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Reikan #1
Reikan: The most haunted locations in Japan: Volume One
Do you have what it takes to explore the ruins of a once prosperous, now mysteriously abandoned shrine? Would you step inside a house said to curse all who enter? What is the truth behind the tunnel that’s said to have living sacrifices buried within its walls? The most haunted locations in Japan explores forty two ghost spots from around the country. From abandoned shrines and hospitals to rundown homes and haunted forests, discover some of the most famous haunted locations Japan has to offer and learn how they became haunted to begin with. These aren’t your regular haunted houses. Click the buy button and discover the real terror lurking in the dark right now.
262 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 18, 2018
66 people are currently reading
131 people want to read
About the author
Tara A. Devlin
61 books158 followersTara A. Devlin studied Japanese at the University of Queensland before moving to Japan in 2005. She lived in Matsue, the birthplace of Japanese ghost stories, for 10 years, where her love for Japanese horror really grew. And with Izumo, the birthplace of Japanese mythology, just a stone’s throw away, she was never too far from the mysterious. You can find her collection of horror and fantasy writings at taraadevlin.com and translations of Japanese horror at kowabana.net.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 8, 2022
Back in the 1960's, there was a series of paperback books that resembled tabloids, except that they focused on reportedly true tales of the supernatural. Each had a yellow cover and featured boxes with highlighted images from an "article" contained inside, and a very short blurb along the lines of "Headless Wife Comes Back." The book assured the Reader that all of the stories it contained were true!
I was an avid Reader of these, but I didn't for a moment believe that the breathless reporting was true. It was just fun to read the lurid happenings and imagine the Fantastic happening beyond the walls of my parents' house.
I mention this not because REIKAN: THE MOST HAUNTED LOCATIONS IN JAPAN (Volume One) is more of the same. It isn't. Right up front, the writer who is relating these tales and occasionally reporting the results of her follow-up investigations admits that she doesn't believe in ghosts and the supernatural at all. She is presenting a collection of famous (and often popular) ghost spots in Japan. Whether you believe the interpretations or not is up to you.
Japan has had a very long history of tales involving supernatural encounters. This book centers on modern day happenings, although some of the initial events do stretch back sometimes hundreds of years. It is surprising how many happen in isolated tunnels and foreboding forests. However, abandoned houses and former public buildings are also prominent. A popular youth pastime is committing an act of bravery by going to a haunted site in search of its other-worldly inhabitants. Of course, in this book, such instances can have rather dire consequences.
If a person is intrigued by the unexplained and drawn to supernatural encounters, an extended visit to Japan will certainly enhance that belief. I only visited there for three weeks, but that was enough to see "out of the corner of my eye" glimpses that I couldn't explain, especially when walking in an isolated area. I've told many people that if they have always been curious to see a ghost and they visit there for a couple of weeks or more, they will have their wish granted. And, no, I'm not teasing.
REIKAN: THE MOST HAUNTED LOCATIONS IN JAPAN was a brisk read and sometimes very creepy. The Memorial Park tale (with tragic events happening in the forest and a nearby town) is the most horrific. There were several presentations that reminded me of my famous yellow-covered paperbacks, almost seeming as if the writer was grasping to make a ghostly revelation out of merely unusual incidents, but there weren't many of these. Most offerings were absorbing.
My one great wish is that pictures had been included. That would have made this a 5-star work for me. Having said that, though, enough information is given that an internet search can uncover many pictures and videos. And being Volume One, I do have an interest in Volume Two. Oh, not right away. I need to let the spirits "settle" a bit.
I was an avid Reader of these, but I didn't for a moment believe that the breathless reporting was true. It was just fun to read the lurid happenings and imagine the Fantastic happening beyond the walls of my parents' house.
I mention this not because REIKAN: THE MOST HAUNTED LOCATIONS IN JAPAN (Volume One) is more of the same. It isn't. Right up front, the writer who is relating these tales and occasionally reporting the results of her follow-up investigations admits that she doesn't believe in ghosts and the supernatural at all. She is presenting a collection of famous (and often popular) ghost spots in Japan. Whether you believe the interpretations or not is up to you.
Japan has had a very long history of tales involving supernatural encounters. This book centers on modern day happenings, although some of the initial events do stretch back sometimes hundreds of years. It is surprising how many happen in isolated tunnels and foreboding forests. However, abandoned houses and former public buildings are also prominent. A popular youth pastime is committing an act of bravery by going to a haunted site in search of its other-worldly inhabitants. Of course, in this book, such instances can have rather dire consequences.
If a person is intrigued by the unexplained and drawn to supernatural encounters, an extended visit to Japan will certainly enhance that belief. I only visited there for three weeks, but that was enough to see "out of the corner of my eye" glimpses that I couldn't explain, especially when walking in an isolated area. I've told many people that if they have always been curious to see a ghost and they visit there for a couple of weeks or more, they will have their wish granted. And, no, I'm not teasing.
REIKAN: THE MOST HAUNTED LOCATIONS IN JAPAN was a brisk read and sometimes very creepy. The Memorial Park tale (with tragic events happening in the forest and a nearby town) is the most horrific. There were several presentations that reminded me of my famous yellow-covered paperbacks, almost seeming as if the writer was grasping to make a ghostly revelation out of merely unusual incidents, but there weren't many of these. Most offerings were absorbing.
My one great wish is that pictures had been included. That would have made this a 5-star work for me. Having said that, though, enough information is given that an internet search can uncover many pictures and videos. And being Volume One, I do have an interest in Volume Two. Oh, not right away. I need to let the spirits "settle" a bit.
January 3, 2023
Reikan means a heightened ability to commune with the dead. In this text, the author explores several of the most haunted locales in Japan. Well, if you believe in ghosts. Neither she nor I do. But horror aficionados interested in Japan and atmospheric gallivanting will enjoy this. It does need editing and I wish there had been photos (I Googled as I read). I’m also not a fan of lists; I would’ve preferred a longer text with more narrative bits and re-enactments. There’s mention of myth and also true crime, with some detail, but not excessive; still, those sensitive to abuse, torture, assault, murder, and suicide should tread carefully.
September 28, 2021
A bit of an anthology with ghost stories and descriptions of some of the most haunted places in Japan. May make some people want to visit these places.
February 28, 2019
Read, Don't Visit
This was a fascinating account of haunted locations in Japan. The author also notes cultural differences; belief in the paranormal is more widespread there than here in the US and a great many youth go visiting these places with disastrous results. Locations, a bit of history and the flu tales are told. Unlike many places here in the US, the locations listed in this book should not be visited and the author clearly advises readers not to. Scary and interesting.
This was a fascinating account of haunted locations in Japan. The author also notes cultural differences; belief in the paranormal is more widespread there than here in the US and a great many youth go visiting these places with disastrous results. Locations, a bit of history and the flu tales are told. Unlike many places here in the US, the locations listed in this book should not be visited and the author clearly advises readers not to. Scary and interesting.
December 5, 2024
Look, my review might be biased, because i really enjoy Tara‘s podcast, content and also love her books.
Reikan feels a bit different from Kowabana or Kaihan. You still get some goosebumps reading the book, but it’s not the typical ghoststory from Kowabana. And you won’t find many questions and theories as in Kaihan.
You find out about special places all over Japan, that are supposed to be haunted, but moreover you learn about history. What happened there? Why do people even think it’s haunted? It’s true crime with history, locations and answers.
Reikan feels a bit different from Kowabana or Kaihan. You still get some goosebumps reading the book, but it’s not the typical ghoststory from Kowabana. And you won’t find many questions and theories as in Kaihan.
You find out about special places all over Japan, that are supposed to be haunted, but moreover you learn about history. What happened there? Why do people even think it’s haunted? It’s true crime with history, locations and answers.
February 28, 2021
Informative and entertaining. I liked that the author made an effort to get to the truth of each location rather than just repeating rumours. Often, the history was more fascinating than the alleged hauntings, particularly when it came to the Hakkoda Mountains Incident, which I had never heard of before.
Overall, it left me wanting to read the next book in the series.
Overall, it left me wanting to read the next book in the series.
February 3, 2019
A great little collection of spooky places in Japan. I've bookmarked a few to hopefully explore the next time I'm there! Can't wait for volume 2.
May 17, 2021
I enjoy reading these short ghost stories and reading about the history of and folklore behind the locations. It is good light reading with a dose of History and Folklore lesson mixed in.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews