Aokigahara Forest: The Reality of Japan’s “Suicide Forest”
Aokigahara Forest, located just northwest of Mt. Fuji’s base has long been the speculation of mystery and has an eerie reputation. Known as the “Sea of Trees” or unfortunately, more famously known as “The Suicide Forest,” Aokigahara Forest has captured the attention from people around the world. Japan’s Suicide Forest has been the the subject in horror movies, folklore, and dark tourism. But is Aokigahara Forest really shrouded in mystery and unfortunate events or is simply a peaceful forest, rich in natural beauty? In this post, I’ll dive into my recent trip to Aokigahara Forest and explore what makes this forest so captivating to so many people and recommend some of the attractions that are a must when visiting Aokigahara Forest, Japan’s “Suicide Forest.”
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Japan’s famous Aokigahara Forest is situated at the northwest side of Mt. Fuji. Nestled in between Mt. Fuji and the Fuji Five lakes area, this dense forest is expansive at 30 square kilometers or 12 sq miles.
The best way to reach Japan’s Suicide Forest is by car but there are buses that stop at the Wind Cave and Ice Cave entrances. But if you want to truly explore Aokigahara Forest and stop at some of the eerie parking lots or go for a hike on one of the many trails along highway 71, I recommend renting your own personal vehicle.
Tours to Visit Aokigahara Forest
Exploring Aokigahara Forest's Folklore
The Aokigahara Forest has a rich history of folklore and supernatural tales that have made their ways into Japanese culture, tradition, and story telling.
It is said that Aokigahara Forest is home to the Yūrei and the forest is haunted by demons.
The Yūrei is a Japanese mythological ghost that haunts a person or place. In appearance the Yūrei is known to wear the clothes they wore when they passed away or were buried in, most likely they have on their burial kimonos. Their hair is typically long, covering their face and their skin is nearly transparent. The Yūrei are said to roam around Japan’s suicide forest.
Because of the demons that are known to reside at Aokigahara Forest, many Japanese will not enter the forest.
Although this has nothing to do with hauntings, the volcanic soil here also interferes with compasses and mobile devices. Given the extreme stillness and denseness of the forest not to mention the magnetic soil, many hikers get turned around and lost in Aokigahara Forest.
Aokigahara Forest, known as "The Sea of Trees"
There are so many nicknames associated with Aokigahara Forest, the two most notable nicknames are “Japan’s Suicide Forest” and “The Sea of Trees”.
Why is Aokigahara Forest known as “The Sea of Trees?”
Aokigahara Forest is a very dense forest. From above, you can see a vast canopy of coniferous and broadleaf trees covering an area of 30 square kilometers.
Mt. Fuji is an active volcano. In 864 the Jogan eruption spewed lava down the slopes of Fuji. Lava covered the ground and the accumulation of soil has been rather slow. The roots of trees that grow here have no place to go down, instead they blanket the ground. Rocks and trees throughout Aokigahara Forest are covered in thick moss. Since the forest here is so thick hardly a breeze whistles through and the forest is dead silent.
Surprisingly, Aokigahara Forest is full of life! There are many animals that call this forest home to include deer, foxes, birds, and even bears. During one of our hikes, we spotted two deer off in the distance.
Why is Aokigahara Forest Known as Japan's Suicide Forest
*Trigger Warning*
These paragraphs provide information regarding Aokigahara Forest and why it’s known as Japan’s “Suicide Forest”.
Most people know Aokigahara Forest as the “Suicide Forest.” Japan’s Suicide Forest has been given this name because it is one of the most popular places in Japan for suicide. Out of respect, I won’t go into to much detail about this topic.
In the early 2000’s records have came out that anywhere from 70 – 200 people a year attempted suicide in this forest. In recent years, this information has not been publicized in order to help prevent such tragedies and to separate Aokigahara Forest from this unfortunate stigma.
*Camping is prohibited in Aokigahara Forest.
Attractions and Things to do in Aokigahara Forest
It is a shame that there is such a negative stigma behind Aokigahara Forest. After all, there is a lot to do here and exploring the beauty of this forest is one of the many reasons to visit. Locals visit Aokigahara Forest for hiking, caving, escaping the cities to relax in nature, and to practice photography.
Trust me, we didn’t really come to Aokigahara Forest to try and uncover its many mysteries or to hike deep in the forest to find unusual items left behind. We actually visited Aokigahara Forest to see the Ice and Wind Cave and find hiking trails to explore the beautiful wilderness.
It is said that there are over 100 caves at the base of Mt. Fuji. These caves are the result of lava tubes. Two of the more popular and touristy caves in Aokigahara Forest are the Ice Cave and Wind Cave. If traveling to this forest, I highly recommend visiting both caves as they are close by and unique in their own ways.
Narusawa Ice Cave
One of two tourist caves in Aokigahara Forest is the Narusawa Ice Cave. This cave was the more popular of the two and there was a long line waiting to get into the cave.
For visitors wishing to access the Narusawa Ice Cave, know that it can be challenging for some. The trail through the cave is a short loop but it is accessed through a steep set of stairs followed by a small tunnel where you have to crouch down somewhat small to access. So if your knees aren’t what they used to be or tight spaces just aren’t your thing, maybe skip this cave and head over to Wind Cave which is a little bit more open and easier to navigate.
The average annual temperature of Ice Cave is 3° which is cool enough to support ice year round. There are sections of the cave where you can see big blocks of ice.
Wind Cave
Just a few minutes walk from the Wind Cave Gift Shop, is Wind Cave. Like the Ice Cave, the temperatures here are much colder then the surface temperatures and you will instantly feel the sudden drop in temperatures as you descend into the cave. Afterwards, when coming out of the cave, your glasses or camera lens will fog up, we learned that from experience!
Wind Cave had an interesting history. Because of the temperatures, people back then would use this as a natural refrigerator and used it to store silkworms.
Sericulture or silkworm breeding is a practice that has a long and rich history in Japan. I even learned about Sericulture in Shirakawa-go. Keeping the silkworms in colder spaces like Ice and Wind cave allowed for breeding a 3 to 4 times a year as opposed to just once or twice in warmer weather.
There is a trail connecting the two caves. It’s about a 30 minute hike. I am glad we decided to hike the trail as we were able to explore more of this magnificent forest.
Prices for each cave costs ¥350, so ¥700 if you want to visit both.
Hiking Trails
Besides visiting the caves in Aokigahara Forest, hiking is another favorite past time. There are designated trails all throughout Aokigahara. There is even a trail that leads to the Fifth Station.
You could always check out AllTrails, for a list of popular hiking trails within Aokigahara Forest. But we simply drove down highway 71 through the forest and pulled off in designated areas to hike. No matter what trail you decide on, it is going to be beautiful.
Common Questions about Aokigahara Forest
Is Aokigahara Forest safe?
– Yes, as long as you stay on designated trails and use common sense.
Can you visit Japan’s Suicide Forest?
– Of course! In fact, it is an easy day trip from Tokyo or anywhere in the Mt. Fuji area
How big is Aokigahara Forest?
– Aokigahara Forest is about 30 square kilometers or 12 sq miles.
How Old is Aokigahara Forest?
– The forest is relatively young at around 1,000 years old.
Conclusion
Aokigahara Forest remains a mysterious yet fascinating place that has captured the interest and obsession of people around the world. Aokigahara reputation of being Japan’s “Suicide Forest” is unfortunate since the forest is absolutely beautiful with so many leisurely activities and attractions that can be thoroughly enjoyed.
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4 Comments
Joey
Great post! I have to check out Aokigahara Forest next time I’m in the Mt. Fuji area. Too bad it has such a bad reputation! I love how mystical forests look in Japan, as if they were taken out of a Ghibli movie haha.
zimminaround
It was so easy to get to and such a beautiful area. The forests here, especially mainland Japan are definitely mysterious looking with the moss blanketing the ground. One thing I notice though, in Japan every forest I’ve been to, never seen a squirrel. Everywhere else in the world, squirrels are all over the place!
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