Exploring the Dark Side: Dark Tourism Sites Visited Around the World
Is dark tourism a growing trend among travelers around the world? Visitors seeking out attractions and locations that are associated with death, tragedy, bizarreness, and the macabre. Dark tourism includes visiting sites that are considered to be unordinary, tragic, and sometimes even scary. I myself have always been fascinated by dark tourism, even before it was a thing. I enjoy learning about the darker side of history and realizing that travel is not always pretty and perfect. This post we’ll take a look at some of the dark tourism sites I’ve visited around the world.
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***Warning***
There are images and topics in this post some viewers might find disturbing.
To me, dark tourism is defined as visiting attractions and places that involve some sort of tragedy or unusual place of interest.
Everyone has their own version of what dark tourism truly is. To some it might be visiting a war museum and to others it can mean visiting a site of immense tragedy.
Dark tourism generally involves traveling to places or visiting attractions that are associated with death, catastrophe, haunted places, locations where horrific events occurred, or even places with bizarre artifacts and unusual oddities.
When it comes down to it, every traveler has visited a dark tourist spot whether it be the catacombs in Paris and ruins of Pompeii in Italy or the atomic bomb dome in Hiroshima.
Dark Tourism Sites We've Visited
I’ve always been fascinated by dark tourism. I’d say I have morbid curiosity when it comes to traveling. I enjoy learning and seeing as much as possible, both good and bad.
Traveling is not always pretty. Many people travel to Poland just to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau or maybe to the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology to catch a glimpse of Ötzi the Iceman.
I’ve found myself traveling to destinations specifically for a dark tourist attraction, like the Mummies of Guanajuato in Mexico or paying a visit to the Yde Girl in Assen, Netherlands.
If you are like me and curious about dark tourism, here is a list of dark tourism sites around the world that I have personally visited broken down by region.
Asia
Japan
Aokigahara Forest (Japan's Suicide Forest)
When it comes to dark tourism, Japan’s Aokigahara Forest or informally known as Japan’s “Suicide Forest” is probably one of the world’s most famous sites.
Known around the world as the “Suicide Forest,” Aokigahara Forest unfortunately received this name due to the high volume of suicides that occur at this location.
Aokigahara Forest has been the subject of many horror films, folklore, and stories.
Today, anyone can visit Japan’s “Suicide Forest.” Honestly, the forest is quite beautiful. There are hiking trails throughout the forest and visitors can even explore Narusawa Ice Cave and Wind Cave.
Okinawa Battle Sites
During the Battle of Okinawa, anywhere from 12,000 Americans and over 100,000 Japanese lost their lives.
The island of Okinawa has a long history, unfortunately WWII is one of the most notable historical events that occurred on and around Okinawa.
Some of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific occurred on Okinawa. There are many sites in Southern Okinawa related to the war that can be visited today.
I’m surprised dark tourists don’t flock to Okinawa. Some of the famous sites include Hacksaw Ridge, the Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters, and the Peace Memorial Museum.
The Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters is not to be missed especially if seeking out the darker side of history. Visitors can walk through the tunnels and view some of the special rooms. One room that stood out to me had holes all over the walls and ceiling from a grenade that was used by an officer to end their life.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Besides visiting Aokigahara Forest, dark tourists will most likely find themselves visiting either the cities of Hiroshima or Nagasaki.
Both cities were devastated by atomic bombs during WWII and there are still remnants remaining around each city left as a reminder of the devastation that took place.
If visiting Hiroshima, you can pay a visit to the hypo center, A-Bomb Dome, Peace Memorial Park and Museum, Honkawa Elementary School, and Bank of Japan.
Although Nagasaki is less visited then Hiroshima, there are many sites related to the war that are of interest. Visitors can go to the Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park.
Sokushin-Butsu (Buddhist Mummies in Japan)
Japan might be one of the last countries you’d think would have mummies. But in northern Japan in Yamagata Prefecture, there are Sokushin-Butsu, which is a Buddhist Mummy.
I am definitely interested in visiting dark tourist sites in Japan. I visited the Buddhist Temple of Dainichibou while on a road trip through the Prefecture of Yamagata.
This temple has the mummified remains of Shinnyokai-Shounin. According to information at the temple, Shinnyokai-Shounin was a Buddhist Monk during the Edo period who became a Sokushin-Butsu.
These monks sacrificed their lives and practiced ascetic disciplines according to the temple. The monks would not eat grain, instead they ate nuts, tree roots, bark, wild plants, among other natural edibles. They then fasted on saltwater for 42 days and drank Urushi (An ingredient in lacquer) basically beginning the mummify process while still alive.
After self mummification, Shinnyokai-Shounin buried himself alive. Again, according to the temple, after 1,000 days of being buried, the body would be exhumed.
Today, visitors can go to Dainichibou and see the mummified body of Shinnyokai-Shounin sitting there. You can partake in rituals. Just be warned, photographs of the mummy are not allowed.
Vietnam
Hoa Lo Prison
No trip to Hanoi, Vietnam is complete without a visit to Hoa Lo Prison. Vietnam has many dark tourist sites, mainly around Ho Chi Minh City but Hanoi has its fair share like the Vietnam Military Museum or the notorious Hoa Lo Prison.
Hoa Lo Prison, or “The Hanoi Hilton,” is a historical prison that was built in the late 1800’s during the French occupation.
First, the prison was built to house political prisoners. Then it was used by the Vietnamese as a prison for US prisoners of war.
During the French occupation, Hoa Lo Prison was a place of nightmares. Prisoners were kept in horrendous conditions where sickness spread, food was poor, and the prison was at max capacity.
Europe
Croatia
Froggyland
More bizarre then dark is the Museum of Froggy Land in Split, Croatia.
While exploring Split, we stumbled upon this museum by accident and of course our curiosity led us to visit one of the more bizarre museums I’ve ever visited.
Froggy Land is a museum in Split, Croatia. The museum has taxidermied frogs on display. Each display has several taxidermied frogs that appear to be doing human day to day activities like going to school, working in a shop, or getting into some sort of trouble.
According to the Froggy Land website, the collection consists of 507 stuffed frogs.
Germany
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a 155 Kilometer (96 Miles) long wall that separated West Berlin from East Berlin.
The Berlin Wall was nearly built overnight on August 13, 1961 separating neighborhoods and even families in an instant.
The Berlin Wall was heavily guarded and guards were ordered to shoot on sight if anyone attempted to flee into Western Germany. Overall, around 140 people lost their lives before it finally fell on November 9, 1989.
Today, there are portions of the Berlin Wall that still stand in certain parts of the city.
Medieval Crime Museum (Rothenburg Torture Museum)
Who doesn’t love a good torture museum? Well, the Medieval Crime Museum in Rothenburg ob der Tauber has thousands of exhibits related to history, humiliation, punishment, and torture.
You can spend hours at this museum viewing the shame masks, torture devices, and other historical artifacts. There is even an Iron Maiden on display and various types of axes and swords used for beheadings.
Netherlands
Bog Bodies of Europe
I took a road trip from northern Germany to Assen, Netherlands, just to visit the Drents Museum and see the Yde Girl.
The Netherlands has plenty of dark tourist sites and seeing the Yde Girl, a Bog Body is one of them.
Bog bodies are mummified bodies that have been discovered in bogs, primarily in Northern Europe to include the United Kingdom.
Bog bodies can be thousands of years old. Many of them, so well preserved they have been mistaken for recent murder victims.
The Yde Girl is a well preserved bog body at Assen’s Drents Museum, in the Archaeology Department.
The Yde Girl was dug up in the Netherlands in 1897. Found with a noose around her neck, which appeared to be quite common among other bod bodies, she most likely died from being a victim of sacrifice or from wounds inflicted of being tortured.
Veenhuizen: National Prison Museum
Another dark tourist site in the Netherlands is the National Prison Museum in Veenhuizen.
We stopped at the prison museum while en route to the beautiful city of Groningen.
What we know and see today as the National Prison Museum in Veenhuizen was at one point an actual prison housing criminals.
The prison is pretty interactive and starts off with torture and forms of punishments that date back hundreds of years. From here you can walk through the rest of the prison. Visitors can see what cells where like, get to know, more like read about some of the prisoners that stayed here in the past, and learn a little about the Netherlands past and current legal systems.
Poland
Auschwitz-Birkenau
One of the most intense, sad, and chilling places I’ve ever visited has to be Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland.
Auschwitz is huge, you can spend most the day here walking around the concentration camp.
Visitors will see the Arbeit Macht Frei sign, Gate to Auschwitz, crematoriums, barracks, the “death wall,” gallows, and even the site where Josef Mengele performed medical experiments.
Some of the rooms that really hit me hard were the evidence rooms showing piles among piles of items that belonged to prisoners. There were rooms full of artificial limbs, glasses, shoes, suitcases, and everything else imaginable.
North America
Mexico
Guanajuato: Mummies of Guanajuato
By far the spookiest museum I’ve ever been to is Museo de las Momias in Guanajuato, Mexico.
As far as dark tourism goes, this is a must visit museum. Not only is the Museo de las Momias an interesting museum but it will definitely stick with you for the rest of your life.
In the 1850’s, a cholera outbreak swept through Guanajuato. Cemeteries could not keep up with the amount of dead.
The government started to tax families for plots. For those that could not afford the fees, the bodies were dug up and placed in storage.
The arid climate and soil preserved the bodies. The well preserved corpses peaked the interest of locals to the point where the cemetery was charging people to view the bodies.
This site got so famous, the owner of the grounds decided to turn it into a museum for everyone to enjoy! Feel free to read my 2 Days in Guanajuato post for more information.
Guanajuato: Purgatory Museum
Guanajuato was the ultimate Dark Tourist destination. Between the Museo de las Momias, mines, and Museum of Purgatory, I feel like anyone fascinated with dark tourism needs to add Guanajuato to the list.
The Museum of Purgatory in Guanajuato was a thrilling, cheesy, and entertaining experience.
The Museum of Purgatory had several exhibits and portrayals of the Spanish Inquisition and other exhibits that were flat out terrifying. There were replicas of torture devices and torture methods on display and other exhibits that were just meant to be spooky.
United States
Florida: Robert the Doll
When it comes to Dark Tourism sites, the United States has many attractions that fly under the radar.
Have you ever heard of Robert the Doll? I remember listening to a podcast years ago and heard about this haunted doll.
like most haunted dolls, Robert the Doll, is said to move on his own, giggle, even mess with people.
For those who want to see one of America’s most haunted dolls, Robert the Doll is on display at the East Martello Museum in Key West, Florida.
Remember, when taking a photo of Robert the Doll, always ask for his permission, and ask nicely. You don’t want to have your nice trip at the Florida Keys ruined by his curse.
Colorado and Missouri: Graves of Famous Outlaws and Cannibals
I’ve visited many famous graves around the United States, from the grave of Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Adams. But none stand out more to me then visiting the graves of two very different people, a well known outlaw and a wilderness guide known as the “Colorado Cannibal.”
When I lived in Kansas City, I took a day trip to Kearney, Missouri to visit the birthplace of Jesse James. Jesse James is perhaps one of Americas most famous outlaws.
In Kearney, you can visit the Jesse James Boyhood home and his grave at the Kearney Cemetery.
The second grave I visited was that of Alferd Packer. Alferd Packer was a guide among other trades.
While guiding others across the San Juan Mountains in Colorado, Alferd and his crew ran into months of brutal winter conditions.
After more then sixty days, only Alferd Packer emerged from this journey. He later admitted that he turned to cannibalism to survive the harsh winter. The remains of the five other people were found at a campsite.
Today, you can visit the grave site of Alferd Packer at Littleton Cemetery in Littleton, Colorado near Denver.
Pennsylvania: Mütter Museum
In the United States, a list of dark tourism sites can’t be complete with noting the Mütter Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The Mütter Museum is a fascinating museum with an extensive display of medical oddities, historical medical equipment, and specimens.
Some of my favorite exhibits at the Mütter Museum include the skeleton of a giant (7’6″ man, tallest skeleton on display in North America), slides of cells from one of the world’s most brilliant minds, Albert Einstein, and the many deformities and wet specimens.
Missouri: Glore Psychiatric Museum
One of the most interesting yet terrifying museums I’ve visited is the Glore Psychiatric Museum in St. Joseph, Missouri.
The Glore Psychiatric Museum has exhibits and displays from the State Lunatic asylum No. 2 Hospital dating back 140 year ago.
There is much more to the museum as it has exhibits on the history of mental asylums as they progressed to more modern times.
The Glore Psychiatric Museum has medical equipment on display, rooms, what we would see as torture devices, and even collections of unusual behaviors from patients.
There is an exhibit showing 1,446 items that were removed from one individuals stomach. The items included things like pins, nails, bolts, etc.. Needles to say, she did not survive the operation when doctors performed surgery to remove the items.
I remember there was a display of letters, I believe the patient thought the television was a mailbox, so he slipped them behind the television. Overtime there were over 500 letter accumulated.
Conclusion
Dark tourism sites are not for everyone but they do offer selected visitors with a unique opportunity to explore and learn about some of the more tragic sites and attractions around the world. Many of these sites do serve as an important reminder of atrocities that have happened in the past. Dark tourism sites can be overwhelming and unsettling but do offer insight and can help many of us better understand different kinds of history around the world. This list of dark tourist sites is a collection of places I’ve visited around the world. I’ve stated, traveling is not always pretty, there are sites around the world that many of us seek out that are quite bizarre, sad, or even terrifying. But we can learn from many of these tragic sites and promote awareness, empathy, and understanding.
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