Browse 222 creatures in the Yokai category.
Abura-akago is described as the ghost or spirit of an infant that appears at night.
617
It blends elements of ghostly fire and spectral apparitions found in regional legends.
624
Associated with the remote mountain passes of Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyushu.
680
Akaname (垢嘗) is one of the more bizarre and unsettling yōkai from Japanese folklore.
1053
Known for its dramatic appearances and symbolic role as a punisher of greed and corruption.
872
A mysterious red hand that dangles from trees, unsettling travelers and guarding sacred paths.
640
A colossal sea monster from Ainu lore, feared and revered as a divine octopus-like guardian of the ocean.
1216
A ghostly fire from Mie Prefecture that haunts desolate mountain paths and brings misfortune to travelers.
713
An eerie old woman who whispers for sweet sake and leaves sickness in her wake if you respond.
595
A cheerful little boy spirit who delights in the rain, sometimes causing showers or playful mischief.
693
A powerful fish- or whale-like beast from Ainu folklore, said to cause earthquakes and drag boats beneath lakes.
718
A mysterious woman yokai who brings rain wherever she walks—seen as both a gentle blessing and a gloomy curse.
728
A mischief-making spirit known for slicing through fishing nets and mosquito screens in the night.
697
A celestial maiden from Amami Ōshima whose radiant form bridges heaven and island folklore.
597
The eerie spirit of the blue lantern, said to appear at the end of a hundred ghost stories told by candlelight.
686
A mysterious blue-skinned monk who roams the mountains, luring children away from safety and into the shadows.
635
A spectral court lady draped in blue, haunting abandoned noble estates with memories of a lost past.
702
A ghostly blue heron said to shimmer with supernatural fire as it moves through swamps and riverbanks.
598
A mysterious old woman with magical powers, said to dwell in the mountains and test travelers with wisdom or trickery.
532
A giant foot crashes into a home demanding to be washed—or unleashes chaos if ignored.
640
A spirit known to trip travelers by entangling their legs—an invisible prankster of forest paths.
588
A legendary yokai pair—one with long legs, the other with long arms—who fish cooperatively in deep coastal waters.
713
A mysterious flickering flame from Kōchi Prefecture said to drift playfully through the night fields.
589
An invisible spirit said to follow people quietly—especially at night near temples or graveyards.
633
A sea spirit often synonymous with the ikuchi — a massive eel-like yokai that coats ships in oily residue.
736
A ghostly flame seen in Ishikawa Prefecture, often considered a spiritual warning or wandering soul.
522
A strange spirit known for making eerie bean-washing sounds near rivers and wells late at night.
600
A terrifying bean-grinding hag who lures victims with sound and devours them deep in the forest.
630
A regional name for Azukiarai — the mysterious spirit known for grinding beans by streams at night.
613
A ghostly whale yokai said to appear off the coast of western Japan. Surrounded by strange birds and fish, it brings mis...
664
A lively spirit formed from an old straw sandal, the Bakezōri comes to life when neglected. It runs about the house at n...
627
A mythical chicken-like beast that breathes ghostly fire and appears silently in the mountains of Ehime Prefecture, star...
717
An invisible spirit from Japanese folklore known to follow travelers at night, making eerie footstep sounds. Though unse...
792
A malevolent spirit of poverty that brings misfortune and financial ruin to households it inhabits.
601
A haunted biwa (Japanese lute) that takes on a ghostly form, often appearing when neglected or unused.
649
A beloved tale of a magical tanuki who disguises itself as a teakettle to help a kind man prosper.
884
A trembling spirit known to instill an intense sensation of fear or chills, especially when people enter haunted or curs...
833
A pig-faced spirit based on Zhu Bajie from Journey to the West—lazy, lustful, yet ultimately loyal and good-hearted.
799
A haunted paper lantern yokai with a single eye and long tongue, brought to life through age or neglect, often startling...
660
A titanic giant said to have shaped Japan’s geography by moving mountains and forming lakes with his footsteps.
694
The most powerful class of tengu, Daitengu are mighty mountain spirits and masters of magic and swordplay, each ruling o...
1242
An old crone who waits at the banks of the Sanzu River in the underworld, stripping garments from the souls of the recen...
656
A cursed female spirit whose arms are covered in hundreds of eyes — the result of a lifetime of pickpocketing and dishon...
759
A sorrowful spirit of a farmer who rises from the muddy rice paddies at night, lamenting the loss and neglect of his lan...
670
A mysterious yokai composed entirely of smoke, said to rise from burning incense or flames, appearing only to those with...
657
The mystical robes worn by Sōjōbō, the tengu king of Mount Kurama, believed to grant supernatural speed and invisibility...
526
A woman cursed with a second, ravenous mouth on the back of her head, hidden beneath her hair and demanding constant fee...
795
A powerful demon once said to haunt Gangō-ji Temple in Nara, attacking young priests until it was ultimately vanquished...
564
Gangi-kozō is a fish-loving water yokai often seen lurking near riverbanks or harbor steps, quietly watching for its nex...
583
Gashadokuro is a massive, night-wandering skeleton made from the bones of those who died without burial. It stalks the l...
984
Goryō are vengeful spirits of the dead, often aristocrats or nobles who died with deep resentment. Their wrath is believ...
969
Guhin is a variant of the tengu, often portrayed with canine features and known for its unpredictable temperament—someti...
590
Gyūki, also known as Ushi-oni, is a fearsome ox-headed demon from western Japan, often depicted with a spider-like or mo...
805
A wise beast from Chinese mythology known as Bai Ze in Chinese, who appeared to the emperor to reveal the names and attr...
984
A clever fox yokai known for disguising itself as a Buddhist priest to deceive humans.
856
A terrifying mask used in Noh theater representing a woman turned demon from jealousy and rage.
1054
A beautiful yet deadly yokai with barbed, prehensile hair used to ensnare and kill unsuspecting men.
830
A legendary dog from Zenkō-ji Temple, famous for defeating the sarugami—a monkey god who demanded human sacrifices.
584
These crabs bear faces resembling fallen Heike warriors, said to embody the spirits of those who perished in the Battle...
910
A mysterious, ape-like creature seen in the forests of Hiroshima Prefecture, often considered Japan’s version of Bigfoot...
931
A fearsome god or spirit responsible for droughts. It is said to dry up the land wherever it appears, withering crops an...
739
A mysterious glowing orb believed to be the soul of a recently deceased person, floating through the night air.
923
A cyclopean childlike spirit who startles humans by suddenly appearing with a single eye in the center of its face.
978
A ghostly woman who appears beautiful at first but is truly a skeleton; she visits her former lover and drains his life.
1296
A legendary night procession of a hundred demons and spirits. Anyone witnessing it without protection would meet a dread...
839
A strange yokai covered in countless blinking eyes. It guards sacred places and temples from intruders, silently watchin...
971
A playful yokai that resembles a small child carrying a gourd. Though harmless, it may startle passersby at night by pop...
726
A fearsome oni who guarded the Rashomon gate and served as Shuten-dōji’s most loyal companion.
721
A towering one-eyed monk-like spirit from Sado Island, known to appear at night and terrify travelers with its stare.
567
A mysterious sea serpent from Japanese legend that travels over boats at sea, trailing oily slime and causing panic amon...
620
A one-legged mountain spirit from the Kii Peninsula, known for hopping through the snow and frightening villagers during...
649
A fish-like sea monster with a barb-covered tail, said to lurk off the coasts of western Japan and attack ships with ste...
690
A monstrous bird with a human face and snake-like body that appeared over the capital in the Taiheiki, crying “Until whe...
539
A flying strip of cloth from Kagoshima Prefecture, Ittan-momen is a yokai that wraps around the faces of people to suffo...
667
A mysterious yokai that resembles a Buddhist monk but is believed to be a transformed char fish, appearing along rivers...
571
An ancient, hunchbacked woman said to guard snake mounds and cursed bones deep within the mountains.
555
A long obi (kimono sash) that has transformed into a vengeful spirit, often taking the form of a snake.
587
A mysterious tree said to grow flowers with human faces that laugh and smile instead of speaking.
689
An eerie dog with a human face, said to be seen at night wandering streets and highways. It can speak, but prefers to be...
1211
A giant catfish said to dwell beneath the earth, whose movements are believed to cause earthquakes in Japanese mythology...
642
A beautiful woman who transforms into a deadly spider to lure and consume unsuspecting victims, often appearing near wat...
829
A tree that grows in battlefields and drinks the blood of the dead, attacking anyone who passes too close.
690
The shadow of a mysterious woman that appears on the paper doors of haunted houses.
814
Another name for the kappa—a mischievous and dangerous water-dwelling yokai, revered and feared in Japanese folklore.
668
Fast-moving weasel spirits with sickle-like claws, known for slashing travelers without warning or leaving blood.
995
A small yokai known for silently sneaking up and cutting people’s hair, often as a prank or punishment for vanity.
740
A mysterious spirit said to lurk in bathrooms on New Year’s Eve, frightening those who enter or spying from the shadows.
714
A rare yokai spirit representing wealth and prosperity, appearing as a glowing orb of gold protected by supernatural for...
708
One of the most iconic Japanese yokai, the Kappa is a mischievous water spirit known for its bowl-shaped head, sumo skil...
1085
Karasu-tengu is a crow-headed tengu yokai, known as a mountain warrior spirit with a sharp beak, black wings, and master...
1545
Kasa-obake is a tsukumogami yokai taking the form of a one-eyed paper umbrella with a hopping leg and a long tongue.
900
Kasha is a fiery, cat-like demon from Japanese folklore known for stealing corpses from funerals or graveyards, often de...
942
Kashanbō are a winter variant of kappa that migrate into the mountains, often associated with cold-weather mischief and...
574
Katawa-guruma is a flaming wheel yokai bearing a tormented woman, said to be a cursed soul punished for her sins. It hau...
576
Katsura-otoko is a mysterious lunar being said to dwell on the moon, tending a sacred katsura tree. He is portrayed as a...
649
Kawa-akago is a river-dwelling yokai that takes the form of a crying baby. It lures passersby close to the water, often...
577
Kawa-uso is a mischievous river otter yokai known for its shapeshifting powers and playful tricks on humans. It often im...
617
Kawa-zaru is a foul-smelling, cowardly river creature from Japanese folklore. Unlike its cousin the kappa, it avoids con...
602
Kerakera-onna is a towering yokai woman who appears in the sky, laughing maniacally. Her laughter is said to spread drea...
668
Kesaran-pasaran is a tiny white fluffball spirit said to float through the air and bring good fortune to those who captu...
1072
Keukegen is a small, hairy yokai believed to bring disease and bad luck. It hides in dirty corners of homes until the sp...
634
Kijimunaa is a red-haired tree sprite from Okinawa known for its mischievous tricks and deep connection to banyan trees.
609
Kirin is the Japanese name for the mythical Qilin, a creature of peace, wisdom, and prosperity. Often called the Chinese...
1277
A condition in Japanese folklore where a person is believed to be possessed by a fox spirit, causing erratic behavior or...
1047
A woman from Japanese folklore who transformed into a serpent demon after being spurned by the monk Anchin, driven by un...
795
Tree spirits from Japanese folklore that dwell in ancient or sacred trees. Disturbing a Kodama’s tree is said to bring t...
1487
A mythical bird believed to be the spirit of a mother who died in childbirth, endlessly crying for her child. It echoes...
616
Lion-dog guardians that stand at the entrance of temples and shrines across Japan. They protect against evil and symboli...
712
A deceptive spirit that appears as a crying child or old man. When picked up, it becomes unbearably heavy and crushes th...
523
A leaf-dwelling tengu known for its bird-like appearance and trickster behavior, commonly found in forest folklore.
588
Tiny forest people from Ainu folklore who lived under butterbur leaves and disappeared after being betrayed by humans.
768
A haunted kosode kimono from Japanese folklore, inhabited by ghostly hands that reach out from its sleeves.
607
A chilling urban legend of a woman with a slit mouth who asks “Am I pretty?”—with deadly consequences depending on your...
783
A tiny, fox-like spirit used by sorcerers in Japanese folklore for magical purposes such as possession, spying, and misc...
759
A guardian spirit believed to inhabit Japanese warehouses, protecting stored goods and ensuring prosperity.
597
A ghostly fireball yokai resembling a jellyfish that drifts silently through the air, believed to be a soul lost at sea.
620
A vengeful skeletal spirit that rises from wells where unburied corpses were cast away, seeking justice and remembrance.
598
A legendary nine-tailed fox with immense magical power, associated with both divine protection and dangerous seduction.
2533
The Japanese vampire, inspired by Western legends, known for drinking blood and blending superstition with modern horror...
1629
The quarreling severed heads of three miscreants, doomed to argue eternally as a punishment for their crimes.
639
A mischievous spirit known for flipping or moving pillows while people sleep, sometimes causing mysterious discomfort or...
589
A swarm of disembodied skulls that gather and multiply, known for terrifying Taira no Kiyomori in ancient Japanese legen...
560
A mysterious yokai that grows taller the more you look up at it—known to cause fear and disorientation in travelers.
548
A terrifying yokai known to grow taller the more you look up at it—often mistaken for Miage-nyūdō, but with a more viole...
587
A serpentine water dragon from Japanese legend, said to dwell in rivers and attack those who pollute or approach its dom...
976
A haunted yōkai made of paper doors filled with unblinking eyes, watching anyone who enters abandoned buildings.
777
A mysterious old man yokai said to appear at every fork in the road, testing or deceiving travelers.
528
A famous tale about a magical teakettle that transforms into a tanuki, known from Morinji Temple in Gunma Prefecture.
762
A malevolent spirit known for feasting on corpses, often associated with graveyards and the dead. Mōryō are said to dwel...
994
Mujina are shapeshifting badgers known in Japanese folklore for their ability to transform into human forms, especially...
790
Myōbu is a title used for noblewomen at the imperial court, but in folklore, it is also a respectful term for fox spirit...
653
Ritual ogres from the Oga Peninsula, used in New Year traditions to scare laziness out of children and adults.
702
A giant catfish from Japanese mythology believed to cause earthquakes when it thrashes about underground.
683
An old-woman spirit who hides under the floor in abandoned storerooms and startles or haunts intruders.
582
A kettle spirit whose ringing sound is a good omen or a sign of divine presence in Japanese folklore.
539
A spook-disease which causes a woman to grow immensely fat and lethargic while sleeping, often attributed to spiritual i...
667
A cat yokai in the form of a young girl, blending innocence with mysterious feline powers.
873
A monster which appears as a young woman and sucks all of the flesh off of its victim's body.
722
A fish person or mermaid in Japanese folklore, said to grant longevity if eaten, but also brings misfortune.
840
A supernatural wall or flying squirrel-like yokai that blocks travelers or glides across the night sky.
627
A faceless ghost that appears in human form before revealing a blank, featureless face to unsuspecting victims.
782
Another name for the tsuchinoko serpent, a snake-like creature said to inhabit the mountainous regions of Japan, known f...
579
A vicious human-like monster whose head detaches from its body and flies through the night in search of prey.
1238
An animated lump of decaying human flesh that wanders abandoned places, emitting a horrific stench.
643
A mysterious yokai that sneaks into homes during busy times, acting like the master of the house and sipping tea uninvit...
764
A deceptive yokai with the body of a snake and the head of a woman. She appears near the shore, luring victims with a fa...
899
A disturbing yokai resembling a decayed blackened corpse with dangling eyeballs, said to sneak out of Buddhist altars at...
644
A ghostly wall yokai that blocks the path of nighttime travelers, appearing as an invisible barrier in Japanese folklore...
587
A tsukumogami born from an old mortar, the Nyūbachibō is a kitchen spirit that comes to life when neglected or disrespec...
527
Oboro-guruma is a ghostly oxcart that appears at night, bearing the face of a tormented driver. It is said to creak eeri...
519
A faceless woman yokai who appears in bridal attire, revealing only a wide mouth with black teeth to terrify unsuspectin...
742
A giant ghostly face that appears at the doorway, causing shock and paralysis in those who see it.
568
A giant ghostly woman’s face that appears in the sky, often as a sign of warning or punishment.
648
A ghostly dog or wolf that follows night travelers in the mountains—helpful if respected, deadly if slighted.
840
A colossal, venomous centipede known for battling dragons and threatening mountain paths and lakes.
1463
Mysterious floating flames believed to be ghost fires or spiritual energy, often seen near graves or haunted places in t...
871
A legendary bear that walks upright and raids villages at night, stealing livestock and terrifying residents.
751
A bird-like demon yokai formed from the spirits of the dead, appearing in temples and graveyards due to neglected funera...
620
Otoroshi is a hairy yokai that guards the gates of sacred places, silently watching and punishing those with impure hear...
607
A beast made of lightning that falls from the sky during storms and sometimes curls up in sleeping people's bellies.
1728
A mysterious yokai whose neck can stretch to extreme lengths at night, often terrifying people while they sleep.
860
The Japanese interpretation of Sha Wujing, the water-monster from Journey to the West, often seen as a kappa-like river...
544
A ghostly horse’s head said to hang from trees on Kyūshū, emitting eerie cries and bringing misfortune.
560
Sakabashira is a haunted pillar installed upside-down in buildings, believed to attract bad luck, spirits, and structura...
606
A shark-man yokai who once served the Dragon King of the Sea, known for crying jewel-like tears of blood and showing com...
793
Sarugami is a wicked monkey spirit from Japanese folklore that terrorized villages by demanding human sacrifices, but wa...
734
Satori is an ape-like yokai from the mountains of Japan that can instantly read the minds of any human it encounters.
699
Sazae-oni is a turban snail yokai from the sea that disguises itself as a beautiful woman to deceive sailors and exact r...
621
Sunekosuri is a small creature that rubs against people’s legs at night, causing them to stumble as they walk.
745
Taimatsumaru is a tengu surrounded in demonic fire, known for testing spiritual travelers and symbolizing the dangers an...
604
A mysterious female yokai with the ability to stretch her body to immense heights in order to peer into second-story win...
643
A legendary nine-tailed fox spirit who disguised herself as a courtesan. She caused disasters in the imperial court and...
749
An eerie yokai formed from an unharvested persimmon left to rot, glowing faintly and rolling across roads to spook trave...
532
Tatami-tataki is a poltergeist known for beating the tatami mats at night, creating eerie noises in haunted or abandoned...
558
Te-no-me is the ghost of a blind man who has eyes on the palms of his hands. It is said to wander cemeteries, seeking th...
599
Tengu are legendary yokai with bird-like features and supernatural powers, known for dwelling in the mountains and chall...
1214
Tenjōname is a creepy yokai known for haunting unkempt homes and licking the ceilings with its long tongue, leaving behi...
649
Tennin are celestial women from Buddhist mythology, often seen as graceful, divine beings who descend to Earth in flowin...
673
Tesso is the vengeful spirit of the monk Raigō who transformed into a swarm of rats to destroy his enemies after being w...
632
Tōfu-kozō is a small yokai boy who silently offers tofu to passersby, typically harmless but eerie in folklore.
729
Toire-no-Hanakosan is the ghost of a schoolgirl said to haunt the third stall of school restrooms, featured in one of Ja...
793
Tōtetsu is the Japanese interpretation of the Taotie, a legendary Chinese beast known for its greed and monstrous appeti...
1060
Tsuchigumo is a monstrous spider yokai that traps warriors using illusions and was famously defeated by Minamoto no Yori...
904
Tsuchikorobi is a tumbling monster said to roll down forested slopes and knock over travelers, often used as a warning f...
686
Tsuchinoko is a short, fat snake-like creature from Japanese folklore known for its elusive nature, ability to jump, and...
942
Tsukumogami are household items that come to life after a hundred years, becoming sentient yokai, often mischievous or v...
1065
Tsurara-onna is a wintry yokai formed from icicles, appearing as a beautiful woman during cold nights.
561
Tsurube-otoshi is a monstrous yokai that drops from the treetops to crush or consume people passing underneath at night.
571
Uma-no-ashi is a bizarre yokai in the form of a horse’s leg that dangles from trees and kicks unsuspecting travelers as...
673
Umi-nyōbō is a mysterious female sea yokai who steals fish from boats, embodying the untamed and greedy spirit of the oc...
556
Umibōzu is a giant, shadowy spirit of the sea said to appear suddenly and capsize boats, terrifying sailors across Japan...
924
Ungaikyō is a mysterious mirror yokai that reveals hidden visions, truths, and illusions, serving as a supernatural tool...
724
Ushi-oni is a terrifying yokai with an ox’s head and monstrous body, known for terrorizing coastal villages and symboliz...
713
Wanyūdō is a horrifying yokai in the form of a flaming wheel bearing a human face, known for stealing the souls of those...
764
Corrupted monks in Japanese folklore who turned away from spiritual discipline and became malevolent or mischievous spir...
758
A demon who rides through the night on a headless horse, bringing misfortune to anyone who sees him.
620
A spirit believed to cause echoes in Japan’s mountainous regions, often appearing as a small, elusive creature.
722
The wild people of the mountains, said to be hidden tribes or yokai living deep in Japan’s forests.
532
A monkey-like spirit that lives in the mountains and is said to steal the breath of sleeping travelers.
654
A mysterious mountain dog spirit in Japanese folklore, sometimes seen as a protector and sometimes as a dangerous predat...
860
A humorous yokai that takes the form of a radish grater, its name a pun on “mountain storm.”
655
A giant wild man from the mountains in Japanese folklore, sometimes friendly, sometimes fearsome.
733
A hairy, one-eyed spirit believed to be a kappa who migrates to the mountains, known for mischief and pranks.
656
An eight-headed, eight-tailed dragon slain by Susanoo in ancient Japanese mythology.
1133
Poltergeist-like spirits that cause mysterious noises in houses, often associated with haunted homes and disturbed energ...
703
A three-legged crow sent by the sun goddess Amaterasu to guide the first emperor of Japan. It symbolizes divine guidance...
1412
Deadly snake deities from Hitachi Province that brought death to those who saw them. Yato-no-kami were exterminated to p...
942
Foul hags from Yomi, the Japanese underworld. They were sent by Izanami to punish Izanagi for fleeing after seeing her d...
726
The Japanese word for fairy, yōsei refers to small nature spirits or magical beings. Their depiction often blends Wester...
845
A mysterious bird yokai known for its eerie chirping at night. Hearing the cry of a Yosuzume is often seen as a bad omen...
636
A snow yokai known for her ghostly beauty and icy touch. She appears during snowstorms and may show mercy or doom to tho...
719
A child-like snow yokai that appears during heavy snowfall. It is known to either help or mislead travelers, representin...
721
Zunbera-bō is another name for the noppera-bō, a faceless ghost that shocks people with its eerie lack of facial feature...
551
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