Epi.4-Note: Abandoned Houses in Japan

In Japan, old and dilapidated houses are sometimes talked about as haunted spots.

Especially when they stand all alone in the countryside or deep in the mountains, their appearance alone can spark the imagination—“Something might be there…”
Places like these are often accompanied by rumors: “A brutal murder once took place here,” or “The ghost of someone who died still lingers.”

These kinds of stories apply to many so-called “cursed” properties, but in most cases, they’re just rumors—not based on fact.

Still, when people see such buildings, they might wonder:

“Isn’t that the kind of place where dangerous people hang out?”
“Couldn’t it be used for criminal activity?”

Of course, it’s not impossible.
But in Japan, it’s quite rare for abandoned houses to turn into that kind of place.

First of all, even if a house is falling apart, it often still has a legal owner.
Entering without permission would be considered trespassing.

It's unlikely that people would go all the way out to the countryside just to find a place to hang out.
After all, it's much more convenient to stay within their daily area—and it's trespassing, too.

As for other types of criminal activity, going to a secluded area can ironically make you stand out more.
When you think about it, the risks just don’t seem worth it.

(Not that crime is okay in the first place, of course.)

These days, it’s not uncommon to see YouTubers filming videos where they visit haunted locations.
Some really do film in well-known abandoned places—but there are also videos that use studio sets to create a “haunted-looking” atmosphere.

As mentioned earlier, even a rundown house typically has an owner.
Whether they’re planning to sell or repurpose it, they don’t want bad rumors associated with the property.
That’s why permission to film isn’t always granted.

And on top of that—places like these are dirty, dangerous, hard to get to, and require permission to access.
Given all that, it’s easy to see why some people end up filming in studios instead.

These days, very few people actually believe they’re seeing real ghosts in videos.
If you approach it as entertainment, maybe that’s perfectly fine.

When I was a kid, I used to enjoy watching ghost-hunting TV specials.
Now that I think about it, they were probably just filmed in places that looked haunted.
In every episode, a celebrity would suddenly feel ill, and a psychic would come in to exorcise a spirit.
I genuinely enjoyed them, so I’m not saying they were bad.
But because I used to believe in them so sincerely as a child, there’s something a little bittersweet about it now.

By the way, this ties in just a little with today’s episode—so let me introduce a concept called jiko bukken, or “stigmatized property.”

In Japan, when a suicide or death involving criminal circumstances occurs in a rental property, the landlord may be legally required to inform the next tenant.
Because it only applies to the next tenant, some landlords reportedly ask an acquaintance to live there temporarily in order to avoid disclosure requirements.

On the flip side, some people specifically look for stigmatized properties because they’re cheaper.
There are even comedians who live in such places as part of a publicity stunt.

And yes—there are websites in Japan where you can look up these properties.

Now, getting back to the story—Episode 4 features Misaki making the decision to live in the abandoned house.

As you may have noticed by the end, this particular house is quite unusual: The owner has publicly stated that people are free to come and go.
It's a bit different from a typical property.

This abandoned house isn’t a stigmatized property, but according to the setting, ghosts and other supernatural beings definitely exist.
That said, rent is free, and basic utilities are available.
Shopping is a bit inconvenient, and people sometimes sneak in for thrill-seeking.

Depending on the person, it might even be considered a fun place to live.
So—what about you?

Feel free to share your thoughts!