Aokigahara, the Sea of Trees
A dense forest on the slopes of Mount Fuji, grown over old lava, is wrapped in folklore of spirits and of compasses that won't work.
What was reported
Aokigahara is a dense forest on the north-west flank of Mount Fuji, growing on lava from an eruption in 864 AD. The ground is uneven, full of caves and tangled roots, and so quiet that visitors often remark on the silence. It's sometimes called Jukai, the Sea of Trees.
Folklore links it to yūrei, spirits of the dead, and a popular myth says the lava makes compasses useless. Sadly, it's also known as a place where people have gone to end their lives, and signs at the trailheads urge visitors to think of their families and to seek help.
Explanations offered
Tests have shown that compasses work normally in most of the forest, with only small deviations near some rocks. The quiet comes from the thick moss and porous lava, which absorb sound. Local authorities patrol the forest and work to prevent suicides. If you're struggling, please reach out to someone you trust or a local crisis line.
- When
- Forest grown since 864 AD
- Where
- Aokigahara, Yamanashi, Japan
- Witnesses
- Hikers, rangers and local people
- Status
- Partly explained
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.