English Version
Osaka Prefecture is home to one of Japan’s better-known “haunted tunnels”: the Old Ikoma Tunnel. Over the years, it has become associated with serious railway accidents, grim rumors, and alleged paranormal sightings. Even today, the place is said to have an eerie atmosphere that makes it difficult to approach, and some people who went there on dares claim they experienced something frightening.
Here is the story of the Old Ikoma Tunnel, a former railway tunnel tied to both real tragedy and local ghost lore.
What Is the Old Ikoma Tunnel?
The Old Ikoma Tunnel is a railway tunnel in Osaka Prefecture, connected with the former route between Osaka and Nara. It was originally opened in 1914 by the Osaka Electric Tramway, often referred to as Daiki, the predecessor of the later Kintetsu railway network.
In 1964, the newer Shin-Ikoma Tunnel opened, and the original tunnel was taken out of regular use. From that point on, it became known as the Old Ikoma Tunnel.
During its construction, many workers were reportedly mobilized for the project. The tunnel’s history is closely tied to those workers and to the accidents that followed.
A Major Accident During Construction
Before the tunnel opened, a serious accident occurred during construction.
According to accounts connected to the tunnel, many Korean laborers were brought in to help complete the work. On January 26, 1913, at around 3:20 p.m., a cave-in occurred inside the tunnel.
The collapse reportedly happened about 700 meters from the exit on the Ikoma side. Around 150 Korean workers were said to have been trapped inside, and some were buried alive.
Mount Ikoma had long been known as a sacred mountain, and even during construction, some workers allegedly claimed to see paranormal phenomena. One common story says workers saw “something white” crossing in front of them.
Accidents After the Tunnel Opened
After 33 months of construction, the Ikoma Tunnel opened on April 18, 1914. However, accidents continued even after the line entered service.
On December 24, 1946, at around 9:30 a.m., an express train from Nara bound for Uehonmachi was stopped inside the tunnel when a following local train, also bound for Uehonmachi, collided with it. Eighteen passengers died, and 53 were injured.
On April 16, 1947, at around 2:15 p.m., a fire broke out inside the tunnel. Flames started from beneath a train car, and the vehicle was completely destroyed. Twenty-eight passengers died, and 58 were injured.
On March 31, 1948, another serious accident occurred. The brakes on an express train from Nara to Uehonmachi failed inside the tunnel. At the same time, excessive speed damaged the pantograph, and the train became uncontrollable. It eventually crashed into a local train ahead of it at Kawachi-Hanazono Station. Forty-nine passengers died, and 282 were injured.
With so many fatal incidents connected to the tunnel, it is easy to understand why dark stories gathered around it. In 1964, the tunnel was closed as a regular route, reportedly because its size was too small for modern railway needs, and it became the Old Ikoma Tunnel.
However, on October 1, 1986, when the Kintetsu Higashi-Osaka Line opened, part of the tunnel is said to have returned to active use. Then, on September 21, 1987, another fire reportedly broke out inside the tunnel. A train traveling from Osaka toward Ikoma became stranded, and in the end, one person died and 48 people were injured.
It is no wonder that some people describe this place as a tunnel that seems to draw in human lives.
Ghost Stories and Reported Sightings
Today, the area is fenced off and cannot be freely entered. Visitors should not attempt to enter restricted railway property or tunnels. If you are interested in the location, view it only from safe, legal public areas and follow all posted signs.
Even so, ghost stories about the Old Ikoma Tunnel continue to circulate. Reported phenomena include:
- A human figure seen walking into the tunnel
- A white shadow spotted near the tunnel entrance
- Groups of people, believed to be accident victims, standing on an abandoned platform
These are local rumors and personal accounts, not confirmed events. Still, because the tunnel has seen so many real tragedies, many people wonder whether the grief of those who died there still lingers.
Final Thoughts
The Old Ikoma Tunnel is remembered not only as an old railway structure, but also as the site of multiple fatal accidents, beginning with a major construction disaster and continuing through several deadly train incidents after it opened.
A memorial or place of prayer is said to exist for those who lost their lives there. Whether or not one believes the ghost stories, the history of the tunnel is undeniably heavy. For those who died in and around this place, one can only hope they are at peace.
Japanese Language
大阪府には有名な幽霊トンネルがあります。それが今回紹介する「旧生駒トンネル」です。このトンネルでは多くの事故や心霊現象が数多く確認されています。確かに、このトンネルは不気味で近寄りがたい雰囲気を醸し出しています。このトンネルに肝試しに行って恐怖体験をした方も結構いるんだそうです。今回はそんな「旧生駒トンネル」について詳しく紹介していきたいと思います。旧生駒トンネルとは。。大阪府にあるトンネルです。計3本の鉄道のトンネルです。生駒トンネルは1914年に前身である大阪電気軌道（大軌）により開通しました。
しかし、 1964年に新生駒トンネルが開通されてしまったため、このトンネルは使用されなくなり「旧生駒トンネル」 となりました。かつてこのトンネルでは多くの労働者が駆出され、作業が進んでいたそうです。旧生駒トンネルの過去。。この大阪にある有名な幽霊トンネル「旧生駒トンネル」では開通に向けての工事中に大きな事故が起きたのです。このトンネルを 開通するためにたくさんの朝鮮人労働者が駆出された そうです。1913年1月26日15時20分ごろ、作業中にトンネル内で落盤事故が発生 します。
生駒方面の出口から約700メートルのところで落盤し、当時労働者として働いていた朝鮮人の約150人がトンネル内に閉じ込められ、何人かが生き埋めになってしまったそうです。元々生駒山は霊山として有名で、労働者の多くが「白いものが横切った！」と心霊現象を訴えていたのです。開通しても事故が多発していた！。そして33か月の工事が完了し1914年4月18日に生駒トンネルが開通します。しかし、開通後も色々な事故が発生したのです。1946年12月24日9時30分ごろ、トンネル内で停止中の奈良発上六行き急行に継続の各駅停車上六行きが追突し、乗客18人が死亡。
そして53人が負傷した のでした。1947年4月16日14時15分にトンネル火災が発生します。列車の床下から出火し、車両が全焼し、乗客28名が死亡し、58名が負傷 しました。1948年3月31日ブレーキ事故が発生します。奈良駅発上六行き急行のブレーキがトンネル内で故障したと同時にスピードオーバーでパンタグラフが破損し制御不能に陥ります。結果暴走列車となり河内花園駅で先行していた各駅停車に衝突し、乗客49名が死亡、うち282名が負傷 しました。
このように、毎年トンネル内で事故が多発していたのです。結論としてトンネルのサイズが小さいという理由で1964年にこの生駒トンネルは廃止され「旧生駒トンネル」となりました。しかし、1986年10月1日に近鉄東大阪線が開通し、一部トンネル内を共用したことで現役復活したそうです。そして再び、翌年の 1987年9月21日トンネル内で火災が発生し、大阪後発生駒息の電車が立ち往生し。結局一人が死亡、48人が負傷した そうです。このトンネルは人の命を吸い込んでいくトンネルとでもいうのでしょうか？
。参考：旧生駒トンネル。旧生駒トンネルの心霊現象。。現在は柵などで入ることができなくなっているがここでは心霊現象が目撃されています。心霊現象 ・人影がトンネル内に入っていくとこを目撃。・トンネル付近で白い影を見た。・使われなくなったホームで事故で亡くなった人たちが大勢で立っている。などの心霊現象が報告されています。事故で亡くなった人たちの怨念がそこにはいまだに残っているのでしょうか？。まとめ。いかがだったでしょうか？。今回紹介した「旧生駒トンネル」は開通に向けての工事中に大きな事故が発生し多くの人が亡くなったのです。
無事開通後も列車事故によりさらに多くの人たちが亡くなったそうです。この場所にはそんな人たちを供養するための供養があるそうです。無事に成仏してくれることを祈るばかりです。大阪府の最恐心霊スポットランキングは→ 【本当に危険】大阪府の最恐心霊スポットランキング！
