Haunted Temples and Shrines of Tokyo: Ghostly Legends for Halloween

Tokyo is a city of dazzling neon lights and endless nightlife—but behind the modern skyline lies a darker, older Tokyo steeped in legend. Cursed warriors, tragic lovers, restless souls of fire victims, and eerie ghost paintings still haunt the city’s ancient temples and shrines.

This Halloween, dare to explore some of Tokyo’s most haunted places, where history and horror intertwine.

 

Jōkan-ji: The ‘Throw-Away Temple’ (浄閑寺)

Address： 2-1-12 Hashiba, Taitō City, Tokyo 111-0023

Nearest Station： Minami-Senju Station (JR Joban Line, Hibiya Line, Tsukuba Express) – 5 min walk

Nicknamed the ‘Throw-Away Temple,’ Jōkan-ji holds the ashes of more than 25,000 souls. Many were prostitutes and fire victims from the nearby Yoshiwara pleasure district, abandoned without family. Their remains were brought here quietly, often in the dead of night. Visitors describe the air as heavy, filled with sorrow.

 

Oiwa Inari Shrine: The Ghost of Yotsuya (お岩稲荷田宮神社)

Address: 2-16 Sanei-chō, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0008

Nearest Station: Yotsuya-Sanchome Station (Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line) – 3 min walk

If there’s one ghost every Japanese knows, it’s Oiwa. Betrayed by her husband and poisoned until disfigured, she died in agony—only to return as a vengeful spirit in the kabuki tale Yotsuya Kaidan. The Oiwa Inari Shrine is dedicated to her soul. Actors still pray here before performing her story, fearing her curse if they don’t.

 

Zenshō-an Temple and the Ghost Scrolls (全生庵)

Address: 5-4-7 Yanaka, Taitō City, Tokyo 110-0001

Nearest Station: Nippori Station (JR Yamanote Line, Keisei Line) – 10 min walk

Zenshō-an is famous for its yūrei-ga—haunting ghost paintings from the Edo period. Each summer during Obon, the temple displays these works, showing pale, floating spirits. Even when the scrolls are hidden, the grounds carry an eerie hush, as if the spirits never quite left.

 

Taira no Masakado’s Kubizuka (首塚)

Address: 1-2-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0004

Nearest Station: Otemachi Station – 2 min walk / Tokyo Station – 10 min walk

Near Otemachi stands a simple mound said to contain the head of Taira no Masakado, a 10th-century rebel. His head was said to fly back to Edo, glowing with rage, and even now his grave is treated with deep reverence. Companies built too close have reported disasters—proof, some say, that Masakado’s spirit still holds power.

 

Yūrei-zaka: The Ghost Hill (幽霊坂)

Address: 4-6 Shirokanedai, Minato City, Tokyo 108-0071

Nearest Station: Shirokanedai Station (Tokyo Metro Namboku Line / Toei Mita Line) – 5 min walk

This quiet slope earns its name from the many temples that line the street. Locals say the air grows heavy at night, and travelers glimpse pale figures drifting past temple gates. A simple slope by day, a ghostly path by night.

 

Yokoamicho Park & Ireidō Memorial Hall (東京都慰霊堂)

Address: 2-3-25 Yokoami, Sumida City, Tokyo 130-0015

Nearest Station: Ryōgoku Station (JR Sobu Line, Toei Oedo Line) – 8 min walk

This memorial park honors the tens of thousands who perished in the Great Kantō Earthquake of 1923 and later the Tokyo firebombings. Visitors report hearing phantom footsteps or distant cries near the cenotaph. Whether ghosts or grief, the sorrow here is undeniable.

 

Kozukappara Execution Grounds (小塚原刑場跡)

Address: 1-25-1 Minamisenju, Arakawa City, Tokyo 116-0003

Nearest Station: Minami-Senju Station – 3 min walk

One of Edo’s three major execution sites, Kozukappara saw countless beheadings and crucifixions. Bodies were dissected for early medical study, shocking at the time. Today, a quiet memorial stands, but many still feel uneasy standing on the blood-soaked earth.

 

Ekō-in Temple (回向院) – Victims of the Great Edo Fire

Address:** 2-8-10 Ryōgoku, Sumida City, Tokyo 130-0026

Nearest Station:** Ryōgoku Station (JR Sobu Line, Toei Oedo Line) – 3 min walk

Built after the Great Meireki Fire of 1657, where ~100,000 perished, Ekō-in was founded to memorialize the unclaimed souls of that disaster. The temple has since become a resting place for disaster victims, prisoners, and even animals.

 

Dare to Explore?

Tokyo’s haunted temples and shrines remind us that behind the neon lights lies a city of restless spirits and tragic history. This Halloween, if you’re seeking chills beyond the pumpkin parties, take a walk through these eerie sites where the past still lingers.

Just don’t be surprised if you’re not walking alone.

 

About This Article – Courtesy of Kartzilla Go Kart Tokyo

This Halloween feature on Tokyo’s haunted temples and shrines is presented courtesy of Kartzilla Go Kart, Tokyo’s leading street-legal go-kart experience.

 While Kartzilla Go Kart’s Halloween Go Kart Tour does not visit these specific haunted sites, it celebrates the same spooky season spirit — combining Tokyo’s dazzling night views, costumes, and thrills for an unforgettable adventure through the city’s streets.

Kartzilla’s goal is to share Tokyo’s unique blend of culture, legends, and excitement with visitors from around the world.

Learn more or book your Halloween Go Kart Tour at: