossible to independently determine the age and structure of the old tunnel. Distinguishing between the old and new roads, and between official and common names, is a prerequisite for comparison.

summary

While external pages containing rumors were found for all three locations, the mere publication of such information does not prove any strange occurrences or incidents. The Sanbe Tunnel has the most comprehensive official records regarding its structure and history, and specific structural inconsistencies were confirmed at the former Higashiyama Tunnel. For the Tateishi Tunnel, only official records related to the new tunnel were available, making it impossible to verify the claims about the old tunnel. Rather than attempting on-site verification, it is necessary to prioritize the latest road regulations and administrator information.

FAQ

Are there any places where paranormal phenomena have been officially confirmed?

The municipal and road management documents obtained this time record the structure, location, construction history, and road facilities, but they are not documents that confirm the existence of any paranormal phenomena. The existence of a rumor page also does not prove the existence of the phenomenon.

Does the discrepancy mean that the supernatural phenomenon does not exist?

It does not mean that. The discrepancy between the old Higashiyama Tunnel and the concrete pavement shown in the prefectural map is a result of the contradiction between the specific road surface description that there are many unpaved sections and the actual concrete pavement. It does not mean that the unconfirmed eyewitness accounts themselves have been dismissed as nonexistent.

Is the information that the Tateishi Tunnel has become unmeasurable misinformation?

It has not been definitively confirmed that the information is incorrect. The prefectural documents obtained deal with the Shin-Tateishi Tunnel, and since it was not possible to directly compare the date and length of the old tunnel, it was classified as "unmeasurable" due to insufficient data.

Can you verify the rumors by going to the location?

Entering old roads and tunnels at night carries risks such as traffic, falling rocks, poor road conditions, and access restrictions. Instead of relying on on-site exploration, it is essential to prioritize checking the latest road regulations and publicly available information from road authorities.