[2026 Latest] Top 3 Ranking of Paranormal Rumors about Abandoned Buildings and Ruins in Southern Kyushu and Okinawa

From among the ruins and buildings in southern Kyushu and Okinawa, we have selected three war relics in Okinawa Prefecture that we were able to directly verify through external rumor pages, administrator or local government documents, and publicly available geographical information indicating their location. For Itokazu Cave (Abuchiragama), the former Navy Headquarters Cave, and Okinawa Army Hospital Haebaru Cave Group No. 20, we have categorized the rumored uses, structures, historical background, and personal accounts into individual claims. The rankings and scores are based solely on the quality of the materials, not on the truthfulness of the horror or supernatural occurrences.

Survey methods and evaluation criteria

The descriptions on the rumor page were broken down into atomic claims such as purpose, structure, date, events, and experiences, and compared with independent administrator and local government documents dealing with the same location. If all claims are supported, it is marked as "agreement"; if there is a coexistence of supported and unconfirmed claims, it is marked as "partial agreement"; and if even one claim directly contradicts another, it is marked as "disagreement". When a direct comparison is not possible, if an important mechanism or history not mentioned in the rumor can be confirmed in independent documents, it is marked as "new fact"; otherwise, it is marked as "unmeasurable". The existence of the location or facility, general war history, or the fact that the rumor was published alone does not support the supernatural occurrence. The judgment is based only on the explicitly stated claims, and the document quality score does not represent the degree of danger.

1st Place: Itokazu Cave (Abuchiragama) | Partial Match (94 points)

The rumored details

The individual page on the nationwide paranormal map lists Itokazu Cave (Abuchiragama) as a place where "the ghost of a man appears." While explaining the historical background by stating that "local refugees hid in this air-raid shelter" and "wounded soldiers were taken in here," it also notes that "those who were seriously injured were poisoned." There are also posts reporting physical ailments and inexplicable voices, but no conditions for occurrence or original records are provided.

Source of the rumor and date of verification

The source of the rumor is a dedicated page for a location on the user-submitted paranormal map website, with an update date of November 19, 2025. The page lists both the wartime use of the location and inexplicable experiences, but since the dates of individual experiences, original testimonies, supporting documents for the poisoning claim, and the original source of the rumor cannot be confirmed, it is treated as a secondary publication example.

• Nationwide Haunted Map: Itokazu Cave (Abuchiragama)(Verification Date: 2026-09-24) — It includes rumors of a male ghost appearing, an explanation that the shelter was used as a place to house wounded soldiers, and a description claiming that seriously injured people were poisoned.

Things that could be confirmed from official and primary source materials

The administrator's official website describes the Itokazu Cave (Abuchiragama) as a natural cave located in Itokazu, Tamagusuku, Nanjo City. Originally a designated evacuation shelter for the Itokazu settlement, it was used as a Japanese military position and warehouse, and as the battlefield advanced southward, it became a branch of the Haebaru Army Hospital. Military doctors, nurses, and the Himeyuri Student Corps were stationed there, and records indicate that more than 600 wounded soldiers were housed inside the 270-meter-long cave. It also explains that after the hospital withdrew, residents, surviving wounded soldiers, and Japanese soldiers all lived together in the same cave.

• Nanjo City Itokazu Abuchiragama Official Website(Confirmed on 2026-09-24) — It explains that the use of the shelter changed from an evacuation shelter in the Itokazu settlement to a Japanese military positional bunker and warehouse, and then to a branch of the Haebaru Army Hospital, with more than 600 wounded soldiers being housed inside its 270m-long interior.

Points of agreement/contradictions

Administrator documents support the fact that it was a designated evacuation shelter and later became a hospital annex for wounded soldiers. On the other hand, there is no mention of the man's inexplicable sighting or any description to support the rumor that seriously injured soldiers were poisoned on the official website obtained this time. The official documents record the period when residents and wounded soldiers were in the same shelter after the hospital withdrew, and the rumor's expression "everyone was driven out" does not allow for a specific time period, so it is not immediately considered a contradiction.

The rumored atomic claim	Matching results	reason	Corresponding documents
Local refugees were hiding in this air raid shelter.	support	The administrator's documents clearly state that the natural cave was originally a designated evacuation shelter for the Itokazu settlement, and therefore it is suitable for evacuation purposes.	Nanjo City Itokazu Abuchiragama Official Website
This location was chosen to house wounded soldiers from the military.	support	Administrator documents explain that it became a branch of the Haebaru Army Hospital and housed more than 600 wounded soldiers.	Nanjo City Itokazu Abuchiragama Official Website
A male ghost appears	Unconfirmed	Aside from user-submitted pages, there are no independent sources where the date and time of the incident, observation records, original testimonies, audio recordings, or video footage can be verified.	No official data available for direct comparison.
Those who were severely injured were poisoned.	Unconfirmed	The administrator page we obtained does not record this incident, and the rumor page also lacks supporting documents or materials to verify the individuals involved.	No official data available for direct comparison.

Alternative interpretation

The high humidity, darkness, narrow passages, airflow, and reverberation within natural caves can affect perceptions of cold, breathlessness, and sounds like voices. However, due to the lack of information regarding health conditions, temperature and humidity, the location of companions, and audio recordings at the time of each post, the specific cause of individual experiences cannot be determined.

Scope and limitations of the investigation

The only sources I directly checked were the location pages on the National Haunted Map and the official website for Itokazu Abuchiragama. I did not verify the original sources of the descriptions claiming poisoning, individual military and medical records, or original testimonies or recordings of inexplicable sightings. The administrator's materials are intended for the history of the battle site and as a guide for visitors, and are not records investigating all experiences in later years.

Verification results: Partial match

The specific use of the Itokazu Cave (Abuchiragama) as a designated evacuation shelter and later as a branch of the Haebaru Army Hospital to accommodate wounded soldiers was supported by administrator documents. On the other hand, the man's inexplicable sighting and claim of poisoning remain unconfirmed. Because both support and unconfirmed aspects coexist, it will be classified as "partially consistent." The only part that matches is the purpose of the cave and does not support the inexplicable phenomenon.

Document Quality Score

Source transparency	29/30	By directly obtaining location-specific rumor pages and the administrator's official website, we were able to verify the claimed uses of the locations as evacuation shelters and hospital annexes.
Historical and spatial context	24/25	The changes in use of the caves, from natural caves to designated shelters, military positions and warehouses, hospital annexes, and finally to facilities after the hospitals withdrew, are documented in detail.
Safety information	20/20	The administrator's website clearly states the requirements for reservations, dedicated guides, flashlights, and work gloves, allowing you to specifically check the conditions for access.
Newness of information	13/15	The administrator site lists business information and updates for 2026, but there are still unclear points regarding the timing of individual experiences as rumored.
Transparency of the source of rumors	8/10	While the location, purpose, and details of the experience are specific, the original source of the poisoning, verifiable information from the victim, and the origin of the rumor are not presented.
total	94/100	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

Reservations and a dedicated guide are required to enter the bunker, and the administrators state that a flashlight and work gloves are mandatory. Please check the official website for opening hours, closing days, and fees shortly before your visit, and observe the site quietly as a place of remembrance and peace education, without entering restricted areas.

Map location: These are the coordinates obtained by matching the official address with publicly available geographical information for Tamagusuku, Nanjo City, Itokazu.

Check the area around Itokazu Cave (Abuchiragama) on Google Maps.

2nd place: Old Navy headquarters trench | Partial match (90 points)

The rumored details

The "Navy Bunker Park" page on the National Haunted Map states that "the spirits of the Imperial Japanese Navy appear inside the former Navy Headquarters Bunker." It also mentions that "there are traces of a suicide bombing on the wall," and regarding the park area, it notes another rumor that "the ghost of a child appears on the slide." Individual submissions include experiences related to blurry photos and dreams, but no original records are provided to verify the phenomena.

Source of the rumor and date of verification

The source of the rumor is the dedicated page for the Navy Bunker Park on the user-submitted paranormal map website, with an update date of April 8, 2026. The story of the bunker and the park's playground equipment is covered on a single page, but since the original publication of the experience, observation conditions, original photographs, and third-party verification records cannot be confirmed, it is treated as a secondary publication example.

• Nationwide Haunted Map - Naval Bunker Park(Verification Date: 2026-09-24) — This article includes inexplicable sightings inside the former naval headquarters bunker, traces of suicide bombings remaining on the walls, and rumors about a slide in a park.

Things that could be confirmed from official and primary source materials

The administrator's official website explains that the former Imperial Japanese Navy Headquarters bunker was dug by the Imperial Japanese Navy Construction Unit in 1944, and at the time was approximately 450 meters long, serving as an underground fortification that housed 4,000 people. After the recovery of remains following the war, 300 meters of the bunker, centered around the commander's office, was restored in March 1970. Regarding the staff room, it is noted that fragments from a staff officer's suicide with a hand grenade remain on the wall. It is now open to the public as a war memorial park.

• Official Information about the Former Imperial Japanese Navy Headquarters Bunker(Confirmed on 2026-09-24) — It explains that the underground fortifications, approximately 450 meters long, were dug in 1944, and that the staff room still bears the traces of shrapnel from when a staff officer committed suicide with a hand grenade. It is now open to the public as a war memorial park.

Points of agreement/contradictions

The rumored claim that "there are traces of a suicide bombing on the wall" corresponds to the shrapnel marks from a suicide using a hand grenade in the staff room, as recorded by the administrator. On the other hand, there are no administrator records to support the rumors about inexplicable sightings inside the former naval headquarters bunker or the slide in the park. The fact that the bunker's history and the traces on the wall are factual does not prove that inexplicable phenomena occur there.

The rumored atomic claim	Matching results	reason	Corresponding documents
The traces of the suicide bomb remain on the wall.	support	The administrator's documents specifically explain that fragments from a grenade used to commit suicide by a staff officer remain on the wall of the staff room.	Official Information about the Former Imperial Japanese Navy Headquarters Bunker
The spirits of the Imperial Japanese Navy appear in the former naval headquarters bunker.	Unconfirmed	We were unable to obtain the date and time of the incident, verifiable original testimonies, continuous observation records, or independent materials such as video or audio recordings.	No official data available for direct comparison.
The slide is haunted by the ghost of a child.	Unconfirmed	Aside from the rumor page, there are no records that can identify the playground equipment in question, the date and time of the incident, or the conditions under which it was witnessed, and there is no corresponding description in the administrator's documents.	No official data available for direct comparison.

Alternative interpretation

The dimness, narrowness, sound reverberation, lighting variations, and long staircases of underground passages can affect visual and physical sensations. While exposure time and camera shake can also contribute to blur in photographs, it is impossible to pinpoint a specific cause for individual posts without the original photograph, equipment information, and environmental conditions.

Scope and limitations of the investigation

The only sources I directly checked were the Navy Bunker Park page on the National Haunted Map website and the official website for the former Navy Headquarters Bunker Project. I did not check the original photographs, dates and times of incidents, records of those present, or maintenance records for the park's playground equipment for individual posts. Official documents are intended for the preservation and public display of war relics and are not intended to be used to investigate all subsequent experiences.

Verification results: Partial match

The physical claim that traces remain on the walls was supported by the administrator's explanation that fragments from a suicide using a hand grenade remain in the staff room. However, the inexplicable sightings inside the former naval headquarters bunker and the rumors of a slide remain unconfirmed. Because both supported and unconfirmed claims coexist, we will classify them as "partially consistent." The only area of agreement is the historical traces on the walls.

Document Quality Score

Source transparency	28/30	I was able to directly obtain the rumored location page and the official bunker guide from the administrator, and compare the traces on the walls with unconfirmed sightings.
Historical and spatial context	24/25	The administrator's records allow us to trace the excavation year, the original length, the storage capacity, the year of post-war restoration, and even the purpose of each room in detail.
Safety information	18/20	The facility's operating hours and the existence of restricted areas can be confirmed, and the need to adhere to the administrator's designated viewing areas is clear.
Newness of information	12/15	The official website lists business information for 2026, but the individual experiences on the rumors page lack sufficient information regarding the timing of the incidents and verification materials.
Transparency of the source of rumors	8/10	While the specific trenches, walls, and playground equipment involved are described, the initial mention of the experience, the original photographs, the conditions under which it occurred, and the verification records are not provided.
total	90/100	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 check the official website for opening hours, last admission times, and any temporary closures, and only use the publicly accessible viewing routes. Please be careful of your footing on stairs and dimly lit corridors, and refrain from entering unopened trenches or restricted areas. Please behave appropriately at this war memorial site.

Map location: These are the coordinates obtained by matching the official administrator address with the facility location in publicly available geographical information.

Check the area around the former Imperial Japanese Navy Headquarters bunker on Google Maps.

3rd Place: Okinawa Army Hospital Haebaru Bunker Group No. 20 | New Facts (88 points)

The rumored details

The individual page on the nationwide paranormal map links the Okinawa Army Hospital Haebaru Cave No. 20 to an event during the retreat to the south, stating that "only potassium cyanide was left for over 2,000 seriously wounded" and "the remaining seriously wounded committed suicide by drinking potassium cyanide." It also includes anecdotal claims that "people with psychic abilities feel uneasy when they go there" and warnings that accidents will occur if you get close, but it does not provide any original sources or records of incidents.

Source of the rumor and date of verification

The source of the rumor is the Okinawa Army Hospital Haebaru Bunker Group No. 20 page on the user-submitted paranormal map website, with an update date of October 10, 2019. It specifically describes events and changes in physical condition during the retreat, but since the source regarding potassium cyanide, the scope of the target, the basis for the number of people, and the original record of the experience cannot be confirmed, it is treated as a secondary publication example.

• Nationwide Haunted Map - Okinawa Army Hospital Haebaru Bunker Group No. 20(Verification Date: 2026-09-24) — This article claims that potassium cyanide was left for over 2,000 seriously injured people during the retreat to the south, and includes anecdotal rumors of people feeling sick or getting into accidents in the area.

Things that could be confirmed from official and primary source materials

Haebaru Town describes Bunker No. 20 of the Okinawa Army Hospital Haebaru Bunker Group as part of a group of hospital bunkers where the Himeyuri Student Corps served as nursing assistants. Haebaru Town records the history of how Bunker No. 20 was initially used for internal medicine but was changed to the Second Surgical Department after the war situation worsened. Bunker No. 20 is an artificial horizontal tunnel approximately 70 meters long and 1.8 meters high and wide, and its structure, which curves from the entrance towards the center, is said to have been intended to protect against attacks such as bullets. The intersection with Bunkers No. 19 and 21 was an operating room, and it is explained that two-tiered beds were installed in the wall.

• Haebaru Town, Okinawa Army Hospital, Haebaru Cave Group No. 20(Confirmed on 2026-09-24) — Group 20 initially functioned as an internal medicine department, but as the war situation worsened, the number of surgical patients increased sharply, and the original surgical department was renamed the First Surgical Department, while Group 20, which had been an internal medicine department, was renamed the Second Surgical Department. It is described as an artificial horizontal tunnel approximately 70m long, with the central part serving as an operating room.

Points of agreement/contradictions

Regarding the rumors about potassium cyanide poisoning and the resulting health changes in over 2,000 people, we could not find any direct support or contradictions in the location data we obtained from Haebaru Town. On the other hand, the town data records the specific functions of bunker No. 20 itself, including its change of use from internal medicine to the second surgical department, its defensive curved structure, and its function as an operating room and bunk beds. This is important information for understanding how bunker No. 20 was used, which was not shown on the rumor page.

The rumored atomic claim	Matching results	reason	Corresponding documents
They left only potassium cyanide for over 2,000 seriously injured people.	Unconfirmed	The rumor page lists the number of people and the items involved, but there is no corresponding description in the town records obtained, and no primary source to support it is presented.	No official data available for direct comparison.
The remaining severely injured people committed suicide by drinking potassium cyanide.	Unconfirmed	The location data we have examined in Haebaru Town alone does not allow us to directly compare the subjects, number of people, or timing of this incident.	No official data available for direct comparison.
People with psychic abilities will feel uneasy if they go there.	Unconfirmed	Due to the lack of conditions for occurrence, medical records, environmental measurements, and verifiable original testimonies, it is impossible to reproduce or compare the events using independent sources.	No official data available for direct comparison.

Alternative interpretation

Dark, narrow artificial tunnels, low ceilings, humidity, temperature differences, and prolonged tension can affect physical sensations such as nausea and discomfort. However, since there is no record of the individual's health condition at the time of posting, environmental measurements, or accompanying records, it is not possible to limit the cause of the physical changes to the environment alone.

Scope and limitations of the investigation

The only sources I directly checked were the location pages on the nationwide paranormal map and the dedicated page for Bunker No. 20 in Haebaru Town. I did not check primary sources regarding potassium cyanide and the more than 2,000 people involved, military and medical records, the entire collection of testimonies, or the medical records of the submitted changes in physical condition. The town documents explain the structure and usage history of the bunker, but they are not materials that verify all elements of the rumors.

Verification results: New facts

The core claim of the rumor—potassium cyanide, over 2,000 victims, and altered health—did not receive direct support or contradiction from the independent documents obtained this time. However, documents from Haebaru Town revealed that Unit 20 was repurposed from internal medicine to the second surgical department, and that it was equipped with structural defensive features and an operating room. While a direct comparison is not possible, this specific functional change, which was not mentioned in the rumor, alters our understanding of the story, so we will consider it a "new fact." This does not prove an inexplicable phenomenon.

Document Quality Score

Source transparency	28/30	We directly obtained the rumor page for each location and the page for Bunker No. 20 in Haebaru Town, separating the rumors that cannot be compared from the structures that can be confirmed.
Historical and spatial context	24/25	You can find information in local government documents about the change from internal medicine to the second surgical department, the dimensions of the trenches, the purpose of the curved structure, the operating room, and even the bunk beds.
Safety information	18/20	While the reservation-only tours, public access locations, and management offices are listed in the local government documents, the update dates on those pages are outdated, so it is necessary to check for the most up-to-date information.
Newness of information	10/15	The official page is still accessible, but it was last updated in 2015, and the rumors page was last updated in 2019, so you will need to reconfirm the terms of use.
Transparency of the source of rumors	8/10	While details such as the number of people, materials, withdrawal, and changes in health are provided, primary sources, scope, original testimonies, and the date of occurrence are not presented.
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

According to the information provided by Haebaru Town, tours are by reservation only. Since the page is outdated, please confirm the opening dates, reception hours, fees, and meeting place with the Haebaru Cultural Center in advance. Please follow the guide's instructions and the designated areas, and do not enter areas 19 and 21, which are closed due to cave-ins, or other unlisted sections.

Map location: The coordinates are obtained by matching the official address, which is within Kogane Mori Park in Haebaru Town, with publicly available geographical information.

Check the area around Okinawa Army Hospital Haebaru Cave Group No. 20 on Google Maps.

What I learned by crossing locations

At the Itokazu Cave (Abuchiragama) and the former Navy Headquarters Cave, we were able to confirm the rumored use as an air-raid shelter and a branch hospital, as well as traces of debris remaining on the staff room walls, through administrator records. However, we could not confirm any inexplicable sightings or physical sensations. At Okinawa Army Hospital Haebaru Cave Group No. 20, we could not obtain any documents directly supporting the rumors of potassium cyanide or changes in physical condition, but we learned new details about the specific circumstances under which No. 20 was changed from internal medicine to the Second Surgical Department. At all three locations, it is necessary to read the recorded facts of the war relics separately from the later personal accounts.

summary

The Itokazu Cave (Abuchiragama), ranked first in document quality, showed a history of transformation from a designated evacuation shelter to a hospital annex. The former Navy Headquarters Cave, ranked second, had evidence of excavation in 1944 and fragments of the staff room that matched the administrator's records. However, the inexplicable sightings reported at both locations remain unconfirmed. At the Okinawa Army Hospital Haebaru Cave Group No. 20, ranked third, we could not directly compare the core claims of the rumors, but we confirmed the new fact that the use of No. 20 had been changed. All of these are places for memorial and peace education, and it is essential to abide by the administrator's usage conditions, not to use them as a test of courage.

FAQ

Does "partially matching" mean that an inexplicable phenomenon was observed?

No. Partial agreement indicates that only the specific facts, such as the intended use or structure, included in the rumor are supported by independent sources, while other claims, such as eyewitness accounts or physical sensations, remain unconfirmed.

Does this new finding represent a world first?

It doesn't mean that. In this article, we will only use it when we have been able to confirm specific circumstances that change our understanding of the story through independent sources, even if they were not mentioned on the rumor page we referenced.

Is the document quality score related to the level of danger in the area?

That's incorrect. The scoring system considers factors such as source transparency, historical and spatial context, safety information, the recency of the information, and the transparency of the rumor's origin. It does not quantify the intensity of the supernatural phenomena or the safety of visiting the location.

Can I freely visit the trenches that are featured in the photos?

No, you cannot. Reservations, guide services, reception hours, and access areas vary by location. Always check the latest information from the administrator and do not enter closed or restricted areas.