English Version
JR Takasago Station in Ebetsu, Hokkaido, has long carried a grim local reputation. According to rumors in the area, the station has seen many suicides over the years, and some residents say it feels as if spirits are “calling” people there.
A small Jizo statue was reportedly erected by bereaved families in memory of those who died after being struck by trains. The inscription identifies them as victims of railway fatalities.
In 2001, when the station was renovated, the Jizo was moved. Soon afterward, it is said that a woman jumped in front of a train at the same station. Since then, rumors claim that suicides have continued without end. Some locals have wondered whether moving the Jizo may have angered the spirits it was meant to console.
The station is located around 56 Takasago-cho, Ebetsu City, Hokkaido. If you visit, remember that it is an active railway station: stay behind safety lines, follow all posted rules, and be respectful of commuters and anyone who may have personal connections to the tragedies associated with the site.
Japanese Language
昔から自殺が多く地元民からは霊が呼んでいると噂される。遺族たちによって鉄道轢死者と記された地蔵がつくられている。2001年に改装にあたって地蔵を移動させたところ、その直後に女性が同駅で電車に飛び込んだとのこと。その後も自殺者が後を絶たないと言われているが、地蔵の怒りを買ったとでも言うのだろうか。北海道江別市高砂町５６
