Meet Japan’s Spooky and Creepy Creatures: The World of Yokai

See, hear, and even play with Japan’s fantastic creatures known as yokai at museums.

You’re in Japan, walking alone at night. Suddenly you shiver. Is someone—or something—watching you?

Maybe you’ve encountered one of the spooky, supernatural beings called yokai. In Japan, people have told stories for centuries about these mysterious creatures. Some are funny, some are scary, and some love to play tricks. It’s a good idea to learn about them so you can tell the difference. They’re popular in TV, manga, and video games, but now there are even museums where you can meet them up close!

What are yokai?

Yokai are magical creatures from Japanese folklore. They come in all shapes and sizes. Some look like animals, others like people, while others resemble nothing you’ve ever seen before!

There are kappa, which look like a monkey mixed with a turtle, who live in rivers and love cucumbers. There are nurikabe, giant invisible walls that block travelers’ paths. And watch out for nukekubi, who look like normal people, but at night, their heads fly off as they hunt for food… Which might just be you!

Long ago, people believed yokai caused strange weather and made things disappear. Artists drew them in books and on scrolls, and actors performed spooky yokai plays on stage. These stories helped people explain the mysteries of the world around them, like why crops failed or why someone got sick. Today, yokai are still a big part of Japanese culture. They appear on TV, in manga, and in video games. People enjoy them because they can be scary, funny, or even helpful, and each yokai has its own unique story. This mix of mystery and fun is why yokai are still loved in Japan.

Visit a yokai museum!

Want to meet yokai in the real world? In Japan, there are museums that bring these creatures to life!

On the island of Shodoshima, the Yokai Art Museum lets you meet over 900 yokai! There’s a maze you can walk through while listening to spooky stories on your phone. If you think you’re brave enough, you can go there at night and explore by flashlight. Who knows what might be waiting around the corner?

Don’t worry, it’s plenty of fun to visit even during the day. The sculptures, displays, and art of the Yokai Art Museum are spread throughout various old, repurposed buildings. Inside you can meet modern yokai like kaka, who eat bad feelings, or torikaekko, who switch your face with someone else’s while you sleep. There’s even a yokai that collects “Likes” on social media.

Becoming part of a monster painting

In Nagoya, there was even an exhibition that brought the world of yokai to life in fun and exciting ways. There were large spaces filled with moving images of yokai. Some were life-sized, some were massive, and some floated through the air and popped out using cool lights and sounds. It was like walking into a living painting or story!

You could see dancing ogres, haunted umbrellas, and tools that came to life. They looked so colorful and real, you could easily have forgotten that they were just visual tricks using the latest technology. What was really cool was that you could take pictures with them or even become part of the floating world of yokai yourself by uploading your own photo using the museum’s app!

There was a learning area too, where you could see old Japanese prints and books showing how people imagined yokai hundreds of years ago. There were places to sit, things to touch and try, and signs in both Japanese and English. Most of the displays used sounds, pictures, and motion instead of long explanations. So even if you don’t like reading much, you could still have fun and learn a lot!

Draw and play with yokai

The Miyoshi Mononoke Museum in Hiroshima is a great place to play in the world of yokai. It’s split into three fun areas to explore and one special exhibition room that changes every year, with new themed displays. In the Japanese Yokai Area, you can learn about some of the most famous yokai from across Japan. Then, there is the Inou Monogatari Area, where you can see recreations of yokai that were seen in the town of Miyoshi over 200 years ago.

In the teamLab Yokai Amusement Park section, you can draw your own monster and watch it come to life on the walls! Your monster will move, react to your touch, and play with other kids’ drawings too. Will you draw a spooky skeleton? Or maybe a traditional tengu with its red face and long nose. Or maybe another yokai you learned about in the other areas? You can even turn yourself into a kappa using a fun camera and send pictures to your friends.

Whether they’re spooky, silly, or just strange, yokai have been part of Japan for hundreds of years. Now you can meet them face-to-face and become part of their story. Are you ready to enter their mysterious world in Japan?