Isegami Tunnel is one of the most famous haunted spots in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. There are two tunnels: the old and the new Isegami Tunnel, both of which are notorious for ghost sightings.

Old Isegami Tunnel

The Old Isegami Tunnel, completed in 1897, was built to aid transportation through a treacherous mountain pass. Its construction greatly improved logistics in the region. The tunnel is made of granite with rusticated pillars and features a distinctive horseshoe-shaped cross-section. In 2000, it was designated as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan.
In 2022, the tunnel was used as part of the route for the FIA World Rally Championship Japan, known as the “Isegami SS (Isegami’s Tunnel).”

Ghost Stories

• As you approach the Old Isegami Tunnel by car, a woman with long hair is said to be hitchhiking near the entrance. She asks for a ride to the other side of the tunnel, but just before you reach the exit, she vanishes, leaving the seat soaking wet.
• Handprints mysteriously appear on the car’s windows.
• Strange paranormal events occur on the way home.
• Unsettling voices are heard on the car radio.

New Isegami Tunnel

The New Isegami Tunnel was opened in 1960 to address the difficulty of two-way traffic in the old tunnel. Today, it remains a key road for daily commuters.

Ghost Stories

• A man in a raincoat stands motionless, head down, but when drivers check their rearview mirror after passing, he’s gone.
• A woman in traditional Japanese clothing is often seen standing silently.
• Mysterious phone calls with no explanation are reported.

Why Tunnels Are So Often Haunted

Isegami Tunnel is famous for its numerous ghost sightings and supernatural reports. Many haunted locations in Japan are tunnels, with similar ghost stories involving apparitions, vanishing figures, or eerie encounters.
Tunnels tap into a primal fear, often seen as gateways to another world. In Japan, the act of “passing through” has significant cultural and spiritual connotations, which may contribute to this sense of fear. However, this fear of tunnels isn’t unique to Japan. Locations like Canada’s “Screaming Tunnel” and the United States’ “San Sevaine Tunnel” show that tunnels evoke a universal dread.