English Version
If you have driven in Japan, you may have seen a road sign marked with a simple exclamation point: “!”
Officially, this is a warning sign meaning “Other Dangers.” It is used when drivers need to be alert for a hazard that does not fit neatly into a more specific category.
The official meaning of the “!” sign
The exclamation-point road sign warns drivers that some kind of danger may be ahead.
In many cases, there is a small white supplementary plate below the sign explaining what to watch for. Common examples include mountain passes, falling rocks, icy roads, or other local hazards that drivers should take seriously.
But what about a “!” sign with no explanation underneath?
That is where the urban legend begins.
The rumor: a sign for haunted places
According to one popular rumor, unexplained “!” signs are often placed near haunted spots.
The story goes that these signs quietly warn drivers about places where ghost sightings have been reported, or where accidents and incidents are said to have occurred because of something strange in the area.
Of course, this is not an official explanation. Government agencies such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism cannot exactly put up a sign saying “Beware of ghosts.” So, according to the legend, the vague “Other Dangers” sign is used instead, without a supplementary plate.
Places said to have mysterious “!” signs
1. Shomaru Pass, Saitama Prefecture
Shomaru Pass is known as a dangerous mountain road where accidents are said to happen frequently.
It is also associated with disturbing stories. The area has been linked in local rumor to the notorious Tsutomu Miyazaki serial kidnapping and murder case involving young girls in the late Showa period. Because of this, some people say child spirits are often seen there.
There was also a separate incident in which more than 100 dog carcasses were reportedly dumped by a pet funeral-related business.
Whether the “!” sign is there because of road conditions, accidents, or something more mysterious is unclear. Either way, mountain roads in Japan can be narrow and risky, especially at night, so travelers should drive carefully and avoid stopping in unsafe places.
2. Aoyama Cemetery, Minato, Tokyo
Aoyama Cemetery is one of Tokyo’s most famous cemeteries, and it has long been connected to ghost stories.
One rumor says that a “!” sign there once had a supplementary warning beneath it that read something like “Caution: White Woman.” Whether that sign really existed is uncertain, but the story has become part of the area’s haunted reputation.
The road in question is said to be narrow, but because it is one-way, some people claim the chance of an accident is relatively low. That has led to speculation that the sign might really be warning people about a ghost.
Aoyama Cemetery is a real public cemetery, not a theme park. If you visit, be respectful, stay on public paths, and do not disturb graves or enter restricted areas.
3. Mount Hakodate, Hokkaido
Mount Hakodate in Hakodate, Hokkaido, is famous for its night view, often counted among Japan’s top three night views.
The road up the mountain winds toward the summit, with detours and obstacles along the way. One story says there is a large tree obstructing part of the route, and that an exclamation-point sign is attached to it.
Normally, people might expect the tree to be cut down to open the road. But according to the rumor, strange things happened whenever workers tried: people were injured, or machinery broke down. Because of that, the tree was supposedly left as it was.
Again, this is a legend, not a confirmed official account. Still, mountain roads around tourist areas can be difficult to navigate, so drivers should follow posted signs and local traffic rules.
Why only an exclamation point?
The urban legend says the reason is simple: official agencies cannot acknowledge ghosts as real hazards.
So instead of writing anything supernatural, they allegedly use the broad “Other Dangers” sign and leave the supplementary plate blank. To people who believe the rumor, that silence is the warning.
Final thoughts
The “!” road sign in Japan officially means “Other Dangers.” In most cases, it is probably warning about ordinary risks such as poor visibility, sharp curves, falling rocks, icy roads, or other local hazards.
But across Japan, some people say these signs also appear near haunted places.
If you ever notice a lone exclamation-point sign while traveling, do not panic—but do pay attention. Whether the danger is a ghost story or a blind curve, the safest choice is the same: slow down, stay alert, and respect the area.
Japanese Language
引用：新潟県公式サイト 。車を運転している方ならもしかしたら見たことがある方も少なくはないと思います。。「！」の道路標識。。実はこれ 「その他の危険」 という道路標識なのです。。今回はこの 「その他の危険」道路標識の都市伝説 についてご紹介したいと思います。。道路標識における「！」の意味 。。道路標識の「！」の意味は何かしらの危険がある注意標識です。基本的にはこの標識の下に白いプレートがある補助情報が書かれています。よく見るのは、峠や落石注意、凍結注意といった運転者がここで起こりうる注意喚起を行うためだとされています。
では補助情報のない「！」はどんな場所に設置されているのでしょうか？。こんな場所に設置されることが多い 。。心霊スポットに設置されることが多いそうです。この地で幽霊の目撃情報が多発していて、それが原因の事件事故がこの地で起きていますよと知らせるためにあるといわれています。ほんとにある場所 。。画像引用：グーグルストリートビュー 。①埼玉県正丸峠。事故が多発する有名な場所。1998 年昭和最悪的な事件、宮崎勤による東京市多摩連続幼女誘拐殺人事件の犯行現場になっています。
そのため子供の幽霊の目撃が多発しているそうです、。ほかにもペットの葬儀業者により犬の死骸が 100 匹以上捨てられる事件もありました。②東京港区青山霊園墓地。なんと噂では「！」の下に「白い女注意」なんて書かれていたという噂もあったそうです。しかも、細い道だが一通のため事故が起こる可能性もほとんどありません。本当に幽霊注意の意味でこの道路標識を設置しているのかもしれません。③函館山。北海道函館市にある函館山。日本 3 代夜景にも選ばれています。
この函館山ですが、山道を回りながら頂上を目指す道のりなのですが、途中で障害物などもあり多く迂回させられます。障害物は大きな木で、この木にビックリマークの標識がついているのです。普通なら、この木を切って道を開ければいいのですが、この木を切ろうとするとケガをしたり機械が故障したりするなどのおかしな現象が起こったためこのままに放置されているそうです。なぜ「！」だけなのか？。。国土交通省などといった国の機関が幽霊といった非科学的な存在を認めるわけにはいかないのです。
その他の注意を示す「！」標識に補助標識を取り付けないことで、幽霊注意と示しているそうです。まとめ 。以上「！」その他危険の道路標識について紹介してみました。実際にのところ全国に設置されているとうわさされています。。幽霊が出る場所やただ単に見渡しが悪い場所に設置されている といわれています、。もしこれを読んでいるあなたの身の回りにこのような標識を見つけた場合は注意が必要かもしれません・・・
