District of the Dead
Jiyuugaoka, Aichi-ken
Photo by Santa Dx
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Chudo Temple (中道寺)
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Located in the heart of Chikusa ward, Jiyuugaoka is home to thousands of graves; most of which have been long forgotten and neglected. Despite being within walking distance of Nagoya's posh districts of Higashiyama and Kakuozan, Jiyuugaoka is a boycotted area due to the dark, secluded streets, reports of heinous murders, numerous paranormal sightings, and 'cursed' natural phenomena.
According to news reports, Jiyuugaoka was the site of a grizzly, online murder pact in August, 2007. Three men abducted a woman before tying a plastic bag around her face, and then beating her to death (there are also speculations of attempted rape). After dumping the woman's corpse on a street in Jiyuugaoka, the men fled the scene only to be caught (surrendered?) by the next day.
Police reports state this crime was particularly heinous due to the fact two of the men showed no signs of remorse, and were quoted as saying they would do it again (several news sites state one of the men had murdered a couple for money one year prior to the woman's murder). The men were sentenced to death for murder, robbery, attempted rape, and corpse abandonment.
Police reports state this crime was particularly heinous due to the fact two of the men showed no signs of remorse, and were quoted as saying they would do it again (several news sites state one of the men had murdered a couple for money one year prior to the woman's murder). The men were sentenced to death for murder, robbery, attempted rape, and corpse abandonment.
The murder has left a dark stain on the area, with the majority of locals warning not to walk the streets alone at night in case history repeats itself.
A haunted apartment building. Room 506 is said to be frequented by something unnatural.
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Near Chudo Temple (中道寺), a forgotten home has been abandoned. It is rumoured to be the resting place of a person who commit suicide by gunshot.
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Close to Jiyuugaoka Station, a set of apartments is said to be haunted by residents who have died lonely deaths. While there are reports of an elderly man dying alone in the room closest to the second floor elevator, prior tenants claim room 506 had frequent paranormal events (particularly around Obon - the celebration of dead ancestors). It is said something lurks within and around the room, and the property has been listed on 'Oshimaland' (Japan's accident and suicide report site) with a warning to future tenants.
As Jiyuugaoka's land space is dominated by cemeteries, 'hitodama' (also known as will-o-wisps) are often sighted during hot days following a burial. While this phenomenon is caused due to the natural gasses secreted during body decomposition, seeing hitodama is said to bring extreme bad luck. Due to this, locals warn to close curtains and not look towards cemeteries at night when hitodama are said to be seen most.
