Aokigahara

Aokigahara is a dense forest of roughly 35 square kilometers spread across ancient lava fields at the northwestern base of Mount Fuji in Yamanashi Prefecture. The terrain — solidified from a volcanic eruption in 864 CE — creates a labyrinthine floor of twisted rock and roots, while the lava's iron content disrupts compasses and GPS signals, making it easy to lose all sense of direction within minutes. In Japanese folklore the forest has long been associated with yūrei, restless spirits of the dead, a reputation cemented internationally by Ueda Akari's 1960 novel 'Kuroi Jukai' and a wave of Western horror films. The forest is also widely known as a site of suicides; signage at trailheads and regular patrols by local authorities are part of its present-day reality. As part of a UNESCO World Heritage site encompassing the Fuji region, it contains signposted hiking trails and accessible lava caves for those visiting under guided conditions.