Creatures starting with Y

Yadōkai
Yokai

Yadōkai (夜道怪)

Corrupted monks in Japanese folklore who turned away from spiritual discipline and became malevolent or mischievous spir...

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729

Yagyō-san
Yokai

Yagyō-san (夜行さん)

A demon who rides through the night on a headless horse, bringing misfortune to anyone who sees him.

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585

Yakubyō-gami
God

Yakubyō-gami (厄病神)

Spirits believed to bring disease, plagues, and calamity, often feared and driven away through rituals.

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642

Yama-biko
Yokai

Yama-biko (山彦)

A spirit believed to cause echoes in Japan’s mountainous regions, often appearing as a small, elusive creature.

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685

Yama-bito
Yokai

Yama-bito (山人)

The wild people of the mountains, said to be hidden tribes or yokai living deep in Japan’s forests.

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499

Yama-chichi
Yokai

Yama-chichi (山父)

A monkey-like spirit that lives in the mountains and is said to steal the breath of sleeping travelers.

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616

Yama-inu
Yokai

Yama-inu (山犬)

A mysterious mountain dog spirit in Japanese folklore, sometimes seen as a protector and sometimes as a dangerous predat...

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826

Yama-oroshi
Yokai

Yama-oroshi (山颪)

A humorous yokai that takes the form of a radish grater, its name a pun on “mountain storm.”

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613

Yama-otoko
Yokai

Yama-otoko (山男)

A giant wild man from the mountains in Japanese folklore, sometimes friendly, sometimes fearsome.

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688

Yama-uba
Spirit

Yama-uba (山姥)

A terrifying mountain witch who may devour or aid travelers in Japanese folklore.

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853

Yama-waro
Yokai

Yama-waro (山童)

A hairy, one-eyed spirit believed to be a kappa who migrates to the mountains, known for mischief and pranks.

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630

Yamata-no-Orochi
Yokai

Yamata-no-Orochi (八岐大蛇)

An eight-headed, eight-tailed dragon slain by Susanoo in ancient Japanese mythology.

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1063

Yanari
Yokai

Yanari (家鳴)

Poltergeist-like spirits that cause mysterious noises in houses, often associated with haunted homes and disturbed energ...

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670

Yatagarasu
Yokai

Yatagarasu (八咫烏)

A three-legged crow sent by the sun goddess Amaterasu to guide the first emperor of Japan. It symbolizes divine guidance...

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1354

Yato-no-kami
Yokai

Yato-no-kami (夜刀神)

Deadly snake deities from Hitachi Province that brought death to those who saw them. Yato-no-kami were exterminated to p...

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912

Yomotsu-shikome
Yokai

Yomotsu-shikome (黄泉醜女)

Foul hags from Yomi, the Japanese underworld. They were sent by Izanami to punish Izanagi for fleeing after seeing her d...

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684

Yōsei
Yokai

Yōsei (妖精)

The Japanese word for fairy, yōsei refers to small nature spirits or magical beings. Their depiction often blends Wester...

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799

Yosuzume
Yokai

Yosuzume (夜雀)

A mysterious bird yokai known for its eerie chirping at night. Hearing the cry of a Yosuzume is often seen as a bad omen...

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598

Yuki-onna
Yokai

Yuki-onna (雪女)

A snow yokai known for her ghostly beauty and icy touch. She appears during snowstorms and may show mercy or doom to tho...

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655

Yukinko
Yokai

Yukinko (雪ん子)

A child-like snow yokai that appears during heavy snowfall. It is known to either help or mislead travelers, representin...

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678

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