An old village in Japan has recently gained notoriety as a place marked by misfortune, its name tied to a string of unsettling accounts. One of the most talked-about involves a man who was burned alive by carjackers, a story that lingers in conversations about the area. With so many tales woven into its history, it’s no surprise the village carries such a grim reputation.
The Inunaki Tunnel, the Inunaki Village, and the surrounding region in Fukuoka Prefecture are often regarded as some of the most infamous places in Japan, their names tied to real-life crimes, unsettling folklore, and historical horrors. Stories tell of distant screams and howls echoing through the area long into the night. Most disturbing of all, the region is said to exist beyond the reach of the law.
According to legend, during Japan’s Edo period, the village was deliberately sealed off from the rest of the country, with the authorities refusing any involvement in its affairs. Theories surrounding its isolation range from the presence of secret cults and blood rituals to accusations of black magic and even cannibalism. Some claim that after a ritual resulted in the slaughter of thirty people, the village was permanently cut off, its roads severed and a sign placed at its entrance, warning: The Constitution of Japan does not apply beyond this point.
Where is the Inunaki Village?
The origins of Inunaki Village are traced back to the early Edo period, and even now, it is said that those shunned by society or seeking escape from persecution retreat there, severing ties with the outside world entirely.
It is said that the villagers still remain to this day, though centuries of ritual practices and generations of inbreeding have changed them in ways beyond recognition. Those daring enough to seek out the place are warned of hidden traps and violent inhabitants, who will pursue intruders with axes and sickles. With no phone service in the area, calling for help would be impossible. And given that the village is believed to exist outside government jurisdiction, even the police would not intervene. According to legend, no one who has ever stumbled upon the true village has lived to tell the tale.
The name Inunaki translates to howling dog, a reference to an old village tale. Even now, dog statues are scattered throughout the ruins, tied to the region’s past. The story tells of a villager who grew frustrated with his pet’s incessant barking and, in a fit of rage, killed it. Soon after, both he and his entire family were slaughtered. What he never realized was that the dog had been trying to warn him of the approaching murderers.
The road that leads to the village (alleged) from the side of the tunnel
Historically, an Inunaki Village is recorded as having existed from 1691 to 1889, though its true fate remains a mystery.
The original Inunaki thrived in its early days, known for its ceramic production and steel manufacturing. Its prosperity grew even further with the success of its coal mines. In the late 1800s, a castle called Inunaki Gobekon was established, the sparse remains of which can still be found today. Over time, the village merged with Yoshikawa and later with other surrounding settlements, eventually forming what is now known as Miyakawa City—considered the modern successor to the original village.
However, the original settlement itself met a different fate. When a dam was constructed on the site, the entire village was submerged, erasing nearly all traces of its past. The displaced residents are said to have relocated to the nearby Wakita area. Despite official records supporting this version of events, many claim that this was merely a fabricated account to obscure the village’s true history. Some go as far as to suggest that the dam’s construction was an intentional effort to bury the past permanently.
Most of the supernatural stories linked to Inunaki stem not from the vanished village, but from an old tunnel leading into the area. While a new tunnel, built in 1975, remains in use today, the original tunnel has been abandoned for years. It has become infamous enough to inspire a 2019 horror film, Howling Village, which used the location for much of its setting, as well as a horror game, Inunaki Tunnel, released the same year. Yet, the fear surrounding the site is not merely the stuff of fiction—its reputation extends far beyond legend.
The Horrifying Murder at the Inunaki Tunnel in 1988
This reputation is not solely built on legend—it is reinforced by real, documented events, the most infamous being a violent murder case from December 7, 1988.
That evening, 20-year-old Umayama Koichi was waiting at a stoplight near the Inunaki area on his way home from work when a group of young men confronted him. They told him, “We need your car to pick up some girls, so quit acting tough and get out.” When Umayama refused, as anyone would, they attacked him, seized control of his car, and forced him inside.
They drove him to a secluded location, where they continued to beat him. Despite his injuries, Umayama managed to break free and ran toward the road, desperately trying to flag down passing vehicles. No one stopped. Before he could escape, the men caught up to him again. This time, they attempted to throw him into the waters at Konda Port, but he clung to the fence with all his strength, resisting their efforts to submerge him.
One of the attackers hesitated, showing a flicker of regret, and suggested they let him go. But the group’s leader refused, making it clear—this man was not going to leave alive.
The attackers then forced Umayama into the trunk of his own car, using wrenches, cranks, and any other tools they could find to beat him relentlessly. Initially, they planned to dispose of his body by throwing him off the Rikimaru Dam, but fearing that it might resurface, they decided on another method—fire. They believed burning him would erase any chance of identification.
Stopping at a gas station, they filled plastic bottles with gasoline under the pretense that their bike had broken down. With their plan set, they drove to the abandoned Inunaki Tunnel, dragging Umayama from the car. They doused his head in gasoline. Realizing what was about to happen, he screamed in terror. The moment of fear in his voice made one of the men hesitate, and in that split second, Umayama seized his final chance—he broke free and ran into the woods.
Innunaki village is said to be inaccessable. A still from the 2019 movie Howling Village.
The group called after him, assuring him, “We’re not going to do anything. We’re not lying. Just come out.” For reasons no one will ever understand, he believed them. He stepped out of hiding, only to be captured for the third and final time.
This time, they gagged him with clothing, bound his hands and feet, and beat him with rocks. Even then, he did not die. He begged for his life, but mercy was not in their plans. They poured the remaining gasoline over him and set him on fire. As the flames consumed him, he managed to break free from his bindings, stumbling toward the tunnel’s entrance, still pleading for help. But there was none. He collapsed at the front of the tunnel, where he finally died.
The group stood over his lifeless body, ensuring there was no movement before leaving the scene and returning to Fukuoka City.
After leaving the scene, the group went to a bar, boasting to others about what they had done. “We just killed someone—even set him on fire,” they bragged, showing no remorse.
The next day, around noon, Umayama’s body was discovered. Though the condition of his remains made precise details difficult to determine, the official cause of death was ruled as blood loss from the severe head injuries he had sustained. With the killers openly bragging across town, their capture came swiftly.
Their trial took place in the Fukuoka Court on March 8, 1991. The ringleader, who had been only 19 at the time of the crime, was sentenced to life in prison. In response, he protested, saying, “I never intended to actually kill him. This sentence is too harsh.” Seeking a reduction, he filed an appeal, but the judge dismissed it outright, stating, “The cruelty displayed here is unlike anything seen in similar cases. The defendant played a central role and, therefore, bears the greatest responsibility.
The Legends of the True Inunaki Village
Meanwhile, rumors about the true Inunaki Village began surfacing online in 1999. It was during this time that the abandoned Inunaki Tunnel and the village ruins gained widespread attention as ghost-hunting destinations. Internet forums filled with speculation, shared experiences, and eerie stories about the place. On November 2, 1999, the legend truly took hold.
Apparantly, this village is classified as a specially protected area, a place where neither the police nor the government hold any authority. Despite its notoriety, television signals reportedly cut out at the pass leading in. According to one theory, the village suffered severe discrimination before the Edo period and eventually severed all ties with the outside world, establishing itself as a self-governing settlement. Some claim that dangerous individuals reside there, though such rumors remain unverified. Here are some of the user feedback:
November 6th – When I was in college, I visited Inunaki Pass. There were two tunnels—one old, one new. The darkness was absolute, and the moment I stepped in, I felt physically unwell.
November 8th – I asked a friend about Inunaki Village, and his response was immediate: “Oh, you mean that submerged village?” It seemed that when the dam was constructed, the entire settlement was lost beneath the water.
November 9th – I heard another account of a village that doesn’t appear on any map. Supposedly, if you follow a narrow, nearly invisible road, it leads to a hidden settlement.
November 12th – A story surfaced about a location near Mount Haruna in Gunma Prefecture, said to be eerily similar. The area, famous as the setting for a manga about street racing, supposedly harbors something far darker. Legend has it that anyone who ventures onto the wrong road crashes and is never seen again. Some believe a cult owns the land and that it is littered with bodies.
November 13th – In that same region, a religious facility operated by a well-known group is said to exist, frequented by criminal organizations.
Then, an anonymous letter arrived at InTV, a television station. The title read: The Village in Japan That Isn’t Part of Japan. The writer, though skeptical of ghost stories, acknowledged the area’s reputation. They described a narrow, almost imperceptible path in the woods near the old Inunaki Tunnel. As the trail progressed, it became increasingly constricted, leading deeper into isolation. At the very end stood a sign, its warning unmistakable:
“The Constitution of Japan does not apply beyond this point.”
In the early 1970s, a young couple was driving along the winding mountain roads near Inunaki Ridge, making their way from Hisayama to Miyakawa. As they ascended the hills, they found themselves forced onto a narrow, isolated road. Just before reaching the old Inunaki Tunnel, their car stalled, leaving them stranded—this was long before cell phones, so calling for help wasn’t an option.
While assessing their situation, they noticed a small, overgrown path near the tunnel. With no other choice, they decided to follow it on foot in search of assistance. A short distance in, they came across the infamous sign. At first, they assumed it was some sort of prank and pressed on.
Not far ahead, they spotted a cluster of small, ancient-looking houses. The structures were worn down, their interiors shrouded in darkness, giving the impression that the place had been abandoned for years. There were no voices, no distant sounds of animals, not even the whisper of wind—only an unsettling silence. The only indication of modern life was an old white car left to decay. They suddenly recalled a story about a missing couple who had vanished in a similar vehicle just a year before.
Continuing cautiously, they reached what appeared to be the village’s main road. The heavy darkness pressing in around them was unsettling, and their unease only grew. Deciding it was best to turn back and seek help elsewhere, they turned toward their car—just as a figure stepped out onto the porch of a large gray building.
The man walked toward them, smiling as he spoke. “We love having visitors here,” he said. “We just don’t like to see them leave.”
Before the young man could react, the stranger swung a sickle in one swift motion, slicing from his neck to his navel. He collapsed to the ground before he even realized what had happened.
The girl turned and ran, sprinting toward their abandoned car. Before she could reach it, the man caught her, lifting her off the ground with one hand before hurling her into the street. She hit the ground hard, her ribs snapping on impact. Desperate, she scrambled toward the nearest house—only then noticing something they had completely overlooked on their way in. Between the buildings, hidden in the shadows, were bodies.
She tried to keep moving, but there was nowhere left to run. The man caught up to her, and just like the boy before her, she never made it out. Her body was found alongside the white car, forever trapped in the place where no one was ever meant to leave.
Theories of what might have happened at the Inunaki Village
The writer went on to describe the so-called insane villagers said to inhabit the area, urging reporters to investigate as soon as possible. This was the moment when the modern legend of Inunaki Village truly took shape, even though it had already been a well-known destination for ghost hunters long before.
Over time, various theories have emerged, each attempting to explain the village’s dark past. Among them are the following:
- The village was so ravaged by disease that the government decided to isolate it entirely, cutting it off to prevent further spread and leaving the residents to their fate.
- It functioned as a leper colony, abandoned by the rest of society, its people left to survive on their own.
- Its extreme isolation led to intellectual decline and inbreeding, resulting in behaviors that abandoned basic human morality.
- One night, a villager—perhaps the same man with the sickle—massacred everyone around him, leaving only himself behind.
- A cult took over, performing cannibalistic rituals and ensuring that any outsider who wandered in never made it out.
Some theories focus on the construction of the Inunaki Dam, which submerged the original site of the village. According to these accounts, when energy company representatives failed to convince residents to relocate, they resorted to a more extreme solution—barricading people inside their homes, flooding the area, and erasing all traces of their existence.
Today, the old Inunaki Tunnel has been completely sealed off. Large concrete blocks now barricade its entrance, and a locked gate on the road prevents vehicles from passing through. On either side, steep cliffs make access nearly impossible. Still, a few determined individuals have managed to scale the mountains and slip into the tunnel through gaps near the top.
The original inunaki village as seen from above
Locals say that ever since the release of the horror film Howling Village, interest in the area has surged. More and more visitors seek out the infamous tunnel and the lost village, drawn in by the legend—whether or not they truly believe in what lies beyond.
Even before the film’s release, the area had already attracted a steady stream of visitors. But by 2020, despite widespread lockdowns, its popularity surged. Today, the tunnel and its surroundings are littered with trash, graffiti, and abandoned possessions left behind by rowdy visitors. Locals avoid the site—not due to hauntings, but because of the unruly crowds that now frequent the area.
A nearby resident told a local newspaper, “Every day, young people gather in the woods near the tunnel. They throw their trash wherever they stand, drinking and causing trouble. We’re afraid to go up there.” The problem has become so disruptive that since the film’s release, police have been called to the tunnel over 182 times, a stark increase from zero incidents in the months prior. Frustrated residents wish the place would fade from public interest, hoping its eerie reputation will eventually lose its appeal.
In February 2020, the Fukuoka Broadcasting Corporation, working alongside the Miyakawa City Council, sent a team of journalists to investigate. While scouting the site, they reported hearing strange noises from within the tunnel and noted a sudden temperature drop from 12°C to 9°C as they approached the entrance. However, the presence of cool air inside a tunnel isn’t exactly unusual. In the end, they found no definitive proof of anything supernatural.
With the site now heavily restricted—gated roads, barricaded tunnels, frequent police patrols, surveillance cameras, and fences—it has become increasingly difficult to access. Maybe that’s for the best. Not just for the locals, but perhaps even for those who would risk going there at all.
Next, read about The Baltic Sea Anomaly, and then, about the Disappearance of Lisa Marie Young from Nanaimo!
