Explore the legendary Yokai, spirits, and creatures

Kage-onna
Yokai

Kage-onna (影女)

The shadow of a mysterious woman that appears on the paper doors of haunted houses.

Kahaku
Yokai

Kahaku (河伯)

Another name for the kappa—a mischievous and dangerous water-dwelling yokai, revered and feared in Japanese folklore.

Kamaitachi
Yokai

Kamaitachi (鎌鼬)

Fast-moving weasel spirits with sickle-like claws, known for slashing travelers without warning or leaving blood.

Kamikiri
Yokai

Kamikiri (髪切り)

A small yokai known for silently sneaking up and cutting people’s hair, often as a prank or punishment for vanity.

Kameosa
Tsukumogami

Kameosa (瓶長)

A spirit born from an old sake jar, Kameosa is known to provide an endless supply of drink to those who treat it with respect.

Kanbari-nyūdō
Yokai

Kanbari-nyūdō (かんばり入道)

A mysterious spirit said to lurk in bathrooms on New Year’s Eve, frightening those who enter or spying from the shadows.

Kanedama
Yokai

Kanedama (金玉)

A rare yokai spirit representing wealth and prosperity, appearing as a glowing orb of gold protected by supernatural forces.

Kappa
Yokai

Kappa (河童)

One of the most iconic Japanese yokai, the Kappa is a mischievous water spirit known for its bowl-shaped head, sumo skills, and love of cucumbers.

Karasu-tengu
Yokai

Karasu-tengu (烏天狗)

Karasu-tengu is a crow-headed tengu yokai, known as a mountain warrior spirit with a sharp beak, black wings, and mastery of martial arts.

Kasa-obake
Yokai

Kasa-obake (傘お化け)

Kasa-obake is a tsukumogami yokai taking the form of a one-eyed paper umbrella with a hopping leg and a long tongue.

Kasha
Yokai

Kasha (火車)

Kasha is a fiery, cat-like demon from Japanese folklore known for stealing corpses from funerals or graveyards, often descending from the sky with flames.

Kashanbō
Yokai

Kashanbō (かしゃんぼう)

Kashanbō are a winter variant of kappa that migrate into the mountains, often associated with cold-weather mischief and strange mountain legends.

Katawa-guruma
Yokai

Katawa-guruma (片輪車)

Katawa-guruma is a flaming wheel yokai bearing a tormented woman, said to be a cursed soul punished for her sins. It haunts dark roads, wailing through the night.

Katsura-otoko
Yokai

Katsura-otoko (桂男)

Katsura-otoko is a mysterious lunar being said to dwell on the moon, tending a sacred katsura tree. He is portrayed as a beautiful, melancholic man, representing celestial isolation and unearthly beauty.

Kawa-akago
Yokai

Kawa-akago (川赤子)

Kawa-akago is a river-dwelling yokai that takes the form of a crying baby. It lures passersby close to the water, often resulting in danger or drowning. This eerie creature is both tragic and terrifying.

Kawa-uso
Yokai

Kawa-uso (川獺)

Kawa-uso is a mischievous river otter yokai known for its shapeshifting powers and playful tricks on humans. It often impersonates people and lures them into strange or humorous situations by rivers.

Kawa-zaru
Yokai

Kawa-zaru (川猿)

Kawa-zaru is a foul-smelling, cowardly river creature from Japanese folklore. Unlike its cousin the kappa, it avoids confrontation and is known for fleeing and hiding from humans.

Kerakera-onna
Yokai

Kerakera-onna (けらけら女)

Kerakera-onna is a towering yokai woman who appears in the sky, laughing maniacally. Her laughter is said to spread dread and bring misfortune to those who hear it.

Kesaran-pasaran
Yokai

Kesaran-pasaran (ケサランパサラン)

Kesaran-pasaran is a tiny white fluffball spirit said to float through the air and bring good fortune to those who capture it.

Keukegen
Yokai

Keukegen (毛羽毛現)

Keukegen is a small, hairy yokai believed to bring disease and bad luck. It hides in dirty corners of homes until the space is cleaned.

Kijimunaa
Yokai

Kijimunaa (キジムナー)

Kijimunaa is a red-haired tree sprite from Okinawa known for its mischievous tricks and deep connection to banyan trees.

Kijo
Yokai

Kijo (鬼女)

Kijo are women in Japanese folklore who have transformed into terrifying demons, often driven by jealousy, betrayal, or deep sorrow.

Kirin
Yokai

Kirin (麒麟)

Kirin is the Japanese name for the mythical Qilin, a creature of peace, wisdom, and prosperity. Often called the Chinese unicorn, it combines features of deer, dragon, and ox.

Kitsune
Animal Spirit

Kitsune (狐)

Kitsune are supernatural foxes from Japanese folklore, known for their intelligence, shape-shifting abilities, and magical nature. They are often tricksters or divine messengers associated with Inari.

Kitsune-Tsuki
Yokai

Kitsune-Tsuki (狐憑き)

A condition in Japanese folklore where a person is believed to be possessed by a fox spirit, causing erratic behavior or illness.

Kiyohime
Yokai

Kiyohime (清姫)

A woman from Japanese folklore who transformed into a serpent demon after being spurned by the monk Anchin, driven by unrequited love and burning rage.

Kodama
Yokai

Kodama (木霊)

Tree spirits from Japanese folklore that dwell in ancient or sacred trees. Disturbing a Kodama’s tree is said to bring terrible misfortune.

Kokakuchō
Yokai

Kokakuchō (子鶴鳥)

A mythical bird believed to be the spirit of a mother who died in childbirth, endlessly crying for her child. It echoes maternal sorrow and haunting presence in Japanese folklore.

Koma-inu
Yokai

Koma-inu (狛犬)

Lion-dog guardians that stand at the entrance of temples and shrines across Japan. They protect against evil and symbolize purity, power, and divine presence.

Konaki-Jijii
Yokai

Konaki-Jijii (子泣き爺)

A deceptive spirit that appears as a crying child or old man. When picked up, it becomes unbearably heavy and crushes the victim.

Konoha-tengu
Yokai

Konoha-tengu (木の葉天狗)

A leaf-dwelling tengu known for its bird-like appearance and trickster behavior, commonly found in forest folklore.

Koropokkuru
Yokai

Koropokkuru (コロポックル)

Tiny forest people from Ainu folklore who lived under butterbur leaves and disappeared after being betrayed by humans.

Kosode-no-te
Yokai

Kosode-no-te (小袖の手)

A haunted kosode kimono from Japanese folklore, inhabited by ghostly hands that reach out from its sleeves.

Kuchisake-onna
Yokai

Kuchisake-onna (口裂け女)

A chilling urban legend of a woman with a slit mouth who asks “Am I pretty?”—with deadly consequences depending on your answer.

Kuda-gitsune
Yokai

Kuda-gitsune (管狐)

A tiny, fox-like spirit used by sorcerers in Japanese folklore for magical purposes such as possession, spying, and mischief.

Kudan
Animal Spirit

Kudan (件)

A yokai with the body of a calf and the face of a human that prophesies disaster and dies shortly after birth.

Kurabokko
Yokai

Kurabokko (蔵ぼっこ)

A guardian spirit believed to inhabit Japanese warehouses, protecting stored goods and ensuring prosperity.

Kurage-no-hinotama
Yokai

Kurage-no-hinotama (クラゲの火の玉)

A ghostly fireball yokai resembling a jellyfish that drifts silently through the air, believed to be a soul lost at sea.

Kyōkotsu
Yokai

Kyōkotsu (狂骨)

A vengeful skeletal spirit that rises from wells where unburied corpses were cast away, seeking justice and remembrance.

Kyūbi-no-kitsune
Yokai

Kyūbi-no-kitsune (九尾の狐)

A legendary nine-tailed fox with immense magical power, associated with both divine protection and dangerous seduction.

Kyūketsuki
Yokai

Kyūketsuki (吸血鬼)

The Japanese vampire, inspired by Western legends, known for drinking blood and blending superstition with modern horror.