Aokigahara – The Suicide Forest, Japan
18th September 2016
Located at the very base of the iconic Mount Fuji, Japans very own demon forest. Locally known as Aokigahara this forest has witnessed over 500 confirmed suicides since the 1950’s. But whats drawing people here, even the locals admit the whispers place seems to even pull them in. 500 suicides in one location …. How couldn’t it be haunted.
A view of Suicide Forest.
So it is told that the suicides here where started off after the release of a popular romantic novel in 1960’s Japan called Kuroi Kaiju ( Black Sea of Tree’s ) in which a young couple in love ends up killing themselves inside of the black forest. However the black history actually massively predates this book.
In older times Japanese families would actually leave people in the forest during times of famine when there wasn’t enough food to share. In a way they would actually be sacrificing them to the forest itself. But ofcourse history can be manipulated. So we will never know if these people where left to die horrible deaths of starvation and madness or if they where left to appease something that the ancient people where perhaps aware of. So not only is it said to be haunted by the spirits of the suicidal but also those who where left there.
Visitors today and for a long time have even confirmed that human ghosts aren’t the only thing here. There are so many stories of demonic encounters popping up it is insane.
Japanese spiritualists actually believe that the suicides committed in the forest have permeated Aokigahara’s soil and trees, generating paranormal activity and preventing many who enter from escaping the gnarled depths of the forest.
One of the many signs throughout the forest clearly warning visitors along with the suicide hotline number.
Besides bodies and homemade nooses, also scattered around the forest are signs put up by the police with messages like “Your life is a precious gift from your parents,” and “Please consult with the police before you decide to die,” in an attempt to discourage would be committers of suicide. Judging from the increasing number of suicides, these signs probably aren’t all that effective.
The forest itself covers 3,500 hectares ( that’s around 3000 football pitches ),
Its so thick that there are actual patches of the forest that are pitch black even in midday. The ground is uneven making it dangerously easy to fall or break a leg, or if you dont fall down a ledge be careful you dont fall into one of the massive, underground caves. There are over 200 caves all together.
It is a well known fact that wildlife is almost non exisistant and birds are never heard singing. You see this in other places of mass death like Auschwitz. But a place like Auschwitz there are alot of reasons why wildlife would not be there or fly over … Its all concrete ! But miles and miles of untouched forest and not a single nesting bird of any species ? That says enough.
One of the many ” barricades “
There are parties of police offers and volunteers that scour the forest who are tasked in finding the bodies of the forests victims, to return them back to the town to be identified. But first they are carried to a small forest station to be stored until moved further.
This small station is perhaps one of the most paranormally active parts of the forest. The bodies when left alone have been heard screaming and wailing all night by volunteers who camp outside. They have even witnessed people walking around the building or they will hear shuffling sounds inside like someones trying to get out. Its bad luck in japan to leave the body of a suicide victim alone, so what do you do ? Well the workers have a system. They play Janken and the looser has to stay with the corpses all night….. Fuck that !
But the volunteers and police are not the only people to enter the forest. Looters are prevalent in the forest, looking for fresh corpses to rob…
There are countless witnessed in the forest to the ghosts and in-human entities, police officers and adventures alike.
Screams echo throughout the forest both day and night. But they are not normal screams, not even human. The Screams seem to be coming from every direction at once aswell as the fact they are as loud as a ships horn. Along with white figures seen gliding all around the forest. Probably just the lost spirits still looking for a way out.
But along with all of your usual hauntings there is something else. People have seen children running around within the forest, but when they follow the children they fall into a cave or come to one of the corpses. Demonic entities are well known to inspire death aswell as to mimick children. They do this to lure in people, and gain there trust.
So a haunted forest, demons, suicide, corpses, screams and people loosing there minds ! This is more than enough to give it one hell of a reputation but there is something else, something the dead have left behind.
Cord found in the forest tied to the trees
The forest is scattered with ribbon or cord that is tied to trees and actually lead to the corpses. Some say this is so people can easily find the bodies other think it is so they can find there way back just encase. But what is more terrifying is that people who have tied the ribbon and decided to come back have followed the trail only to find there ribbon has been cut ! As a result the ones who returned took hours to find there way back, sometimes days. But what about those who never came back.
The forest is also littered with peoples possessions. Tents are everywhere, people camp out in the forest before killing themselves. Inside it is a sad sight with family photos or favorite books. Sometimes even a skeleton or two.
A moment in the documentary further up when a young boy is found.
There is no doubt Aokigahara forest is one of, if not the most haunted location in the world.
One word of warning if ever you decide to journey within the forest don’t leave the path, and do not stay after sunset.
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