Explore the legendary Yokai, spirits, and creatures

Namahage
Yokai

Namahage (生剥)

Ritual ogres from the Oga Peninsula, used in New Year traditions to scare laziness out of children and adults.

Namazu
Yokai

Namazu (鯰)

A giant catfish from Japanese mythology believed to cause earthquakes when it thrashes about underground.

Nando-baba
Yokai

Nando-baba (納戸婆)

An old-woman spirit who hides under the floor in abandoned storerooms and startles or haunts intruders.

Narikama
Yokai

Narikama (鳴釜)

A kettle spirit whose ringing sound is a good omen or a sign of divine presence in Japanese folklore.

Nebutori
Yokai

Nebutori (寝太り)

A spook-disease which causes a woman to grow immensely fat and lethargic while sleeping, often attributed to spiritual interference.

Nekomata
Animal Spirit

Nekomata (猫又)

A bakeneko with a split tail, known for dark magical powers, necromancy, and vengeance against cruel humans.

Nekomusume
Yokai

Nekomusume (猫娘)

A cat yokai in the form of a young girl, blending innocence with mysterious feline powers.

Nikusui
Yokai

Nikusui (肉吸い)

A monster which appears as a young woman and sucks all of the flesh off of its victim's body.

Ningyo
Yokai

Ningyo (人魚)

A fish person or mermaid in Japanese folklore, said to grant longevity if eaten, but also brings misfortune.

Nobusuma
Yokai

Nobusuma (のぶすま)

A supernatural wall or flying squirrel-like yokai that blocks travelers or glides across the night sky.

Noppera-bō
Yokai

Noppera-bō (のっぺら坊)

A faceless ghost that appears in human form before revealing a blank, featureless face to unsuspecting victims.

Nozuchi
Yokai

Nozuchi (野槌)

Another name for the tsuchinoko serpent, a snake-like creature said to inhabit the mountainous regions of Japan, known for its rare sightings and mythical status.

Nue
Yokai

Nue (鵺)

A monkey-headed, tiger-bodied, snake-tailed monster that plagued the emperor with nightmares in the Heike Monogatari.

Nukekubi
Yokai

Nukekubi (抜け首)

A vicious human-like monster whose head detaches from its body and flies through the night in search of prey.

Nuppefuhofu
Yokai

Nuppefuhofu (ぬっぺふほふ)

An animated lump of decaying human flesh that wanders abandoned places, emitting a horrific stench.

Nure-onna
Yokai

Nure-onna (濡女)

A deceptive yokai with the body of a snake and the head of a woman. She appears near the shore, luring victims with a fake baby.

Nuribotoke
Yokai

Nuribotoke (塗仏)

A disturbing yokai resembling a decayed blackened corpse with dangling eyeballs, said to sneak out of Buddhist altars at night.

Nurikabe
Yokai

Nurikabe (ぬりかべ)

A ghostly wall yokai that blocks the path of nighttime travelers, appearing as an invisible barrier in Japanese folklore.

Nurarihyon
Yokai

Nurarihyon (ぬらりひょん)

A mysterious yokai that sneaks into homes during busy times, acting like the master of the house and sipping tea uninvited.

Nyūbachibō
Yokai

Nyūbachibō (乳鉢坊)

A tsukumogami born from an old mortar, the Nyūbachibō is a kitchen spirit that comes to life when neglected or disrespected.