A demon who rides through the night on a headless horse, bringing misfortune to anyone who sees him.
350
Spirits believed to bring disease, plagues, and calamity, often feared and driven away through rituals.
407
Corrupted monks in Japanese folklore who turned away from spiritual discipline and became malevolent or mischievous spirits.
513
A spirit believed to cause echoes in Japan’s mountainous regions, often appearing as a small, elusive creature.
465
The wild people of the mountains, said to be hidden tribes or yokai living deep in Japan’s forests.
306
A monkey-like spirit that lives in the mountains and is said to steal the breath of sleeping travelers.
406
A mysterious mountain dog spirit in Japanese folklore, sometimes seen as a protector and sometimes as a dangerous predator.
501
A giant wild man from the mountains in Japanese folklore, sometimes friendly, sometimes fearsome.
446
A humorous yokai that takes the form of a radish grater, its name a pun on “mountain storm.”
386
An eight-headed, eight-tailed dragon slain by Susanoo in ancient Japanese mythology.
673
A terrifying mountain witch who may devour or aid travelers in Japanese folklore.
541
A hairy, one-eyed spirit believed to be a kappa who migrates to the mountains, known for mischief and pranks.
433
Poltergeist-like spirits that cause mysterious noises in houses, often associated with haunted homes and disturbed energy.
441
A three-legged crow sent by the sun goddess Amaterasu to guide the first emperor of Japan. It symbolizes divine guidance and is a national symbol of Japan.
873
Deadly snake deities from Hitachi Province that brought death to those who saw them. Yato-no-kami were exterminated to purify the land and allow human settlement.
639
Foul hags from Yomi, the Japanese underworld. They were sent by Izanami to punish Izanagi for fleeing after seeing her decayed form in the land of the dead.
469
The Japanese word for fairy, yōsei refers to small nature spirits or magical beings. Their depiction often blends Western fantasy fairies with Japanese mythological elements.
484
A mysterious bird yokai known for its eerie chirping at night. Hearing the cry of a Yosuzume is often seen as a bad omen, especially in tales involving the okuri-inu.
392
A child-like snow yokai that appears during heavy snowfall. It is known to either help or mislead travelers, representing both the beauty and danger of winter.
416
A snow yokai known for her ghostly beauty and icy touch. She appears during snowstorms and may show mercy or doom to those who meet her.
359