English Version
Have you ever wondered, “Did someone die here?” or “Is this apartment a jiko bukken?” Maybe you have felt this about the place you live now, or about somewhere you are thinking of moving.
In Japan, a jiko bukken is a “stigmatized property” associated with a death or serious incident. Some people say that if you move into one without knowing its history, you may experience strange phenomena or see things that should not be there.
Below are common ways people try to identify a jiko bukken, along with one frightening experience said to have happened in such a place.
What Is a Jiko Bukken?
A jiko bukken generally refers to a property where a previous resident died, or where a serious incident occurred. This may include murder, fatal assault, fire, criminal incidents, accidents, suicide, disasters, or a lonely death where someone passed away alone.
Rumors About Disclosure Rules
When a jiko bukken is sold or rented out, real estate agents are generally expected to inform prospective buyers or tenants about important facts related to the property.
However, people often say there are gray areas. If several years have passed since a death or incident, or if several tenants have already moved in and out afterward, whether the information still has to be disclosed can become unclear.
There is also a rumor that some dishonest real estate companies exploit this ambiguity by having an employee live in the property first, intentionally trying to remove the need for disclosure later. This is only a rumor, and not every real estate company behaves this way, but it is one reason some renters choose to ask questions directly.
How to Research a Possible Jiko Bukken
Here are some simple ways people in Japan try to check whether a property has a troubling history.
Ask Nearby Residents
If you are planning to live in an apartment building or condo, asking nearby residents may be one of the most reliable methods.
Neighbors are less likely to be connected to the real estate company, so they may be less likely to hide information. If you do this, be polite, do not pressure anyone, and never trespass onto private property.
Ask the Real Estate Agent
If a prospective tenant directly asks about incidents or deaths at a property, the real estate agent is expected to answer clearly.
That said, a dishonest agent may give vague answers or even lie. Still, asking directly can be useful because it creates a record that you made an effort to confirm the property’s history.
Use Oshima Teru
There is an online site called Oshima Teru that collects information about jiko bukken across Japan. You can search or click through the map to look up reported properties.
As of November 2019, the site listed more than 53,000 reported jiko bukken in Japan. Like any online database, it may not be complete, but many people use it as a starting point when researching a property.
Things to Check During a Viewing
If you are viewing a room or house, these are some details people often pay attention to.
The Rent Is Too Cheap
If the apartment is sunny, spacious, close to the station, and in a convenient location, but the rent is unusually low, it may be worth asking why.
A low price does not prove anything by itself, but it can be a reason to investigate further.
Only One Area Has Been Renovated
It is normal for kitchens, bathrooms, and other heavily used areas to be renovated because they wear out over time.
However, if only one part of a wall or floor has been redone, some people consider it suspicious and wonder what may have happened there.
The Building Name Has Changed
After a murder or a fatal accident, a building may become known online. Some people say that owners sometimes change the building’s name to make it harder to find past information.
Again, a name change does not prove a dark history, but it may be worth checking.
One Floor Has Many Vacancies
In a large apartment building, if almost every floor is full but one specific floor has many empty rooms, some renters become cautious.
There may be an ordinary reason, but it can also be a sign that residents are avoiding that area.
The Previous Tenant Left Within a Year
Some people believe that once another tenant has lived in a property after an incident and then moved out, the duty to disclose may become weaker or disappear.
If the previous tenant moved out within a year, some wonder whether they experienced something unsettling while living there. Of course, people move for many normal reasons, so this is only one possible clue.
For travelers and horror fans, remember: researching haunted or stigmatized places can be interesting, but do not enter vacant homes, apartment buildings, or private property without permission.
A Frightening Experience in a House Beside a Church
This story is about a person who once lived in a used house next to a church.
The house stood along a railway line, near a river, in an area with heavy car traffic. From the outside, nothing seemed unusual. When the resident checked Oshima Teru, there was no listing suggesting it was a jiko bukken.
But one night, while sleeping, they woke up to an eerie sound.
“Scrape, scrape, scrape.”
It sounded like several people walking. The footsteps were heavy, almost like soldiers marching in military boots.
And that was not all.
They could also hear the sound of a baby crying.
Feeling disturbed, the resident mentioned it to a friend. The friend said, “Whenever I passed in front of your house, I felt like something was staring at me, so I tried not to look at it.”
Later, the resident asked someone who was said to be spiritually sensitive. That person told them, “A spirit path runs through that place.”
Today, the house is reportedly still vacant.
Could Your Home Be a Jiko Bukken?
Real estate is deeply tied to everyday life. If you feel something strange in your home, or if unexplained events keep happening, it may be worth looking into the property’s history.
You may discover nothing at all.
Or you may find something you wish you had never known.
Japanese Language
「ここって人死んでる？」「事故物件かな？」 。今住んでいるところやこれから引っ越し先をする場所にこのような疑問を抱いたことはありませんか？。知らずに住んでしまうと、怪奇現象や見えるはずのないものが見えてしまうことがあります。今回は事故物件の見分け方と事故物件でも恐怖体験をご紹介したいと思います。事故物件とは？。殺人、傷害致死、火災、芸時事件に該当する事や、自己性のない事故、自殺、災害や孤独氏などといった移住者が死亡した物件のことを事故物件 といいます。
告知義務の噂 。。事故物件の売却や貸し出しを募集する際は必ず入居希望者に事項を伝える義務があります。しかし、この告知義務には告知しなくてもいい場合があるのです。殺人や人が死ぬ事件事故が起きてから数年たった場合や入居者が数名入れ替わった後は告知義務が存在するのかは曖昧になってしまいます。しかし、 とある不動産屋ではこの曖昧な法律の穴をついて、従業員を事故物件に住ませ意図的に告知義務をなくすという行為を働く業者があるそうです。。事故物件を知る方法 。
。簡単に事故物件を見分ける方法をご紹介します。近隣住民に尋ねる。アパートやマンションなどに住む予定の場合は隣の住人に聞くことが一番確実です。近隣住民の場合不動産屋とはつながっている可能性は低いと考えられるため嘘をつかれたりする可能性は大変低いと考えられます。担当者に尋ねる。不動産屋は入居希望者などに尋ねられたら、明確に答える義務があります。しかし、悪質な業者では嘘をついたり曖昧な答えを出してくる可能性はあります。何かあった際に「こちら側はしっかりと確認をした」という事実が取れるため強みになります。
「大島てる」を活用する。インターネット上に事故物件化見分けることができるサイトが存在します。そのサイトは「大島てる」というサイトで、全国の事故物件情報記載されています。クリックするか検索で簡単に調べることができます。日本だけで 53,000 件以上の事故物件情報が記載されています。※２０１９年１１月現在。大島てる ←はこちら。内見時に見分ける方法 。。内見時に以下のことを確認してみてください。相場が安すぎる。日当たりもいい、広い、駅から近い。
このような好立地なのに安い場合は注意が必要です。一部だけリフォーム。キッチン、風呂などの劣化が激しい場所は気にする必要はありませんが、壁や床の一部だけがリフォームされている場合は注意が必要です。建物の名所が変わっている。殺人事件や人の死にかかわる事故が起きると、ネットなどで話題になるため名所を買える場合があるそうです。一定のフロアだけ空室が多い。マンションや集合住宅の場合、一定のフロアを除きほぼ満室の場合は注意が必要です。前の入居者が１年以内に退去した。
事故があった次に人が入居し、退去した後は告知の義務はなくなります。前回の入居者が１年以内に退去した場合は、入居中に何か怪奇現象等が原因の可能性もあります。事故物件での恐怖体験 。。教会の隣の家で。教会の隣の家に住んでいる時の話です。線路沿いで川も近く車通りの多い所に立っている中古物件に住んでいました。外から見たら特に何も変わりもなく、大島てるで確認してみたところ事故物件の情報の記載はなしでした。しかしある日、寝ている時に不気味な物音で目を覚ましました。
「ザッザッザッ」。複数の人が歩く音が聞こえるのです。その音はまるで兵士が軍靴で歩くような音が聞こえました。しかもそれだけではなく、赤ちゃんの泣き声までが聞こえてくるのです。不気味に感じ友人に聞いてみたところ、「お前の住んでいる家の前通ると何か視線を感じるから極力見ないようにしていた」と話していたのです。後々霊感のある人に聞いてみると「霊道が通っている」といわれたのでした。現在その物件は空き家のままです。あなたの家も事故物件化も・・・ 。
不動産というものは切っても切れない関係で結ばれています。もしもあなたの家で何か怪奇現象は嫌な感じがある場合は、調べてみるといいかもしれません。もしかしたら怖いことが判明するかもしれませんね・・・
