Aokigahara: The Mysterious Forest in Japan

Aokigahara is a dense forest located at the foot of Mount Fuji in Japan, famous for the large number of suicides that have occurred in that area. 

Despite its many mysteries, it remains one of the most visited tourist destinations in Japan.

Some believe that Aokigahara Forest is haunted, filled with demons from Japanese mythology. Others believe that the forest is also a site of paranormal activity because of the large number of deaths there, which is why Aokigahara is also known as the "Suicide Forest".

Aokigahara, also known as Jukai (meaning sea of ​​trees) , is a forest on the northwestern slopes of Mount Fuji on the Japanese island of Honshu. The forest grows on a 30 square kilometer (11 square mile) expanse of hardened lava from the last major eruption of Mount Fuji in 864 AD.

The western edge of Aokigahara, which has several ice caves that fill with snow in the winter, is a popular sightseeing and tourist spot. Part of Aokigahara is very densely forested, and the porous lava in the forest has the ability to absorb sound, giving visitors a feeling of extreme isolation.

Aokigahara is also known as the "Suicide Forest".

Aokigahara Forest is a famous suicide site in Japan and a popular destination for horror movie lovers . Aokigahara Forest is located on the northwest side of Mount Fuji and is in Yamanashi Prefecture. Those who choose the 5th station to conquer Mount Fuji will have the opportunity to pass through this famous forest of Japan.

Up until 1988, about 30 people were believed to have committed suicide in the forest each year. A total of 78 bodies were found in 2002, 105 in 2003, and as of 2010, an estimated 200 or more people have committed suicide there, of which 54 were successful.

Every March, the end of the fiscal year in Japan, the country's suicide rate is also at its highest. The most common methods of committing this act are hanging or drug overdose.

Part of Aokigahara is very densely wooded, and the lava layer is porous in the forest.

Japan has a very high annual suicide rate, with an average of 70 people attempting suicide (mostly unsuccessfully) every day in 2014. The vast majority, about 71%, of the victims are men, and it is the leading cause of death among men aged 20 to 44 in the country.

Japan has a history of ritual suicide for a variety of reasons and the practice was common in the feudal military. The most famous example was samurai who committed suicide to avoid capture or defeat, and during World War II soldiers also committed suicide to bring honor or to avoid bringing shame to their families when they failed on the battlefield. Samurai would slash their stomachs with a sword, believing that this would free their spirit and prevent them from suffering an ignominious death at the hands of their enemies.

The forest is extremely high in iron and humid.

This is a dense forest created by volcanic lava in 864 AD. The forest contains extremely high iron content and is humid, making this place extremely cold and creepy. If you go about 2km deep, you will completely feel no life outside. At the same time, GPS devices and compasses almost do not work.

Since the 1990s, Japan has seen a rise in suicides due to unemployment, economic downturn, depression, or social pressures. In 1998, after suicides increased 34.7 percent from the previous year, the Japanese government increased funding to treat the causes and help those who attempted suicide recover from their failed attempts.

At the entrance of the main trail leading into Aokigahara Forest, there is a sign urging those contemplating suicide to think of their families and seek help from a suicide prevention association.

The words on this sign read: 'Think again about the life you have been given, your parents, your siblings and your children. Don't suffer alone, reach out to someone. (And the hotline number)'.

Aokigahara is a very dense forest with a large number of caves, and it is also very popular with tourists.  The forest is so dense that it can block out all other sounds except the natural sounds of the forest. To avoid getting lost, most hikers and tourists use tape to mark their paths so they can return if they get lost.

This forest is so dense that it can block out all sounds.

The forest is dense with huge ancient trees and unevenly growing roots. The trees are so tall that they block out the sunlight, making this place even colder and darker even during the day. That's why Aokigahara is also known as Jukai, which means 'sea of ​​trees'.

According to Japanese legend, this forest is home to yūrei: ghosts of the dead in Japanese mythology.

In recent years, Aokigahara has become internationally known as the "Suicide Forest" , one of the most popular suicide sites in the world.

Aokigahara is also mentioned in a number of media, including anime and manga, films, literature, music, and video games.