English Version
On October 17, 2019, news broke that Susukino Lafiler, a major commercial complex in Sapporo, Hokkaido, would be closing. The building was long considered one of the city’s representative shopping facilities and was reportedly popular with locals.
This article is not about Susukino Lafiler itself, but about one particular part of the building: its elevators. Over the years, several ghost stories and strange experiences were associated with them.
What Was Susukino Lafiler?
Susukino Lafiler was a large commercial facility in Sapporo’s Susukino district. The building was known as the Susukino Crossroads Building and stood at South 4 West 4-1, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido.
At its height, it contained around 120 shops. Business hours were generally 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. from basement level 2 through the 6th floor, and 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on the 7th and 8th floors.
Before becoming Susukino Lafiler, the site had operated under several names, including Sapporo Matsuzakaya, York Matsuzakaya, and Robinson Department Store Sapporo.
Why Did It Close?
The main reason given for the closure was that the building no longer met current earthquake-resistance standards and had significantly aged.
Six parties, including Ito-Yokado, the Susukino Crossroads Building, Ain Pharmaciez, Seiko Fresh Foods, Takenaka Corporation, and Kitaden, reportedly agreed on a redevelopment plan. A full renovation had apparently been considered, but updating the building’s systems and carrying out seismic reinforcement would have required enormous costs. As a result, the plan shifted toward rebuilding the site.
At the time, reports said a new commercial facility could open there as early as 2023.
The Rumored “Elevator No. 4 That Doesn’t Move”
Among Susukino Lafiler’s ghost stories, one of the best known concerned an elevator sometimes called “Elevator No. 4 that doesn’t move.”
The building changed names several times over the years, but according to local rumor, eerie incidents had been talked about since the York Matsuzakaya era.
One story says the elevator would stop between the 6th and 7th floors. Some rumors claimed that a fire had occurred during the York Matsuzakaya period, and that someone who died at that time either haunted the elevator or continued to wander there. These details are part of the local ghost story and should be treated as rumor rather than confirmed fact.
Eventually, this elevator was reportedly no longer available for ordinary use, despite still being an elevator. It was said to have been blocked off by a Hokuyo Bank ATM.
While some people linked the strange stories to the alleged fire, others said the elevator had already been known around Sapporo for years for ghost sightings, people acting strangely, or people fainting.
Why Was the Elevator Stopped?
There are two common explanations given for why this elevator stopped operating.
The first is the supernatural version: there were supposedly so many frightening experiences that management had no choice but to shut it down.
The second is more practical: because it was a direct elevator from the ground floor to the 8th floor, it may simply have been used less often, so management decided to take it out of service.
Both versions have circulated, and the truth remains unclear.
A Scary Elevator Story: “The Mysterious Sound”
One account shared on a Japanese haunted-place website described a visit to Lafiler for a meal. The person got into the third elevator from the first floor to the 7th floor. During the ride, a relative mentioned that people said ghosts appeared in the building’s elevators.
Just then, the elevator allegedly made a loud clanging sound and began moving. According to the storyteller, it was not the kind of sound an elevator would normally make. Looking back, they said it felt extremely frightening.
A Story from the York Matsuzakaya Days
Another account came from the time when the building was still known as York Matsuzakaya. The storyteller said they were riding an elevator with two men when it suddenly stopped.
Because it was daytime and the elevator was see-through, they did not feel especially panicked. After a few minutes, it started moving again. The storyteller said they did not know about the ghost rumors at the time, and they never found out why the elevator stopped.
Visiting Today
Susukino Lafiler has already closed, so visitors can no longer experience the old elevator rumors firsthand. If you visit the area, do not attempt to enter closed, restricted, or redevelopment areas.
The site was reported to be part of a redevelopment plan, with a new commercial facility expected to open there. For travelers interested in haunted Sapporo, the Lafiler elevator stories remain one of Susukino’s more curious urban legends.
Japanese Language
2019年10月17日、北海道札幌の商業施設「ススキノラフィラ」が閉店することがニュースで発表されました。この「ススキノラフィラ」札幌を代表する大型商業施設であり、札幌市民からは人気の施設だったそうです。今回の記事ではススキノラフィラについて語るのではなく、ススキノラフィラの中にあるエレベーターについて紹介していきます。ここのエレベーターでは心霊現象が報告されているのです。ススキノラフィラとは？。。冒頭でも紹介した通り、札幌を代表する大型商業施設です。
。施設概要 所在地 〒064-0804 札幌市中央区南4条西4丁目1座標 建物名所 ススキノ十字街ビル 店舗数 約120店舗 営業時間 10:00 – 21:00 (B2F~6F) 11:00 – 23:00(7F~8F) 前身 札幌松坂屋→ヨークマツザカヤ→ロビンソン百貨店札幌 閉店の理由は？。。ススキノラフィラが閉店するのには理由があります。ススキノラフィラは現在の耐震基準を満たしておらず、老朽化が進んでいることがいちばんの理由 なのです。
「イトーヨーカ堂」「ススキノ十字街ビル」「アインファーマシーズ」「セイコーフレッシュふーず」「竹中工務店」「キタデン」の6者が再開発の方針を固めています。現在の耐震法を合格するために、全面改装することを検討していたそうですが、設備更新と耐震工事には多額の費用がかかるため、新しく立て直す方針に決まった そうです。早ければ2023年に新しい商業施設がこの地にオープンする予定だそうです。ススキノラフィラ 噂の「動かない4号機」。。ススキノラフィラには噂の「動かない4号機」というエレベーターがあります。
ススキノラフィラは名前を変えながら運営されていることはもうご存知だと思うのですが、ヨークマツザカやの時代から心霊現象が止まないそうです。心霊現象① 6F〜7Fの間で動かなくなってしまう。ヨークマツザカヤの時代に 火災が発生しその時に亡くなった人がこのエレベーターに取り憑いている又は今もなお彷徨っているんだとか？・・・ 。現在このエレベーターはエレベーターなのに乗れない状態になっているのです。北洋銀行のATMで封鎖されているのです。火災で人が死んだことも原因だと考えられていますが、それ以前にも幽霊が出るとか、精神が狂った人がいるとか、失神した人がいると札幌では有名な話だったそうです。
補足情報 このエレベーターが停止したのには二つの説が挙げられます。①：あまりにも心霊体験が多かったことから運営側がしょうがなく停止した。②：地上から8階への直通エレベーターの使用頻度が低いため、運営側がこのエレベーターを停止させた。この二つの説があります。ラフィラのエレベーターの怖い話。「謎の音」 この前ラフィラで飯を食おうとして 一階から7階まで3機目のエレベーターに乗ってたらいとこの母親がここのエレベーターに幽霊が出るっという話を持ち出した するとエレベーターからガタンッ！
っという音と共に動いてった 普通なら鳴らないはずの音である 今思うととても怖いなと思う 。引用： 全国心霊マップ 。「ヨークマツザカヤ」時代の話 私と他男性二人が乗ったエレベーターが止まりました。日中であり、シースルーなのであまり不安感はありませんでしたし、ほんの数分で復帰しました。心霊云々の噂は当時知りませんでしたが、止まった原因は分かりません。聞いてもいないですが…… 。引用： 全国心霊マップ 。まとめ。以上が「ラフィラ」についての心霊現象についてです。
現在は閉店してこのエレベーターの心霊現象を体感することはできません。2023年には新しく商業施設が開店するそうなので、開店した時は是非訪れてみてくださいね！。北海道札幌市中央区南4条西4丁目1番地 ※この記事は情報整理のため一部内容を更新しました
