Exploring the World of Yokai Folklore in Japan
Yokai are the vast category of monsters, ghosts, demons and other supernatural spirits that appear in Japanese myth. Some are famous characters that appear numerous times in different myths. Others are based on tales passed down from generation to generation. Artists and writers have invented even more over the years.
Not all Yokai are evil; in fact many Japanese spirits are known to be playful, mischievous, or even friendly and benevolent. Some grant wishes, some offer protection or good luck, some help lost travellers find their way.
Throughout history, Yokai have been an integral part of Japanese culture, representing the fear of the unknown and inexplicable. They are seen in many forms of entertainment, from art to books to films to games, and are also celebrated in festivals and plays.
How many Yokai are there?
There are countless different types! Japanese demons come in many forms, but there are some main groups that most belong to, including animal, ghost, object, and monster. Here are some of the most famous:
The Shapeshifters, or ‘Obake’
Obake refer to a group of Yokai that have transformative powers, often shape-shifting into humans or other objects to play tricks on people.
Kitsune
These fox Yokai range from benevolent to evil, and become more powerful the more tails they have. Featured in many Japanese fairy tales, they’re commonly known to transform into beautiful young women to marry or play tricks on men.
Tanuki
Tanuki are forest spirits known to be good-natured, although enjoy playing tricks on humans, and are partial to sake. They’re famous for their enormous testicles, which they can inflate to use as a drum, an umbrella, and all sorts of items!
Bakeneko
This cat Yokai, similar to the Nekomata, is a frightening demon that haunts its home and takes possession of the humans living there. Cats that reach 13 years old can become Bakeneko, especially ones with long tails.
The Everyday Objects, or ‘Tsukumogami’
In Japanese folklore, everyday household objects that reach 100 years old can become Tsukumogami by acquiring a spirit. Brooms, zori sandals, futons, kimonos, kettles and many more objects could become Yokai in this method. Mostly harmless, they tend to play pranks, but do take revenge against wasteful people that thoughtlessly throw them away.
Kasa-Obake
This umbrella Yokai is mostly harmless, spotted by his single eye and leg. He enjoys pranking humans.
Hinnagami
Powerful spirits that reside in dolls and grant wishes, Hinnagami are possessive of their owners to their detriment.
Chōchin-Obake
Also known as Burabura, this spirit inhabits a paper lantern, and has a large split mouth and lolling tongue.
The Human-like
These Yokai often appear as normal humans before revealing themselves as a spirit or demon.
Yurei
A sub-category of Japanese ghosts, Yurei are vengeful spirits created from violent deaths, often portrayed as young women with long black hair and a white kimono. They wander in limbo, unable to find peace.
Rokurokubi
Appearing as a normal human during the day, the Rokurokubi turns into a monster at night. Normally female, their heads either detatch from their bodies or their necks extend to infinity, looking for victims to suck their blood.
Zashiki-Warashi
These child-like spirits are fond of mischief, but bring great fortune to the houses they haunt. They are only able to be seen by children and the owners of the house, who often offer food in order to keep these friendly Yokai about.
The Animal-like
A lot of Yokai appear as animals, either evolving from an actual animal that reached a certain milestone such as old age, or merely taking the appearance of an animal.
Jorōgumo
When a ‘Joro Spider‘ reaches 400 years old, it develops supernatural powers and becomes a Jorōgumo. It’s said to have a beautiful female face to lure men into its web, where it slowly devours them.
Inugami
This dog Yokai looks like an ordinary dog, but its real form is a mummified head, often kept safe somewhere in its owner’s home. They serve their owner faithfully, and can be passed down like an heirloom.
Kama-Itachi
Taking the appearance of a weasel with sickle-like claws, the Kama-Itachi ride swirling whirlwinds in groups of three, striking out at people’s legs. They’re so fast people don’t realise they’ve been cut!
The Monsters
While Yokai can be benevolent or friendly, there are others that are known to be outright dangerous, or at least very territorial. It’s best practice to avoid them if you can!
Tengu
These goblins have red faces and long noses, and are said to be half-man and half-bird. The winged demons are often portrayed as guardians of the mountains.
Kappa
This river demon looks like a turtle, with a bowl filled with water on top of its skull that contains its power. It enjoys luring humans into the water to devour them!
Oni
Often represented with horns and fangs, Oni are actually a sub-category of Yokai, and can be both evil and benevolent. They are seen with either red or blue coloured skin.
The Strange
Of course there are plenty of Yokai out there that are just flat-out bizarre! Resembling neither animals or humans, these monsters often appear out of nowhere, causing mayhem and destruction and disappearing again with a trace.
Gashadokuro
This giant skeleton is a dangerous Yokai that’s made up from the human skulls of those that died in battle. It appears at night and attacks human, often chattering its teeth when it spies its victims.
Jubokko
Jubokko were ordinary trees once, but absorbed vast amounts of human blood through their roots in places of wars or massacres, and now snatch unsuspecting humans passing by to drink their blood.
Umi Bozu
These giant humanoids have inky black skin and huge round eyes. They appear on calm nights at sea, whipping the weather up into a frenzy and moving to destroy ships and drown their crew.
Yokai Hunting in Japan
The Night Parade of 100 Demons
The Hyakki Yagyo, or Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, is a procession of supernatural creatures. Every year they march through the streets of Japan on Summer nights, similar (but not as dangerous) to The Wild Hunt. It’s a joyous affair full of dancing, singing and chanting, and is said to be lead by Nurarihyon.
You can attend your own Yokai Parade on the third Saturday of October in Kyoto (21 October in 2023), where the Ichijo Hyakki Yagyo takes place on Ichijo-Dori.
Starting from around 6pm at the Yusei-ji temple, hundreds of people dressed as terrifying spirits and demons make their way from east to west along the street, playing music, swinging lanterns, and scaring small children. There are plenty of food and souvenir stalls to shop at as well.
This Yokai Festival is not to be missed if you’re in Kyoto around this time!
Ichijo-Dori (Yokai Street)
Even if you’ve missed the Hyakki Yagyo, Ichiji-Dori is still worth a visit. The shop owners along the street have placed many Yokai monsters outside of their businesses, beckoning customers inside.
Walk along and take snapshots of the many characters, shop for a few bits of Yokai merchandise, then chow down on some Yokai Ramen in Inoue. It isn’t on the menu but the owner is happy to make for you if you request it! It’s delicious, even if it looks a little scary!
Visit the Yokai Art Museum in Kagawa
On the island of Shodoshima you’ll find the Yokai Art Museum, dedicated to present-day Yokai, and located a 15-minute walk away from Tonosho Port. It showcases over 800 monsters in 3-D form, split over five buildings to help visitors experience the different aspects of Yokai.
Download the audio guide on your phone, then venture through the first building to learn about their origins. You get an up-close encounter in the second, the third presents you with modern-day Yokai, and the fourth asks you to look for the Yokai within. Lastly the fifth gets you hunting Yokai with your smartphone!
Of course no museum is complete without a cafe or gift shop! You can dine on a wagyu beef lunch and browse a large range of Yokai goods.
Get up-close and personal with Oni
Every New Year’s Eve you can meet Namahage in the Tokushima Yokai Festival, located in Tohoku, Akita, on the Oga Peninsula. The men in the villages wear hand-carved Oni masks and straw costumes to scare naughty children and tell off lazy people. Great!
Attend the Namahage Museum to learn all about this tradition. Yo can also catch an evening performance of these demons furiously pounding on taiko drums at Oga Onsen Gofu.
Go on a Gegege Treasure Hunt
Sakaiminato is known as the childhood home of Shigeru Mizuki, the author of GeGeGe no Kitarou. In his honour the Mizuki Shigeru Road was created, displaying Yokai characters from his novels as statues all the way along. A perfect treasure hunt!
Arriving at Sakaiminato train station in , you’re greeted by Yokai monuments before stepping out onto the road, which stretches for about 800 metres from the station. Each statue on the road has a QR Code, which will provide information on the character in many different languages.
But keep an eye on your surroundings as well! You’ll find goblins on manholes, on top of shrine gates, even in the street lights!
You can visit the Mizuki Shigeru Museum, and also browse for souvenirs in the many GeGeGe-themed stores along the road. Even the Chiyomusubi Sake Brewery sells themed alcohol in its store!
Meet the Kappa of Kappabashi-dori
Kappabashi-dori is the street in Asakusa, Tokyo, to buy kitchenware. But it was the infamous water imp the Kappa that gave the street its name.
Visit the golden Kappa of Kappabashi, then browse the shops for some plastic food (the perfect souvenir) while Kappa spotting, as a lot of shopkeepers have adopted the demon as a mascot, and lots of cute characters can be seen along the street.
Afterwards, head to the nearby Kappa-dera temple which is said to hold the mummified arm of an actual Kappa. Cucumber offerings are made at the shrine to appease the Kappas, as this is their favourite food!
Take home a friend
Held at the Daishogun Hachi Jinja Shrine in Autumn and Spring, just off of Ichijo-Dori, the Mononoke Ichi Yokai Flea Market in Kyoto features many handmade Yokai goods from various artists across Japan. It’s a great chance to snag some unique pieces that can’t be found elsewhere!
Yokai in Popular Culture
Best Manga to Read (or Anime to Watch)
- Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan (Nurarihyon)
- GeGeGe No Kitarou
- Mononoke
- Nasume’s Book of Friends (Natsume Yuujinchou)
- xxxHolic
- Yu Yu Hakusho
- Inuyasha
- Black Bird
Best Movies to Watch:
- 100 Monsters (1968, directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda)
- Spook Warfare (1968, directed by Yoshiyuki Kuroda)
- Along with Ghosts (1969, directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda & Yoshiyuki Kuroda)
- Pom Poko (1994, directed by Isao Takahata)
- The Great Yokai War (2005, directed by Takashi Miike)
- A Letter to Momo (2011, directed by Hiroyuki Okiura)
Video Games
Yokai Watch
Also a popular children’s anime, Yokai Watch is available to play on the Nintendo 3DS and includes a first game, a second game released in three versions (Bony Spirits, Fleshy Souls, and Psychic Specters) and a third game that introduces two switchable main characters.
Similar in spirit to the more well-known Pokémon games, the role-playing game Yokai Watch sees the player befriend numerous monsters across different landscapes, fighting alongside them against the bad ones that seek to rule over the world.
Combat is a large part of the game, but there are plenty of side-quests to complete, world-exploring to do, and a ‘catch ’em all’ mechanic to keep it fun.
Yomawari: Night Alone
This survival horror game, available on the PC or PS4, gives off seriously creepy vibes. Search the dark streets of the neighbourhood armed with only a flashlight to look for your missing sister and dog, encountering terrifying creatures that you’re given no option to fight, only to run away and hide from.
There’s little music in the game, other than your character’s echoing footsteps and heartbeat, which will speed up when monsters approach (and no doubt your own heart will speed up right alongside it). You’ll immediately get sucked into this beautifully illustrated game with plenty of puzzles to solve, creatures to encounter, and twists and turns to explore in the maze of backstreets.
For more on Yokai
If you’re looking for the best books on Yokai, then look no further than Matthew Meyer’s quartet of Yokai encyclopedias. Painstakingly illustrated, thoroughly researched, and packed full of information, these books belong on any fan’s shelf.
Another great book to read on the topic is Michael Dylan Foster’s ‘The Book of Yōkai‘. It’s also full of fascinating knowledge and comes with beautiful period illustrations.
Check out more articles on Japan here!
Image Sources
Matthew Meyer
Brigham Young University
CC by 2.0
Douglas P Perkins
tabibito.de