English Version
At Sabagawa Tunnel, there is a local rumor about the ghost of a man who appears to beckon with his hand, as if saying, “Come here.”
According to the story, if someone approaches the figure, he vanishes—only to reappear a short distance away, beckoning again. Once you make it all the way through the tunnel, the ghost is said to disappear completely.
But the legend continues. If you turn back and enter the tunnel again, a narrow path is said to appear partway through. From somewhere deeper inside that path, the same figure beckons. Those who follow him, the rumor says, may be dragged down to the bottom of the dam.
For that reason, locals say the beckoning must be ignored completely.
There is also a memorial monument for five workers who died during the construction of Sabagawa Dam. Some connect the tunnel’s ghost stories to those who lost their lives there, wondering whether one of their spirits might still be unable to rest.
Location: 620 Tokujinotani, Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
If you visit the area, do so only from safe, public locations, follow local signs and road rules, and never enter restricted paths, tunnels, or dam facilities.
Japanese Language
「おいでおいで」と手招きをする男性の霊が現れる。その霊に近づくと姿を消し少し離れたところに現れ、また手招きをするという。トンネルを抜けきれば、もう霊の姿はなくなっているという。振り返り再びトンネルに入るとトンネルの途中に細い道があり、その奥から手招きをしているが、そのまま着いていってしまうと、ダムの底に引きずり込まれてしまうということらしい。手招きは絶対に無視しなければならない。佐波川ダム建築工事の際に命を落とした5人の殉職者の慰霊碑が建てられているが、成仏できていないとでも言うのだろうか。
山口県山口市徳地野谷６２０
