According to urban legend, lying just beyond the city of Tokyo is one of the most haunted locations in all of Japan. The exact location of the Himuro Mansion (or Himikyru Mansion as it is sometimes known) is widely unknown but the legend puts the mansion in a rocky region just beyond the city limits of Tokyo.
A Purported Image of the Himuro Mansion
The mansion is said to have been home to one of the most gruesome murders in modern Japanese history. Local lore has it that for generations, the Himuro family had participated in a strange, twisted Shinto ritual known as “The Strangling Ritual” in order to seal off bad karma from within the Earth, every half century or so.
The most popular version of the tale states that bad karma would emerge each December (other versions simply say “toward the end of the year”) from a portal on the Mansions grounds. In order to prevent this, a maiden was chosen at birth by the master of the household and isolated from the outside world in order to prevent her from developing any ties to the outside world, which would in turn, jeopardize the effect of the ritual.
On the day of the Strangling Ritual, the maiden was bound by ropes on her ankles, wrists, and neck. The ropes were attached to teams of oxen or horses to rip her limbs from her body, quartering her. The ropes used to bind her appendages would then be soaked in her blood and laid over the gateway of the portal. They believed that this would seal off the portal for another half century until the ritual had to be repeated.
During the last recorded Strangling Ritual it is said that the maiden had fallen in love with a man who tried to save her from the ritual. This “tie” to Earth tainted her blood and spirit and ruined the ritual altogether. Upon learning of the maidens love, the master took up his sword and brutally murdered all of his family members, before finally, in fear of what would soon happen, fell upon his own blade.
This is the basis of the “haunting” of the Himuro Mansion. Local legend has it that these souls of the murdered family wander the mansion attempting to repeat the failed ritual using whomever enters the abandoned building. Blood splashes on the walls are reportedly seen, as if they were flicked from the blade of a sword that had recently sliced through flesh. Many have reported seeing spirits and apparitions dressed completely in white, rinsing cloths and preparing the grounds for the ritual.
A Purported Image of the Himuro Mansion Hallway
Interest in the Himuro Mansion has peaked due to it’s inclusion into the back story of the popular game, Fatal Frame. Here is a quote from Makoto Shibata, Chief Producer of Fatal Frame, regarding the legend:
“In an area outside Tokyo, there lies a mansion in which it’s said seven people were murdered in a grisly manner. On the same property, there lie three detached residences that surround the mansion, all of which are rumored to have ties to the mansion’s troubled past. It’s said there is an underground network of tunnels that lay beneath the premises, but nobody knows who made these tunnels or what purpose they served. Many inexplicable phenomenons have been reported occurring on the property. Bloody handprints have been found splattered all over the walls. Spirits have been spotted on the premises… even in broad daylight. A narrow stairway leads to an attic where a spirit-sealed talisman is rumored to be locked away. Men have sought this talisman, only to be found later with their bodies broken and rope marks around their wrists. There’s a crumbling old statue of a woman in a kimono, but its head is missing. If you take a photo of a certain window, a young girl can be seen in the developed picture. These incidents have provoked fear in the people of Tokyo, and many believe that those who live near this area will become cursed. The deaths of those seven people are unexplained to this day.”
Now, the question is, did any of this really happen? Probably not. The core allure of this legend is also it’s silver bullet. If such a grisly murder did occur (sources put this between 30 and 80 years ago) in such recent times, where is the record?
It is highly unlikely that no police station or newspaper have records of this mass murder taking place just outside of Tokyo.
Regarding the mystery of the location, some believers have offered the notion that the Himuro family has once again taken ownership of the mansion and is currently living there.. but that conflicts with the legend in that all family members were supposedly murdered AND the “firsthand accounts” of events witnessed on the property by locals and researchers.
Another peculiarity of note is that Tecmo advertised the game in North America with the tagline: “Based on a true story,” but without on the original Japanese release. Because of this, some have theorized that the entire legend was fabricated by the game developers.
In conclusion, I have this to say:
Maybe there was a murder and all of this really happened, or maybe it’s somewhat more likely that it was made up by some creative game developers, but I don’t believe we’ll be finding out exactly what that truth is anytime soon .. so why not enjoy the legend of the Himuro Mansion for what it is? A good old fashioned, creepy urban legend.
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shikari taikita hoio ni shia kaini toka to shi na yaika (Sieg para) kai tokia na shiko niyaho lokia hai shokia himuro sheia mai kiami nihai giko saika wikai hihia nihoi (Al), kihoai (ju-on) nhia kiah ilai joi dinkau shina kianih ………,hai
~Kyoko Shiakaui
Dear Sieg Para,
If you are so enlightened, please get off the internet and start making a difference and changing peoples lives.
Thanks,
-Weylyn
Issit true that non of the family members is still alive? The mansion is beautiful, some even said that theres a basement portal which monsters or creatures from other world can enter the earth by going through a door, and the door is tied, filled with pure maiden blood on to it. can anyone took the place of their rituals if it’s true?
I was reading apon this in class. My friend told me about this mansion and how the fatal frame game is based on it. It is possible that it happened, but you never know for sure. Just because the pictures looks like the game does not mean that the story they tell is really true. There is all these legends out there that have proved wrong. But you never know if any are true. I myself, would like to visit this mansion though i am very scared easily. And if it seems i am a 20 or so year old, you are entirely wrong. I’m 15, and in class currently. I’d love to visit this mansion. Hope someone does investigate like TAPS.
hello me name is devin i am very intrested in the himuro mansion and would like to know more about the real story and events the happened there and is the other fatal frames are based on true events or if you dont have time you can email me the sites where u have found this info.
many thinks
To Kenpobem:
Folklorist is right, guess you haven’t been playing the game. Post out the records you have and tell us the way to there. (If you give it to me, I’ll go there myself and snap a few pics myself.) If you don’t, that means you’re lying, you don’t play the game, you’re making EVERYTHING up. AND, I don’t even think you went there. Because you spelled Himuro wrong. You spelled Himoru.How can we believe you??
I saw some of the things, mostly they are 3: 1)Secrets roaming around me 2) A futur that had never past and the important thing 3)An Illusion Foolling us around!
I searched in Japan, the huinted towns of Tokyo “Mishamuru Takashi Heu” That was kinda scary at the first time! But… The abandoned houses and farms and the Hunted-Abandoned VILLAGE, was The Lost Village. As in to describe that its abandoned valleys seem to give you an illusion. You are free to enter it, it IS REAL! While at that moment, i was walking with 3 of my men… Until we heard a sound, and got scared! We tried to runaway, bt we just COULDN’T FIND THE WAY BACK! Its an illusion, until we found a spirit with white dress, introducing and welcoming us to this vilage to complete and discover way to HELL and DEATH! I’m Jaime Andrew. We survived 2 of my men died, me and someone lived! If you dont believe it search for my pictures and watch the Original Movie record! Recoreded by my friend EDWARD ROULAND. watch on youtube or other compitaible stuff near to it… “The Great Escape Of D.5 Recording”
This is actually the inspiration for video game back in 2005 I think. Cant rememeber what it was called but it was fairly popular and available on playstation. The site is real and is possible to find so its not some big mystery. I do believe with a little bit of research you can find it easily. Years ago when the game was popular it was very easy to find information about it.
you know what
i think the legend just might be true
if it is
i would like 2 go to that mansion
cuz it soundsz like a scary but kinda fun adventure…
lool
if you are’nt scared though
________________________________________________
i’m crazy enough 2 go
it sounds funnnnnnnnnnnn
loooool
_________________________________________________
I WANNA GO TO THE
HIMURO MANSION xx
it will be SCARY im telling u.i want to go there
so bad .But to bad i live so far away . i want to know if the story is true or not, so to find out i will find some way to ask my mom and dad if we all can go , to find out so when i can go i will right back haere that im going , and when i come back if i go i will tell u all if its true , trust me i will , no one worry well i know u dont want to worry , ill reply back soon
bye
BTW dont trust me but if u want to u can
Aaaaaaaa I’m scared
I personally believe that it is true. There probably is record of it but police is probably just trying to cover it up. And somewhere in there, there was probably a little leak from someone and there being not much to go on people just blew it over as a rumor. But who knows I just believe it is true.
1 day i want to go to the mansion. I’ve played the games.(Love them all) But i would love to break this Myth and make it Real.This is my Most favorite Ghost story. I Feel theres True to this Story. Just 1 day i would like to find out. If you read something about a crazy Death or dissapearence that was Prolly me. =P Ill send my regards to these ghosts while the take my Head.
this will be horrible if it’s true because i own the fatal frame games
and the first one is based on this mansion
That is some outrageous stuff, wish i could visit that place, even if it gives me the creeps, but it’s cool, ghosts, bloody sword, bloody rooms, bloody other stuff, man that place is outrageously cool and creepy, but mostly creepy, which is cool XD.
I did not read every single post, but nobody seems to realise that Project Zero is actually closer to the original Japanese title: Zero. Fatal Frame is just the american one. And yes, stop calling it buddhist – although there are some creepy Japanese buddhist (or shinto-buddhist?) tales, this is clearly based on shinto. I try not to be gullible, but you never know…no smoke without fire as they say. Regardless, it made an amazing video game
I think it did happen.To b honest since i was lil ive been able to c stuff other pple cant n ican still do it 2day.I knw it sounds wierd but its true and im planing on stay ing over there wen i have the money hopefuly i can save enough and go and c for myself well if i do get the money for it wish me luck ill vidtape it all maybe ill bring back sumthin on tape well wish me luck
and as for finding it well i think i can it’ll b hard but worth it
I beleive that the legend is true entirely. Records frequently get lost or destroyed, and if the family master killed everyone AND himself, by the time people found out something was up, the bodies could have decayed and the police might not have bothered with reporing it.
FATAL FRAME FOR THE WIN!!!!
To Kat:
Me too….. I’m almost the same as you! I’m easily scared, curious about Himikyru Mansion, I’d like to go there too……………. ( Although I’d bring some friends…..)
The only difference between me and you is that you’re 15, and I’m 12……
eh i dont i think ill love to travel the manion alone to get the real ghostly experience cuz u know the ghost mostly come out when ur alone lol
The Himuro Mansion sounds interesting. I would probably just stay there during the daylight and take a picture from faraway from the mansion. Hopefully, I can get a picture of the little girl. I wouldn’t want to go inside to see the spirits there. I think they would try to kill me. Man, this place sounds scarier than Bunny Man’s Bridge in Clifton, VA.
I hope that ‘Ghost Adventures’ will go inside Himura Mansion to investigate and document in order to identify paranormal activities in there…
Well since its based on a urban legend, it does it mean its not true. I played the game and yeah its freakin scary as hell to me. But if there’s paranomal stuff and strong enough to see the spirits themselves in the daytime, then you can’t help but think and be scared. Of course they don’t have records of it, its either lost or destoryed and who knows you’ll never know if the master destoryed the family records and crap before ended his own life. In my experience in ghost, spirits, and stuff, is to not to disturb the place of death. If its true. But really I even wanted to see it myself but if its true, do you really want to end your life there? Be cursed or die? Spirits should be left alone and not to mess with. Like people say curiousity kills the cat. Looking into this site, reading and seeing the pics, we all want to know the answer. Believe what you want but all I’m going to say its that anything can happen and I believe it. Also seven unexplained deaths occured there and know no one knows what happened, and blood is found there. So if you’re one of those people is ” see it to believe it” type then go ahead be my guest, go try entering the Himuro Mansion, and try staying the whole night… if you dare.
i would totally go here sounds lyke a lot of fun to expolore
maybe i should try playing this “fatal frame” game i keep hearing about
cause if it lyke the story of this place it should be awesome
^^
I actually plan on going to Japan and seeing if this is really real or not…and if not then there is plenty of other haunted places I can go check out with my friends
While the mansion itself may not be real, the ghost stories cited by the developer could be genuine tales, if not necessarily 100% true.
Hello. I absolutely adored all three of the Fatal Frame series. I didn’t believe that such a site really existed until I glanced upon this website a couple of minutes ago. I think the legend is in fact, true. There had been so many killings (murders and massacre) going about in the world today that Police cannot possibly cover them all. In the same way, Media cannot shed a little attention to all those grisly killings. So without the proper hardcore police reports and the deprivation of media coverage on the matter, people simply dismissed it as a legend or fiction. I’m not sure about it too, but something tells me that such a place really existed and I would love to see the structure for myself (in broad daylight). I’m also curious about the family members, were the ghosts in the game such as Female Head based on them, or were they just products of the game’s storyboard artists’ (or whatever you call them) brilliant minds?
Also, what could have happened was… Upon discovering the bodies of all the members of the family, someone then reported the case to the police, who came and asked questions regarding their deaths. The neighbors couldn’t have known about the Strangling Ritual and failed to give a proper explanation and since there were practically no witnesses that night (or day) and no evidence to suggest murder, the Family Head would have been considered the murderer before he ended his own life. The case was a murder-suicide. Or, the neighbors could have known about the rituals and tried explaining it to the police, who just scoffed such an idea off (you know how police does not rely on the superstitious), and so I guess, to this day, if that is the case, the murder is still undergoing secret investigation up to this day… I just don’t know but I am convinced the tale is real.
i want to know more of this mansion and story’s and what people already said it would be very nice if TAPS investigate this place
maybe they dont know about this place or its to far away idk but it would be very great if they go or a other team like ghost hunters international.
mail me if you know much about this im very interestid
Himuro Mansion?
Well, I’m not very sure if I want to believe if it’s real or not.
Who would be crazy enought to spend all night in some place like that?
Who would spend a whole night there?
But I have seen some of the REAL places (REMEMBER -All God’s Villagre- ?) well, I have seen it on youtube. ^_^
Kintect Fatal Frame would be the best game ever! CRY Nintendo Drones and Sony SLAVES!!!
CRY BIATCHES!
Another individual has been connected with Himuro Mansion.
Miyuki Ishikawa lived there briefly before her arrest for murder at the Rainbow Children’s hospital. She subsequently fled Japan and ended up in New Orleans. Where she was involved with the Stuart House Hauntings.
Looks like she was very heavy into black magic.
http://parasearcher.blogspot.com/2010/12/lousiana-swamp-monster-activity-near.html
Oh some stuff on Ishikawa:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miyuki_Ishikawa
Didn’t the game called Fatal Frame have this place?
i always wanted to know ’bout this ritual..thanks for giving the info..
To Yoli…and others…I see no reason not to look into these places – I feel strongly that humans should confront death instead of running away from and forgetting about it all the time, and I do believe that such things as ghosts exist, but have no proof apart from second-hand accounts, so seeing something like that myself would not only prove to me that ghosts exist, but that there is something after death and that there is more to this universe than meets the eye…
And as people have said, there must be plenty of these cases worldwide that have gone unnoticed or have been forgotten about…obviously the game is to some extent a fictionalization, but just because it was marketed more outside of Japan as a true story, this does not mean that this did not really happen…
omg theres just so much to say,i mean believe me or not but i seriously plan on going here,im only a minor so maybe when im 18 or 19 orrrr mid 19 atleast,…anddd i promised so im taking my bff and my boyfriend
even if its true than it did burn down, imma still go and find some left over artifacts to prove it was real 
i mean its lik my anxiety is overwhelming because i believe this is true and i cant wait to go and find some evidence to prove it 
that not than haha
to Yoli;
Ahh…but to every legend there is some % of fact. The problem is over time it gets told so many times and in so many ways that it is nearly impossable to tell how much of that % is fact and how much is fiction. In either case, I personally try not to tempt fate either. It would be kind of a bad day if I was the one person to visit and prove it was true…that would really be a bummer.
im goin up nd see this place for my self. idk if its realy if this stuff is true or not but im goin to find out my self
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