Aokigahara (Suicide Forest)

Fujinomiya-shi, Japan

The Aokigahara forest is known as much for its beauty as it is for its mystery. Located at the base of Mount Fuji, on the island of Honshu, Japan, and encompassing some 30 square kilometers the location has garnered quite a sinister reputation for being a home to yūrei meaning “ruined or departed spirit”, and has since the 1960s been dubbed the ‘suicide forest”. 

Aokigahara is commonly referred to as the most popular site for suicides in all of Japan. Since 1970, police and volunteers have conducted annual body searches, posting signs at entryways pleading with those who may be suicidal to seek help and not choose suicide.

In recent attempts to decrease its popularity as a site associated with suicide officials have stopped publicizing the number, however, estimates have placed the number around 105 a year.

Even without its awful stigma, Aokigahara itself boasts a very spooky atmosphere. The forest’s landscape is a very rocky, cave-dotted terrain covered by foliage of twisted trees so dense they block out the wind creating an eerie stillness to the location. This can easily disorient many visitors who choose to mark their way with tape or ribbons to avoid remaining forever among the yūrei.

Visit

Camping is allowed at Aokigahara though it is common to be approached by police or volunteers from a prevention patrol who may assume that you are contemplating suicide.

*Please seek help immediately if you are having suicidal thoughts, engaging in suicidal behaviors, or planning a suicide attempt.*

In the U.S., call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.