Inunaki Tunnel
旧犬鳴山トンネル
Miyawaka, Fukuoka-ken
Image: Inunaki Tunnel, photo from Occult Online
Considered to be one of Japan's top three haunted places and Kyushu's most terrifying location, old Inunaki Tunnel is ripe with urban legend.
Bridging the mountain pass between Miyawaka City, Fukuoka City, and Koga City, the old Inunaki Tunnel runs along Prefecture Route 21, and is mostly inaccessible by vehicle.
Popular for 肝試し/kimodameshi/fear walks (literal translation: testing one's liver), the Inunaki area is subject to much speculation, including its name, the tunnel and dam, and the infamous village.
Bridging the mountain pass between Miyawaka City, Fukuoka City, and Koga City, the old Inunaki Tunnel runs along Prefecture Route 21, and is mostly inaccessible by vehicle.
Popular for 肝試し/kimodameshi/fear walks (literal translation: testing one's liver), the Inunaki area is subject to much speculation, including its name, the tunnel and dam, and the infamous village.
Inunaki's Name
Literally translated as 'Dog's Howl', various sources claim differing origins for Inunaki's name.
Local legend says that upon encountering a waterfall at the valley entrance, a wolf stopped and howled in sadness, and that the valley is too deep for dogs to cross, therefore they howl.
Other sources claim that a man, while hunting, shot his dog in anger after it wouldn't stop howling, believing his companion's din was scaring away the animals. After killing the dog, a large snake appeared, and the man realised his dog had been warning him of danger. Riddled with guilt, the man became a monk, and devoted the area to dogs.
Likely, the area's name is based on the colloquial version of Japan's former borderlines ('いなぎ'->'いんなき'->'いぬなき') , as the Inunaki area straddles what used to be the separated jurisdictions.
Local legend says that upon encountering a waterfall at the valley entrance, a wolf stopped and howled in sadness, and that the valley is too deep for dogs to cross, therefore they howl.
Other sources claim that a man, while hunting, shot his dog in anger after it wouldn't stop howling, believing his companion's din was scaring away the animals. After killing the dog, a large snake appeared, and the man realised his dog had been warning him of danger. Riddled with guilt, the man became a monk, and devoted the area to dogs.
Likely, the area's name is based on the colloquial version of Japan's former borderlines ('いなぎ'->'いんなき'->'いぬなき') , as the Inunaki area straddles what used to be the separated jurisdictions.
Route Development
Construction of the old Inunaki Tunnel and road stated as early as 1884, but was suspended due to costs. It wasn't until the November of 1949 that the road was officially opened, however the route had little traffic; driving conditions were steep and treacherous – particularly during cold months, and the area was unnervingly isolated and 'spooky' (according to locals).
After the development of Route 21, the old road now has restricted access to vehicles due to past incidences of illegal dumping and motorcycle gangs. Old Inunaki Tunnel's entrance is now blocked by concrete blocks due to risk of collapse.
After the development of Route 21, the old road now has restricted access to vehicles due to past incidences of illegal dumping and motorcycle gangs. Old Inunaki Tunnel's entrance is now blocked by concrete blocks due to risk of collapse.
Murder and Incidents
For decades, the Inunaki area has been a magnet for suffering.
On 6th December, 1988, a delinquent gang (aged 16-19) abducted Koichi Umeyama (20) upon stealing his vehicle. The next day, police discovered the burnt remains of Umeyama in the old Inunaki Tunnel. After psychologically torturing and physically abusing Umeyama, the youths doused him in gasoline, and then set him alight. Despite sustaining horrific burns, blood loss was Umeyama's official cause of death. Sources claim the youths bragged about killing him upon their return home.
Detailed description of the incident: www.kowabana.net/2017/09/24/old-inunaki-tunnel/
There are two notable vehicle-related incidences from the Inunaki area.
28th June, 1992: a vehicle slammed into a concrete utility pole, causing severe and minor injuries to the driver and nine (?) passengers.
10th February, 2001: a head-on vehicle collision claimed the lives of five people (aged 15 – 18).
In both incidences, the parties were returning from ghost exploration at Inunaki Tunnel.
At the nearby Inunaki Dam, on 13th January, 2000, a female skeleton was discovered. It was deemed a case of corpse abandonment, but public details are sparse. The dam is considered a popular suicide spot.
On the Miyawaka City side, Rikumaru Dam is also steeped in dark events.
23rd July, 1979: police attended to the missing person's report of Natsuki Shiiki. Upon finding her minicar abandoned at Rikumaru Dam, they then discovered her naked remains nearby. Akiyoshi Oyagi (21) was arrested for her abduction, rape, and murder.
15th November, 1979: a man (26) and woman (27) were found dead within a car which had fallen into Rikumaru Dam. The investigation revealed murder and an insurance scam, in which the woman's husband (a notorious gang leader) had received 148 million yen in life insurance for her death, the equivalent of $1.45 million USD (worth roughly $5.5 million USD in 2020).
On 6th December, 1988, a delinquent gang (aged 16-19) abducted Koichi Umeyama (20) upon stealing his vehicle. The next day, police discovered the burnt remains of Umeyama in the old Inunaki Tunnel. After psychologically torturing and physically abusing Umeyama, the youths doused him in gasoline, and then set him alight. Despite sustaining horrific burns, blood loss was Umeyama's official cause of death. Sources claim the youths bragged about killing him upon their return home.
Detailed description of the incident: www.kowabana.net/2017/09/24/old-inunaki-tunnel/
There are two notable vehicle-related incidences from the Inunaki area.
28th June, 1992: a vehicle slammed into a concrete utility pole, causing severe and minor injuries to the driver and nine (?) passengers.
10th February, 2001: a head-on vehicle collision claimed the lives of five people (aged 15 – 18).
In both incidences, the parties were returning from ghost exploration at Inunaki Tunnel.
At the nearby Inunaki Dam, on 13th January, 2000, a female skeleton was discovered. It was deemed a case of corpse abandonment, but public details are sparse. The dam is considered a popular suicide spot.
On the Miyawaka City side, Rikumaru Dam is also steeped in dark events.
23rd July, 1979: police attended to the missing person's report of Natsuki Shiiki. Upon finding her minicar abandoned at Rikumaru Dam, they then discovered her naked remains nearby. Akiyoshi Oyagi (21) was arrested for her abduction, rape, and murder.
15th November, 1979: a man (26) and woman (27) were found dead within a car which had fallen into Rikumaru Dam. The investigation revealed murder and an insurance scam, in which the woman's husband (a notorious gang leader) had received 148 million yen in life insurance for her death, the equivalent of $1.45 million USD (worth roughly $5.5 million USD in 2020).
Urban Legends
The Inunaki area is home to several urban legends.
Similar to other urban legend locations, a public phone box near the tunnel entrance was believed to be a magnet for ghosts, and visitors reported hearing the voice of a ghost in the receiver. The phone box has since been removed.
Reports claim ghostly human faces can be seen pressed against windows, car engines will fail to start, and a sign at the front of the tunnel recommends white sedans should avoid entering. Beyond the tunnel, derelict white sedans and a hut filled with corpses/statues are said to exist.
Inunaki Village has received the most speculation in regard to urban legends, including that the village's residents are highly volatile and inbred.
Urban legend states that before the Edo Period (1603 – 1868), Inunaki Village was a haven for fugitives, and refused contact with outsiders, and then, around the Meiji Period (1868 – 1912), the area was used as a leprosy settlement. Due to the villagers' hostile behaviour and criminal heritage, the Government removed Inunaki Village from official maps, set up signs around the perimeter warning that Japanese constitution does not apply ('enter at your own risk'), and cut off all forms of communication from the village. Yet, in Fukuoka, everyone knows a distant cousin or a friend of a friend who has trespassed beyond the safe boundary, and was never seen again, believed to be hunted and murdered by the village residents.
The urban legends pertaining to Inunaki Village are mostly inaccurate or false.
According to Wikipedia's Japanese article, Inunaki Village's official name was Inunari Village, and there are no historical sources suggesting the inhabitants refused outside contact. Upon Japan shifting to a municipal system in April 1889, Inunari Village and four neighbouring villages merged to form Yoshikawa Village. In 1955, Yoshikawa Village merged with Wakamiya Town, forming what it now known today as Miyawaka City.
It is true there are areas within Inunaki in which communication devices will have poor or no reception due to the mountainous and isolated landscape.
According to visitors, there are signs warning not to enter, but list no mentions of void Japanese constitution. Likely, the signs exist to warn people of the aforementioned motorcycle gangs and violent crime.
Similar to other urban legend locations, a public phone box near the tunnel entrance was believed to be a magnet for ghosts, and visitors reported hearing the voice of a ghost in the receiver. The phone box has since been removed.
Reports claim ghostly human faces can be seen pressed against windows, car engines will fail to start, and a sign at the front of the tunnel recommends white sedans should avoid entering. Beyond the tunnel, derelict white sedans and a hut filled with corpses/statues are said to exist.
Inunaki Village has received the most speculation in regard to urban legends, including that the village's residents are highly volatile and inbred.
Urban legend states that before the Edo Period (1603 – 1868), Inunaki Village was a haven for fugitives, and refused contact with outsiders, and then, around the Meiji Period (1868 – 1912), the area was used as a leprosy settlement. Due to the villagers' hostile behaviour and criminal heritage, the Government removed Inunaki Village from official maps, set up signs around the perimeter warning that Japanese constitution does not apply ('enter at your own risk'), and cut off all forms of communication from the village. Yet, in Fukuoka, everyone knows a distant cousin or a friend of a friend who has trespassed beyond the safe boundary, and was never seen again, believed to be hunted and murdered by the village residents.
The urban legends pertaining to Inunaki Village are mostly inaccurate or false.
According to Wikipedia's Japanese article, Inunaki Village's official name was Inunari Village, and there are no historical sources suggesting the inhabitants refused outside contact. Upon Japan shifting to a municipal system in April 1889, Inunari Village and four neighbouring villages merged to form Yoshikawa Village. In 1955, Yoshikawa Village merged with Wakamiya Town, forming what it now known today as Miyawaka City.
It is true there are areas within Inunaki in which communication devices will have poor or no reception due to the mountainous and isolated landscape.
According to visitors, there are signs warning not to enter, but list no mentions of void Japanese constitution. Likely, the signs exist to warn people of the aforementioned motorcycle gangs and violent crime.
Popular Culture
The Inunaki area has sparked inspiration for horror movies and games.
2019: Game developer Chilla's Art released '犬鳴トンネル' on Steam, focusing on Inunaki Tunnel's urban legends.
Steam link:
store.steampowered.com/app/1185160/Inunaki_Tunnel/?l=japanese
2020: Takashi Shimizu (呪怨, 2000) directed the film '犬鳴村 / Howling Village', following the main character's investigation of Inunaki Village.
犬鳴村 trailer:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVcBkIwXQIg
2019: Game developer Chilla's Art released '犬鳴トンネル' on Steam, focusing on Inunaki Tunnel's urban legends.
Steam link:
store.steampowered.com/app/1185160/Inunaki_Tunnel/?l=japanese
2020: Takashi Shimizu (呪怨, 2000) directed the film '犬鳴村 / Howling Village', following the main character's investigation of Inunaki Village.
犬鳴村 trailer:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVcBkIwXQIg
The area is isolated and the landscape is precarious, particularly after dark. Visit at your own risk.
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