I Stayed at Japan’s Most Haunted Inn

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Embark on a two-day road trip through rural North Japan to find the elusive Tongkaku Wagyu beef, stay in a legendary haunted inn, and explore a stunning, remote coastline.

1 plan · 6 places · 5 experiences

Plan · 6 places · Tohoku, Japan

North Japan Phantom Wagyu & Haunted Inn Road Trip

“This two-day road trip takes you through North Japan in search of the mysterious Tongkaku beef, with a stay at a legendary haunted inn, and exploration of a stunning remote coastline.”

1
Jomon Era House
History museum · Tagajo City
4.1Open · until 5 PM
Creator's voice
A 2,000-year-old Jomon-era house in North Japan, featuring a bonfire inside. It's a lot of smoke if you stand and film for too long.
Tohoku History Museum, 1 Chome-22-1 Takasaki, Tagajo City, Miyagi 985-0862, Japan
Experience · 1 place
Stay overnight at the haunted Ryokan Fuso Inn
Check into the Ryokan Fuso Inn, known for its zashiki warashi, a playful guardian spirit. After 9 or 10 PM, the lights are dimmed, and you can explore the foyer and main areas with lamps, making it feel like hide-and-seek. The inn has a strong reputation for ghost sightings, with many guests leaving notes about their experiences. Be prepared for an unnerving atmosphere, especially walking the corridors at night, but it helps you appreciate the inn's history and atmosphere more. Just hope the ghost boy doesn't lie on your stomach at night!
2
Ryokan Fuso Inn
Japanese inn · Kyoto
4.5
Creator's voice
A legendary haunted inn in North Japan, built on the site where a six-year-old boy died over 600 years ago. It's famous for numerous sightings of the boy's spirit, a zashiki warashi, which brings good fortune. Many Japanese elite, including former Prime Ministers and Honda founder Soichiro Honda, have stayed here. In 2009, a fire burned a large portion of the inn, but no one was injured, with the spirit said to have watched over them before escaping to the only unscathed part.
Ryokufuso, 490 Kanayacho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8323, Japan
Experience · 1 place
Visit the Zashiki Warashi Shrine
Head outside the Ryokan Fuso Inn to the shrine where the zashiki warashi boy is said to hang around. This is the only part of the inn left completely unscathed by the 2009 fire. You might feel a creepiness, but the spirit is considered good. Visitors leave toys for the spirit, though you're asked to take your own belongings when you leave. We even had a toy bird fall off a shelf while filming, which was pretty odd!
3
Zashiki Warashi Shrine
Shinto shrine · Ninohe
4.6 (51)
Creator's voice
A shrine located outside the Ryokan Fuso Inn, believed to be where the spirit of the zashiki warashi boy resides. It was the only part of the inn untouched by a fire in 2009. Visitors leave toys here as offerings to the spirit.
Kamemaro Shrine, Osagawa-41 Kintaichi, Ninohe, Iwate 028-5711, Japan
Experience · 1 place
Taste the rare Tongkaku Wagyu Beef
Arrive at one of the few restaurants in Japan serving the mysterious Tongkaku Wagyu beef, also known as 'phantom Wagyu' because it makes up only 1% of Japan's supply. This short-horn beef is mostly meat rather than fat, making it different from other Wagyu varieties. It's naturally pasture-raised, making it an environmentally friendly choice. The seasoning is key, and the chef prepares it with no shortage of flavor. It's low in calories, high in protein, low in fat, and incredibly juicy. If you're going to have one steak in a decade, this is it.
4
Phantom Wagyu Restaurant
Steak house · Sendai
4.4 (253)Closed · opens 5:30 PM
Creator's voice
One of the few restaurants in Japan that serves Tongkaku Wagyu beef, a rare 'phantom Wagyu' that accounts for only 1% of Japan's supply. It's located in a rural region of Japan, requiring a journey across mountains to reach. The restaurant prepares the beef with ample seasoning, highlighting its unique flavor profile.
Sendai Habile Vent Wagyu, 3 Chome-6-3 Honcho, Aoba Ward, Sendai, Miyagi 980-0014, Japan
Experience · 1 place
Explore the rugged Sanriku Coastline
Drive to the Sanriku Coastline, known as one of the most beautiful coastlines in all of Japan. It's a rugged Pacific coastline that most people never get to see. The drive itself is lengthy, crossing mountains and passing through remote areas. Once there, you'll feel the massive power of nature and find it spectacular, a great change of pace from mountain landscapes.
5
Sanriku Coastline
4.1
Creator's voice
A stunning, remote Pacific coastline in North Japan, considered one of the most beautiful in the country. It's a rugged area that requires a drive across mountains to access, offering a powerful natural landscape.
Sanriku Coast, Japan
Experience · 1 place
Walk through a hand-carved tunnel
Follow the guide to a hand-carved tunnel along the Sanriku Coastline. It's an adventurous and cool experience, though it can be so dark inside that you can't even see what's going on. It's a unique way to experience the rugged coastal landscape.
6
Hand-Carved Tunnel
Tourist attraction · Sotogahama
4.3 (316)Open · until 5 PM
Creator's voice
A hand-carved tunnel located along the Sanriku Coastline, offering an adventurous and unique passage. It can be quite dark inside, adding to the sense of exploration.
Seikan Tunnel Tappi diagonal line, 99-99 Minmayatatsuhama, 外ヶ浜町 Sotogahama, Higashitsugaru District, Aomori 030-1711, Japan