Urban legends are horror stories that remain unverified, often altered over time. Although referred to as “urban,” these legends do not necessarily originate from urban areas, leading to their more common classification as “modern legends.”
Japan is among the countries with numerous terrifying urban legends. They are considered a staple for summer, particularly during hot camping nights.
The issue is that many of Japan’s urban legends are based on true stories—or at least partly true. For instance, the tale of the Inunaki Haunted Tunnel and the village of the same name is said to be “the most horrifying in Japan,” despite ongoing debates about its existence!
The Inunaki Tunnel – the path leading to the famous village in Japan’s urban legend. Photo: SNPR.
The Most Haunting Story Passed Down for Decades
In the early 1970s, a young couple was driving up the slope of Inunaki Mountain. They intended to reach Hisayama, located on the other side of the mountain. To get there, they had to navigate a narrow road leading to the Inunaki Tunnel.
However, just before the tunnel, the car’s engine suddenly malfunctioned, slowing down until it came to a complete stop. Looking outside, they noticed a path on the right side of the road, prompting them to leave the car in search of help.
After walking for a while, the couple saw a sign with handwritten text: “The Japanese Constitution no longer applies beyond this point.” The path became increasingly difficult, with the vegetation growing denser. After following the trail, they arrived at a small, eerily quiet village.
From a distance, the village appeared abandoned. The houses were dark and dilapidated. There was no cell phone signal, and the surroundings were eerily silent. The couple cautiously explored, passing by many houses, but nothing seemed to change. Only the ominous atmosphere and chilling air became more pronounced.
Inunaki Mountain, where the village of the same name is located. Photo: SNPR.
Feeling that something was amiss, the couple decided to turn back. Just then, something suddenly moved in one of the houses. A man stepped into the road, shouting: “Welcome to Inunaki Village!”
He stood about 30 meters away from them. But somehow, he appeared right in front of them after just a few steps.
“We cherish visitors to our village, but we fear they might leave.” With that, he swiftly slashed the young man’s throat with a scythe, the motion terrifyingly quick. The poor boy’s eyes widened in shock, and he collapsed onto the ground.
The girl panicked and tried to run, but he caught her with a grip stronger than anything she had ever felt in her life. He lifted her with one hand and brutally threw her to the ground.
A Japanese horror film was based on the true story of the village and the Inunaki Tunnel. (Photo: SNPR).
Before the scythe fell, she turned to look at the nearest house and realized the horrifying truth about this village: inside were countless corpses! It turned out that the reason for the village’s eerie silence was that all the villagers had died at the hands of that madman.
The young couple disappeared without a trace, and no one heard from them again. Today, a white four-seater car is still seen there, covered in dust and moss by the roadside, right next to the small path leading into the forest.
The Legend of the Inunaki Haunted Tunnel
The story above is just one of many urban legends about Inunaki Village, albeit the most famous. The village itself is situated in a location that is highly conducive to ghost stories: a narrow entrance, dense surrounding forests, and abandoned houses… However, what haunts people the most is primarily the road leading into the village, centered around the appearance of the “haunted tunnel.”
An illustration of the terrifying tale surrounding this haunted location. Photo: SNPR.
In reality, this mountain has two tunnels connecting both sides of the slope. One is older, shorter, more curved, and less than 100 meters long. The other is newer, longer, and straighter.
The new tunnel was built in 1975, is frequently used, and has no stories associated with it. However, the old tunnel is different. It is famous enough to have served as the main setting in the 2019 Japanese horror film “Howling Village,” with numerous strange stories surrounding it.
The Quest for Answers
According to local residents, the area around and inside the tunnel is now filled with trash and graffiti from youth parties. In fact, the locals do fear this tunnel, but not because of ghosts; rather, it is due to gangs often choosing this place as a gathering spot.
Essentially, the Inunaki Tunnel is considered a hotspot for supernatural phenomena, but not for the locals. They simply wish to live peacefully, regardless of whether or not ghosts exist. The rumors about the haunted tunnel and village did not originate from them.
The tunnel is now covered in paint and litter. Photo: SNPR.
In February 2020, Fukuoka TV sent a team of reporters to the Inunaki Tunnel – the side facing the city of Miyawaka. On this side, the tunnel has been sealed off and is inaccessible.
The reporters also reported hearing strange sounds within the tunnel and noted a temperature drop from 12 degrees Celsius to 9 degrees Celsius as they approached the entrance. However, no phenomena that could be considered “supernatural” occurred.
The entrance to the village is now sealed off. Photo: SNPR.
Unveiling the Mystery of the “People-Eating” Village
Indeed, there is a village named Inunaki located in a valley of the same name. The village was established during the Edo period, with residents thriving through pottery and steel-making. A coal mining industry emerged, leading to the establishment of the Inunaki-gobekkan castle in 1865. However, by 1970, after the Inunaki Dam was built, the village was abandoned as residents moved to the nearby Wakita area.
This village has nothing to do with the haunted Inunaki Village we discussed earlier. In other words, the haunted Inunaki Village does not actually exist!
According to oral stories, the “death village” Inunaki is said to be located on the slopes of Inunaki Mountain in Fukuoka Prefecture and is a fictional place. It is also referred to as “the howling dog village,” linked to a legend of a man who killed his dog for incessantly howling, only for his entire family to be murdered afterward.
As for the Inunaki Tunnel, it appears to have been constructed after World War II—in 1949—before being replaced by the new tunnel in 1975. Due to the new road, the old tunnel saw little use, became dilapidated, and more dangerous due to lack of maintenance. Eventually, it was sealed off with iron gates at both ends.
The path leading into the village and the tunnel is now barricaded. Photo: SNPR.
This tunnel was also the site of a horrific (and real) murder. On December 6, 1988, a factory worker named Koichi Umeyama was murdered near this tunnel. The perpetrators were a gang of criminals who attempted to “borrow” Umeyama’s car. When he refused, they dragged him into the tunnel, killed him, and then burned his body. The assailants were later apprehended, receiving life sentences in 1991. Nevertheless, the brutal and inhumane nature of their crime shocked and outraged the public.
The old Inunaki Tunnel is now completely sealed at the Miyawaka end. However, the end of the tunnel on the Hisayama side is not sealed too tightly, and it is still possible to climb in.
The Origins of the Rumors
It seems that the stories about Inunaki Village originated from a letter sent to Nippon TV in 1999. The letter spoke of a small path next to the old Inunaki Tunnel, mentioning the sign “The Japanese Constitution is void beyond this point,” and the story of the young couple who were murdered, as well as the villagers’ ferocity. Prior to that, the Inunaki Tunnel had already gained notoriety due to Koichi Umeyama’s death in 1988.
The ghost stories haunting the village also have a similar “age,” not exceeding 30 years. Of course, ghost stories do not necessarily have to be ancient, but the truth is that the evidence related to this village is too flimsy to be considered real.
In summary, the village of Inunaki has been confirmed to be non-existent. The tunnel itself is not frightening, unless you consider the gangs that gather here to drink and litter as a threat.
