Japan is full of the expected – neon cities, temples, snow mountains. But it also has a hidden layer of oddities, freak shows, and places you’ll tell everyone about just to see their face. These 20 weird Japanese sites are the stuff you don’t see in guidebooks: haunted forests, abandoned islands, spas for monkeys, ghost towns, bizarre bars, and industrial wastelands. Each one is different, strange, and unforgettable. If you like weird, this is your map.
Table of Contents
Top 20 Weird Japanese Sites
20. Aokigahara Suicide Forest – Mount Fuji
Dense, silent, moss-covered, and spooky as hell. Known as the Sea of Trees, it’s infamous for suicides – 10 to 30 a year. Trails twist between roots, lanterns cast shadows, and you feel watched. Take a bus from Kawaguchiko Station and stick to marked paths, because it’s easy to get lost. Creepy, beautiful, and unsettling in equal measure. You don’t go here for fun. You go here to feel the weight of human tragedy while walking one of the eeriest forests on the planet. One of the darkest but most compelling weird Japanese sites.
19. Mount Mihara Suicide Volcano – Izu Islands
Active volcano, cliffs dropping into the Pacific. Famous for mass suicides in the 1930s. Today you can walk the crater rim safely and take in views that are both beautiful and unsettling. Ferries from Tokyo land you on Izu Oshima, buses get you near the trail. Volcanic rocks, sulfur vents, and barren slopes make it feel alien. It’s not cute, it’s not fun, but it is unforgettable. One of the weird Japanese sites that hits you with geology and human madness in equal measure.
18. Bathing Monkeys of Jigokudani – Nagano
Monkeys in hot springs. That’s it. Snow all around, steam rising, monkeys soaking like they own the place. Walk from the bus stop near Nagano Station through a forest trail to see them. Winter is best; the contrast of red faces and snow is classic Japan-weird. Cute, chaotic, and somehow profoundly Japanese. You watch them splash, groom, and climb all over each other while tourists squeal and photograph. Pure absurdity and oddly calming. One of the lighter weird Japanese sites, but memorable.
17. Cup Noodle Museum – Yokohama
Instant ramen gets weird here. You can design your own cup, see life-size noodle sculptures, and wander exhibits on the chaotic history of instant noodles. A short walk from Minato Mirai Station. Workshops are packed, hands-on, and slightly overwhelming, but that’s the fun. It’s kitsch, it’s silly, it’s Japan. Not dark, not dangerous, just gloriously absurd. One of the few weird Japanese sites that’s pure entertainment. Grab a custom cup, take ridiculous photos, and leave knowing something about noodles you never needed to know.
16. Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan – Yamanashi
Oldest hotel in the world, founded in 705. Samurai stayed here, and now you can too, soaking in mineral-rich hot springs and sleeping in tatami rooms. Bus from Kofu Station. The mountain scenery is quiet, the baths steaming, and the history palpable. It’s not flashy, not Instagram, just solid, centuries-old Japanese weirdness. Stepping inside feels like stepping back in time. One of the strangest and most impressive weird Japanese sites because it’s living history. You might not meet anyone, but you’ll feel the ghosts of 1,300 years of guests.
15. Parasite Museum – Meguro, Tokyo
This place is horrifying and fascinating. Over 45,000 specimens of parasites, gruesome photos, and the world’s longest tapeworm at 8.8 metres. Short walk from Meguro Station. Educational? Sure. Creepy? Definitely. It’s the kind of museum you leave feeling equal parts disgusted and amazed. Rarely does something so specific feel so utterly Japanese. One of the weird Japanese sites that makes you think about your own digestive system in ways you didn’t ask for. A must for anyone with a stomach strong enough to handle it.
14. Tomb of Jesus – Shingo, Aomori
Jesus in Japan. Apparently. According to local legend, he escaped crucifixion, married, had kids, and died at 106. Take the train to Hachinohe, then a bus or taxi. There’s a small museum run by a yogurt factory, and garlic fields surround the grave. Pilgrims show up every year. It’s absurd, bizarre, and completely unlike anything else in Japan. You can scoff, you can marvel, but you’ll remember it. One of the most eccentric weird Japanese sites, mixing folklore, religion, and rural Japan in a way that makes no sense but somehow works.
13. Princess Mononoke Forest – Shiratani Unsuikyo, Yakushima
Moss, mist, and twisted cedar trees. Inspiration for Studio Ghibli’s movie. Trails date back to the Edo period. Ferry to Yakushima, then bus to trailhead. The forest is silent except for birds, water, and your own footsteps. Kodama spirits? Maybe. Atmospheric? Definitely. Hiking takes a few hours, and the moss-covered rocks look like something out of a fantasy movie. One of the more magical weird Japanese sites, where nature itself feels weird and alive. Perfect for photographers, hikers, and anyone who wants to feel like they’ve wandered into another world.
12. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park – Hiroshima
The A-Bomb Dome, monuments, and museums. Take JR Sanyo Line to Hiroshima, tram 2 or 6 to the park. Grim, sobering, unforgettable. Walking among the ruins and memorials is a lesson in devastation and survival. Not fun, not silly, but deeply moving. The architecture, the remnants of destruction, the reflective ponds, and the peace memorials make it visually haunting. One of the more serious weird Japanese sites, mixing history, tragedy, and striking scenery in a way that leaves a mark on anyone who visits.
11. Chiran Peace Museum – Kagoshima
Letters, planes, and photos of kamikaze pilots. JR Ibusuki Makurazaki Line to Chiran Station. Walk or taxi to the museum. It’s quiet, reflective, and deeply strange. Seeing the personal effects of teenagers sent on suicide missions is eerie. The museum doesn’t glorify, it preserves memory. Walking around, you feel both history and the strangeness of wartime Japan. One of the weird Japanese sites that hits you emotionally as well as visually. Somber, surreal, and unforgettable.
Top 10 Weird Japanese Sites
10. Owakudani – Hakone
Volcano valley, sulfur vents, black eggs that supposedly add seven years to your life. Hakone Ropeway from Hakone-Yumoto Station. The ground steams, rocks are slippery, and the air smells like rotten eggs. Alien and wild, this is elemental Japan. Trails and observation points give panoramic views of the valley and Mount Fuji. One of the most primal weird Japanese sites, where nature is loud, pungent, and totally unapproachable if you’re faint-hearted. Bring good shoes and a sense of adventure.
9. Nara Deer Park at Night – Nara
During the day it’s touristy, but at night the deer roam freely among pagodas. Shadows stretch, lanterns glow, the deer move silently. JR Nara Line from Kyoto or Osaka, walk from Nara Station. Bring a flashlight. Quiet, eerie, almost cinematic. The deer ignore you, the temples look abandoned, and the whole scene feels unreal. One of the weird Japanese sites where animals, history, and night-time atmosphere combine perfectly.
8. Okunoshima – Rabbit Island – Hiroshima Prefecture
Hundreds of wild rabbits, zero fear. JR Sanyo Line to Tadanoumi, then ferry. The bunnies climb, nibble, and chase snacks like anarchic mobs. Cute chaos everywhere. Trails and beaches make it scenic. Bring snacks, but not for humans. Totally Japanese absurdity in a natural setting. One of the most playful weird Japanese sites, chaotic, fluffy, and utterly memorable.
7. Muscle Girls Bar – Shinjuku, Tokyo
A dozen enormous women serve drinks, flex, and chat while you sit and watch. Kabukicho, easiest access from Shinjuku Station. Not for the timid, this bar is loud, absurd, and unforgettable. Drinks are standard, but the entertainment is the staff’s size, energy, and attitude. One of the few weird Japanese sites where nightlife itself is bizarre, and not in a cute or kitschy way. Expect confusion, amusement, and disbelief in equal measure. Photos? Maybe. Drinks? Definitely. A total sensory overload, chaotic, and 100% Japanese in its unapologetic weirdness.
6. Battleship Island – Gunkanjima, Nagasaki
Concrete apartment blocks rise from the sea like a fortress. Abandoned coal mining colony, boat tours from Nagasaki Port. Interiors are crumbling, floors uneven, windows missing. It’s claustrophobic, photogenic, and post-apocalyptic. Imagine living here at full capacity. One of the weird Japanese sites that feels like a dystopian movie set. Take your time on guided tours; the history is grim but fascinating. The island gives a real sense of isolation and human ambition gone wrong. Perfect for photographers, urbex fans, and anyone curious about abandoned industrial Japan.
Top 5 Weird Japanese Sites
5. The Matsuo Mine Ghost Town – Tohoku
Opened 1914, closed 1979, a complete town left behind after iron and sulphur mining ended. Wooden buildings dismantled, concrete structures remain. Located in northern Japan, it once housed 13,000 workers. Now it’s silent, eerie, and perfect for urban exploration. Overgrown paths, abandoned buildings, remnants of daily life make it feel frozen in time. Accessible via local bus and short walk. One of the weird Japanese sites where human industry meets decay. Walking through empty streets, imagining the lives once lived here, is unsettling and surreal. Photographers and thrill-seekers love it.
4. Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters – Tomigusuku, Okinawa
450-metre tunnel complex built in 1944 for 4,000 soldiers during the Battle of Okinawa. Rear Admiral Minoru Ota and troops committed suicide here. The operations rooms, walls, and even bullet marks remain. Access is by car or taxi from Naha, and it’s damp, dark, and claustrophobic. Walking the tunnels is eerie; history hangs heavy. One of the weird Japanese sites that hits you physically as well as mentally. The silence, the smells, and the preserved rooms are unnerving. It’s a stark, real-life reminder of wartime desperation, unpolished and brutal.
3. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park – Hiroshima
The A-Bomb Dome, monuments, and museums dominate this park. JR Sanyo Line to Hiroshima Station, tram 2 or 6. The ruins are solemn and visually striking. Walking through the skeletal dome, alongside reflective ponds and monuments, gives perspective on devastation and survival. Not fun, not light, but deeply moving. One of the weird Japanese sites where history and tragedy are immersive. The scale of destruction juxtaposed with tranquil landscaping makes it cinematic. Every visitor leaves changed, contemplating human fragility. Photography is encouraged but respect is mandatory.
2. Aokigahara – Suicide Forest – Mount Fuji
Dense, dark, silent. Trails twist through moss and twisted roots. Famous for suicides. Take a bus from Kawaguchiko Station, stay on marked paths. Lanterns and sparse shrines add a surreal feel. Walking here, you’re hyper-aware of your surroundings, the eerie quiet, and the history. Not a fun place, but unforgettable. One of the weird Japanese sites that combines natural beauty with human tragedy. Its silence, shadows, and atmosphere make it cinematic, haunting, and reflective. People come for the scenery but leave thinking about life and mortality.
1. Hashima Island – Gunkanjima – Nagasaki
Concrete fortress in the sea, abandoned, industrial skeleton. Boat tours leave from Nagasaki Port. The island’s interior is crumbling, floors uneven, staircases missing. It’s claustrophobic, post-apocalyptic, visually stunning, and historically fascinating. Imagine hundreds living here, then suddenly gone. One of the weird Japanese sites that hits you in the gut: human ambition, decay, isolation, all in one place. Photography is a must; the light and shadows make it surreal. It’s eerie, beautiful, and absurd all at once. Urban explorers, photographers, and history buffs will love it, but everyone leaves thinking about how strange and unforgiving the world can be.
So those be our top 20 Weird Japanese sites, although in all hinesty it could have easily been 100. Who knows we might keep topping up the list.
Click to see our Japan Tours.
About Post Author
