English Version
Old Wariishi Tunnel in Ichikawamisato, Nishiyatsushiro District, Yamanashi Prefecture, is the subject of several local ghost stories.
According to rumors, a spirit wearing tattered work clothes is said to appear here. There are also stories that Kuchisake-onna, the “slit-mouthed woman” of Japanese urban legend, has been seen around the tunnel.
The tunnel is said to have had a harsh construction history. During excavation work, many laborers reportedly suffered injuries or died due to severe working conditions and a poor environment. Inside the tunnel, there is said to be a stone Buddhist statue dedicated to memorializing the workers who lost their lives.
Why Kuchisake-onna became connected to this tunnel remains unclear. The worker-spirit stories seem tied to the tunnel’s construction rumors, but the origin of the slit-mouthed woman sightings has not been explained.
If you plan to visit, check current access conditions in advance, respect any closures or private property, and do not enter unsafe or restricted tunnel areas.
Japanese Language
ボロボロの作業着姿の霊が現れる、口裂け女が出没するなどの噂がある。トンネル掘削工事中に、過酷な労働と劣悪な環境により多くの死傷者が出たと言われる。トンネル内部には、亡くなった労働者を供養するための石仏が建っている。しかし、なぜ口裂け女なのかは解明されていない。山梨県西八代郡市川三郷町
