[2026 Latest] Top 3 Ranking of Ghostly Rumors at Castle Ruins in Shimane Prefecture

The sounds of sobbing from the castle tower, footsteps following behind on the mountain path, and sounds heard after returning home—the locations where these stories are said to have taken place, as well as the materials needed for comparison, differ among the three castle ruins in Shimane Prefecture.
Comparing the rumored article with official and tourist information, there are discrepancies in the description of the mountain's height at Tsuwano Castle ruins, and differences remain in the subject matter of the materials used for Matsue Castle and Mitoya Castle ruins. We will separate and organize the correction of the numbers and the verification of the strange occurrences.

Survey methods and evaluation criteria

I read three pages of the nationwide paranormal map, which I obtained and saved on October 20, 2026, as well as guides from the official Matsue Castle website, Tsuwano Town, and Unnan City Tourism Association. I did not conduct any on-site measurements or interviews with people who had experienced paranormal activity.

We compare the specific claims in the rumors using five categories: agreement, partial agreement, disagreement, immeasurable, and new facts. The ranking is based on the sum of source transparency (30), history/space (25), safety (20), novelty (15), and rumor source transparency (10), and does not reflect the level of fear or the probability of ghosts.

The illustrations are AI-generated images and are not photographs that document the actual terrain or experiences of the location.

1st place: Tsuwano Castle Ruins｜Unmatched (84 points)

The rumored details

The page for Tsuwano Castle Ruins on the nationwide paranormal map mentions stories of someone following you on the mountain path leading to the main keep, or of the sound of a warrior's footsteps following you. It also mentions hearing the sound of a conch shell in the distance. The date of the experience and the original recording of the sound are not provided.

The source describes Mount Reikizan as having an elevation of "367 meters" and also mentions the major renovations made by Sakazaki Naomori to transform it into a modern castle. We compared these separate claims—the auditory experience, the mountain's height, and the castle's renovations—with official tourist information.

Source of the rumor and date of verification

The source I referenced is the Tsuwano Castle Ruins page from the National Haunted Map, and the text was saved on October 20, 2026. This is treated as a secondary publication example of the story about footsteps and conch shells.

The first person to experience it, the date of the report's publication, and the location where it was heard could not be identified. The number of ratings and votes on the page were not used to verify the independence of the audio source.

• Nationwide Haunted Map - Tsuwano Castle Ruins(Verification Date: 2026-10-20) — This entry includes stories of warrior footsteps following on a mountain path and the sound of a conch shell blowing in the distance. It states the elevation of Mt. Reikizan as 367 meters and also introduces the major renovation of the castle by Sakazaki Naomori.

Things that could be confirmed from official and primary source materials

The guide to the castle ruins in Tsuwano Town explains that Tsuwano Castle is located on Mt. Reikizan, which is 362 meters above sea level, and that the relative height from the foot of the mountain is approximately 200 meters. Since altitude and relative height are different values, we will compare the altitudes here.

The same guide explains that Sakazaki Naomori carried out a major renovation to transform the castle into a modern fortress with high stone walls, and it also provides a distinction between the main castle and the outer bailey. It also warns of the gravel paths, scree slopes, and the stone steps before and after rainfall.

• Tourist information for Tsuwano Town and Tsuwano Castle Ruins(Confirmed on 2026-10-20) — The elevation of Mt. Reikizan is described as 362m, and the relative height from the foot of the mountain is approximately 200m. It explains the major renovations by Sakazaki Naomori into a modern castle with high stone walls, the structure of the main castle and outworks, and cautions about footing.

Points of agreement/contradictions

The rumor page lists the elevation as 367 meters, while the town's information lists the same Mt. Reiki as 362 meters. We were only able to compare the reported height of the mountain; we were unable to confirm the surveying reasons for the discrepancy.

The explanation of the major renovations by Sakazaki Naomori corresponds to the town's guided tour. On the other hand, even if you confirm the height of the mountain and the renovations of the castle, it doesn't mean you've confirmed the sound of footsteps following you on the mountain path or the sound of conch shells.

The rumored atomic claim	Matching results	reason	Corresponding documents
Elevation 367 meters	contradiction	While rumors indicate that Mt. Reikameyama has an elevation of 367 meters, the information provided for the same castle ruins in Tsuwano town lists its elevation as 362 meters. The origin of this difference remains uninvestigated.	Tourist information for Tsuwano Town and Tsuwano Castle Ruins
Major renovations to the castle into a modern-style structure by Sakazaki Naomori	support	The town's guide also states that it was extensively renovated by Sakazaki Naomori into a modern castle with high stone walls, which aligns with the rumored historical explanation.	Tourist information for Tsuwano Town and Tsuwano Castle Ruins
The sound of warrior footsteps follows.	Unconfirmed	I have confirmed that the rumor was posted, but it does not include the date and time of the experience or a recording, and the town's castle guide is not a record that verifies the individual sounds of the mountain path.	Nationwide Haunted Map - Tsuwano Castle Ruins

Alternative interpretation

To examine the account of hearing a sound on a mountain path, it is necessary to investigate the presence of passersby in the vicinity, the direction from which the sound traveled, and how the terrain affected how the sound was heard. However, the preserved text does not include these conditions or recordings.

While the town's descriptions of high stone walls and mountain castles might evoke images of samurai warriors, that doesn't fully explain the cause of the experience.

Scope and limitations of the investigation

This study compared the town's tourist information with the actual articles about the rumors. It did not involve on-site sound measurements, interviews with people who experienced the phenomenon, or inquiries about the circumstances surrounding the adoption of altitude values.

The town's webpage contains information registered in 2022. Even if the registration date is recent, there is no guarantee that the usage conditions for lifts and illuminations listed in the information are still the same, so the latest information is necessary when visiting.

Verification result: Mismatch

There was a discrepancy between the rumored specific altitude figure and the information provided for the independent town. While there are corresponding descriptions regarding the major castle renovation, the criterion for judgment prioritizes cases where there is a discrepancy in the atomic claims.

This assessment does not conclude that there were no footsteps or conch shell sounds. The matter of sounds remains unconfirmed due to insufficient information regarding the date and time of the experience and the original records.

Document Quality Score

Source transparency	28/30	The town's castle ruins guide and the rumor text are provided at separate URLs, allowing you to specifically track the elevation and compare the areas of renovation.
Historical and spatial context	23/25	While we can distinguish between the main castle and the outer fort, and between elevation and relative height, the original source material that caused the difference in numerical values has not yet been confirmed.
Safety information	18/20	The town provides specific warnings about gravel roads, rocky areas, and stone steps before and after rain, allowing you to understand the conditions for walking.
Newness of information	11/15	The acquisition date is October 20, 2026, but the town's information is registered in 2022 and does not reflect the actual operating status on that day.
Transparency of the source of rumors	4/10	While the sources for the footsteps and conch shell sounds are known, the first person to experience them and the original recording of the sounds cannot be confirmed.
total	84/100	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 town is warning visitors to be careful of uneven terrain and the risk of falls. Please wear comfortable shoes and avoid strenuous activity on the stone steps before or after rain. Do not climb on the stone walls or take away roof tiles or rocks.

Please check the latest official information regarding lifts and nighttime use. The map of the castle ruins is for understanding the location of facilities and does not indicate the location where footsteps were heard or whether nighttime entry is permitted.

Check the area around Tsuwano Castle ruins on Google Maps.

2nd place: Matsue Castle | Unmeasurable (70 points)

The rumored details

The nationwide paranormal map of Matsue Castle lists two separate legends about it: one about a girl who was sacrificed as a human offering, and the other about a mendicant monk who was sacrificed. In the girl's story, it is said that sobbing can be heard coming from the castle tower.

Furthermore, there are stories of the spirits of defeated warriors appearing around Baba Pond. The history of the human sacrifice, the voices from within the castle, and the sightings at the pond are all different accounts and have not been pieced together as a single experience.

Source of the rumor and date of verification

I read the Matsue Castle page of the nationwide paranormal map, which I obtained on October 20, 2026. It is a secondary publication that compiles legends and eyewitness accounts, and is not a document that definitively confirms the original appearance of the legend.

The source mentions the title of a work by Lafcadio Hearn, but we have not obtained the original text for this article. The mere presence of a work title does not constitute confirmation of the existence of human sacrifices or any matching to the work.

• Nationwide Haunted Map - Matsue Castle(Verification Date: 2026-10-20) — This article introduces two legends of human sacrifice: one about a young girl and the other about a mendicant monk, the sound of sobbing in the castle tower, and the story of a defeated warrior at Baba Pond. It also mentions the titles of works by Lafcadio Hearn, but the original texts were not obtained at this time.

Things that could be confirmed from official and primary source materials

The official access guide for Matsue Castle distinguishes between motorcycle and bicycle parking areas, as well as public transport and nearby parking. It explains that bicycle parking is behind the tourist information center, while motorcycle parking is along the city road next to the lower level of the second bailey.

Please note that due to the large number of pedestrians within the castle grounds, motorcycles are only permitted from Inari Bridge. This page deals with transportation and usage conditions, and is not a historical document that examines the legends of human sacrifice or the pond.

• Matsue Castle Official Website - How to Get to Matsue Castle(Verification Date: 2026-10-20) — Separate parking areas are provided for motorcycles and bicycles, and motorcycles are only permitted to enter the castle grounds, which are often crowded with pedestrians, from Inari Bridge. This page is not a verification of the history of legends.

Points of agreement/contradictions

To compare this with the rumored human sacrifice story, we need the original text of the legend, its creation date, and documents detailing the castle's construction. The official access information we obtained did not contain any explanations that directly address these claims.

The existence of official facility information is not used as support for the legend, nor is the lack of information used as counter-evidence. Regarding the sighting at Baba Pond, its authenticity cannot be determined from the parking and bicycle parking information provided in the guide.

The rumored atomic claim	Matching results	reason	Corresponding documents
Sobbing can be heard from the castle tower.	Unconfirmed	While there are examples of voice recordings linked to the legend of human sacrifice, there are no records of the date, time, or original audio sources, and it cannot be independently verified from official transportation information.	Nationwide Haunted Map - Matsue Castle
The spirits of defeated warriors appear around Baba Pond.	Unconfirmed	While the rumor text mentions the pond, we do not have the original eyewitness accounts. The parking and bicycle parking information is not evidence to verify the eyewitness accounts.	Nationwide Haunted Map - Matsue Castle

Alternative interpretation

The fact that two different legends—one about a young girl and the other about a wandering monk—are linked to the same castle provides a clue to understanding how the stories were transmitted. However, it's unclear from this study which story came first, or whether they were later combined.

To investigate the sound and the appearance of the pond, we need the location where it was heard, the people around, and original recordings of the lighting and sound. We cannot determine the source of the sound or the cause of the misperception based solely on the legend's storyline.

Scope and limitations of the investigation

The scope of this investigation is limited to saved rumor pages and the official access guide for Matsue Castle. It is not an investigation that verifies the original texts of Lafcadio Hearn's works, historical documents on the castle's construction, or individual eyewitness accounts of the pond.

Even though the official guide provides detailed transportation information, it doesn't mean I've thoroughly researched all the legends surrounding the castle. I distinguish between being able to track down the titles of works and facilities and being able to verify the events that were recounted.

Verification result: Unmeasurable

There is a lack of primary sources to determine the origins of the human sacrifices, as well as individual records of sobbing sounds and the appearance of the pond. The official access guide outlines the terms of use and is not a document that can be directly compared with these claims.

I reread the retrieved text, but found no verifiable findings corresponding to human sacrifices or voices. I did not consider the existence of the castle alone to be a partial match, and instead considered it impossible to measure within this scope.

Document Quality Score

Source transparency	25/30	While we can separate the source of the rumor from the official access information, we haven't been able to obtain the original source of the legend.
Historical and spatial context	15/25	While the two storylines regarding the human sacrifice can be distinguished, the correspondence with the original historical sources regarding the period of creation and the construction of the castle remains.
Safety information	16/20	While the entry and bicycle parking conditions prioritizing pedestrians are specific, the latest regulations around the pond need to be checked separately.
Newness of information	10/15	The text retrieved on October 20, 2026, is used, and the origins of individual legends and voices are considered unknown.
Transparency of the source of rumors	4/10	While I can track down the secondary publication locations and mentions of the work's title, I haven't been able to verify the initial report or the original work itself.
total	70/100	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

Please abide by the entry and parking conditions specified in the official guide and do not obstruct pedestrian traffic. You are not required to perform any of the tests described by the source, such as holding your breath around the pond.

Do not proceed to closed areas or the waterfront. Please check the latest information regarding opening status with the site and the administrator. The map shows pins for castle facilities and does not pinpoint the origin of the legend.

Check the area around Matsue Castle on Google Maps.

3rd Place: Mitoya Castle Ruins | Unmeasurable (64 points)

The rumored details

The National Haunted Map includes a story about someone who started hearing rapping sounds and feeling a human presence at home after visiting the ruins of Mitoya Castle. It also mentions feeling chills during the visit and having strange dreams that night.

The source presents these stories as tales of bringing spirits home. However, there is no record of connecting the visit to the castle ruins with the sounds or dreams that occurred at home afterward.

Source of the rumor and date of verification

The source I referenced was the page for the Mitoya Castle Ruins from the National Haunted Map, which I obtained on October 20, 2026. I read it as an example of secondary publication regarding sounds, presences, and dreams experienced after a visit.

We were unable to confirm the original report from the person who experienced the incident, the date of the incident, or any recordings of sounds from their home. The castle history description on the rumor page has also not been adopted beyond what could be confirmed with the independent historical materials used in this investigation.

• Nationwide Haunted Map - Mitoya Castle Ruins(Verification Date: 2026-10-20) — This post describes an experience of bringing a spirit home, including hearing sounds and sensing presences at home after visiting castle ruins, feeling chills, and having strange dreams that night.

Things that could be confirmed from official and primary source materials

The cherry blossom information from the Unnan City Tourism Association features the area around the Mitoya River riverside park. The description states that the cherry trees lining the Mitoya River are located on both banks of the river that flows at the foot of the Mitoya Castle ruins.

This provides a clue to distinguishing the castle ruins from the riverside area, but it is not a document that investigates the history of the castle's renovation or abandonment, or what happened after visitors left. Please do not interpret the cherry blossom information as permission to use the entire castle grounds.

• Unnan City Tourism Association - Unnan Cherry Blossom Information(Confirmed on 2026-10-20) — This explains that the rows of cherry trees around the Mitoya River riverbed park are located on both banks of the Mitoya River, which flows at the foot of the Mitoya Castle ruins. This document does not verify sounds or dreams after visiting the castle ruins.

Points of agreement/contradictions

The official guide only describes the area along the river lined with cherry trees and the foot of the castle ruins. This is not comparable to whether the rapping sounds or dreams occurred after returning home, or whether the visit to the castle ruins was the cause.

Even if the rumor page includes a long history of the castle, that doesn't provide any evidence to connect that history to the sounds at the house. The existence or proximity of the cherry tree-lined street is not used to support the explanation that a spirit was brought back.

The rumored atomic claim	Matching results	reason	Corresponding documents
I've started hearing rapping sounds and sensing someone's presence at home.	Unconfirmed	While secondary publication can be confirmed, there is no information about the circumstances before or after the visit, nor is there any recording, so the events at the home cannot be confirmed from the tourist association's guide along the river.	Nationwide Haunted Map - Mitoya Castle Ruins
From that night on, I started having strange dreams.	Unconfirmed	We do not have the original report or the date of occurrence of the dream. Therefore, a causal relationship cannot be determined solely from the chronological order of the dream and the visit to the castle ruins.	Nationwide Haunted Map - Mitoya Castle Ruins

Alternative interpretation

To investigate the sounds after returning home, it's necessary to compare the house's equipment, surrounding noises, the time the sounds occurred, and the situation before the visit. Regarding the dream, the timing of when the story was learned and the details of the experience are unclear.

The mere fact that the incident occurred after visiting the castle ruins is not enough to conclude that the visit was the cause. On the other hand, since we did not actually measure these conditions, we cannot definitively say that the cause was due to equipment noise or psychological factors.

Scope and limitations of the investigation

I compared the saved rumor text with the cherry blossom information from the tourist association. I did not make any recordings at home, keep records before or after my visit, or interview anyone who had experienced it. I also did not investigate the current state of all sections of the castle ruins.

The tourism association's page has an update for cherry blossoms in 2026, but that doesn't indicate the date the rumor started. I'm separating the recency of the official information from the lack of personal records.

Verification result: Unmeasurable

The conditions are not met to examine the relationship between the records of sounds and dreams and the visit to the castle ruins. The official riverside guide helps to understand the location, but it is not a direct reference for the events at home.

Even after re-examining the acquired materials, we were unable to find any descriptions that support or refute the core of the rumor, nor any independent discoveries that would change our understanding of the story. Therefore, it remains immeasurable.

Document Quality Score

Source transparency	24/30	While the cherry blossom information from the tourism association can be distinguished from the rumors themselves, the original report of what happened at home has not been received.
Historical and spatial context	12/25	While the relative locations of the river and the castle ruins can be discerned, this is not a research investigation that cross-references the castle history in the rumor text with original historical sources.
Safety information	13/20	Returning to the introduction of the park along the river, I haven't been able to confirm the conditions for opening the mountain trails of the castle ruins or all sections of the park.
Newness of information	12/15	I retrieved the text, which includes updates on cherry blossoms for 2026, but that is separate from the date of the experience.
Transparency of the source of rumors	3/10	While it's possible to track down where the post-visit accounts were published, the details of the experience, the sound recordings, and the situation before the visit remain unknown.
total	64/100	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 sign indicating cherry blossoms along the river does not mean that you can freely explore the mountain paths and stone walls of the castle ruins. Please check the usage conditions for both the park and the castle ruins, and do not cross any restricted areas or fences along the water's edge.

Even if you are bothered by sounds or presences, there is no need to revisit the place to test the rumors. The map is merely a guide to show the location of the facility and does not indicate the cause of any experiences after returning home.

Check the area around Mitoya Castle ruins on Google Maps.

What I learned by crossing locations

At the Tsuwano Castle ruins, we were able to directly compare the elevation of the mountain mentioned in the rumors with the town's description of the same mountain. Although there was a discrepancy in the numbers, the cause of the noise on the mountain path remains unconfirmed.

The official access guide for Matsue Castle is not a resource for researching the original source of the legend. Similarly, the cherry blossom information for the Mitoya Castle ruins is merely to help distinguish between the riverside area and the castle ruins, and is not a record of the sounds I heard at my home.

Grouping the three locations together as the same castle ruins and ghost stories confuses different questions such as the origin of the legend, the sounds heard at the site, and the causal effects after visiting. Comparing the same sources is key to understanding the differences in judgment.

summary

The discrepancy between the description of the Tsuwano Castle ruins and the town's explanation of Mount Reiki's elevation as 367 meters is a difference between the two. It does not negate the existence of footsteps or conch shells.

The human sacrifice and voices at Matsue Castle, and the post-return experiences at the Mitoya Castle ruins, could not be measured due to a lack of original sources and individual records. Do not rely on transportation information or cherry blossom information as evidence of supernatural occurrences, and please check the latest usage conditions for each facility before visiting.

FAQ

Does the discrepancy at the Tsuwano Castle ruins mean that there are no ghosts there?

This refers to discrepancies in the recorded altitudes. The sounds of footsteps on the mountain path and the conch shell horn are unconfirmed due to a lack of recordings or recorded dates. The reason for the numerical differences has not been investigated this time.

Have you seen the legend of the human sacrifice at Matsue Castle in Lafcadio Hearn's works?

This time, I've only read the mentions of the work's title on the rumor page. Since I haven't obtained the original text of the work, I cannot confirm whether it matches the legend or whether the human sacrifice actually existed.

If I know the location of the Mitoya Castle ruins, will I be able to check the sounds after I get home?

The location of the facility and the sounds at home are separate issues. Since there are no records of the situation or sounds before and after the visit, a causal relationship with the visit cannot be determined.

Can a map of the castle ruins be used for nighttime exploration?

The map is intended to help you understand the area around the facility and does not grant permission for entry or nighttime use. Please check the latest official information regarding the opening status of the castle ruins, as well as the conditions of the lifts and trails.