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The word “禁足地” – kinsokuchi – means “forbidden land.” It comes from the word “kinsoku,” which means “confinement” or “cut off”. It refers to places within Japan that are off-limits to visitors.
An area may declare a place 禁足地 due to historical reasons, religious reasons, or concerns that it’s just too dangerous to visit. Japan has over a dozen kinsokuchi, ranging from isolated islands to places within the bustling metropolis of Tokyo. Here are a few of the most fascinating.
Osoroshidokoro: a cursed grave
“Osoroshidokoro” quite literally means “place of terror.” No name could be more accurate for this section of forested land on Tsushima Island. A seemingly unassuming pile of stones supposedly marks the grave of Tendo, a priest of Tsushima’s indigenous Tendo religious practices. People say a second grave nearby is for a female figure, possibly Tendo’s mother.
Simply viewing the stones is reportedly enough to strike the visitor with a terrible curse that can result in death. The details of this curse are unclear and mysterious, spoken about only in whispers. Fortunately, you can apparently lift the curse by walking backward through a torii gate. You could also tell the local spirits that you are a dog, not a human.
Unlike many other kinsokuchi, authorities have relaxed restrictions on visiting this stretch of primeval forest in recent years. As tourism to Tsushima has increased – possibly as a result of the video game Ghost of Tsushima, set on the island – some have been allowed to view Tendo’s grave. Visitors to this area should still follow proper precautions to avoid the curse.
Yawata no Yabushirazu – Why is it forbidden?
Many kinsokuchi are off-limits for obvious reasons. Not so this bamboo-filled forest in Ichikawa City, Chiba Prefecture. The name “Yawata no Yabushirazu” means “labyrinth of Hachiman (god of war)” and the forest is reportedly quite labyrinthine and dense.
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To this day, people speculate about why those in charge gated and locked up this section of forest. However, local legend insists that anyone who enters the forest will never be seen again.
Some claim that the forest marks the burial site of the samurai Taira no Masakado and his vassals. Others insist that this is the former site of the Katsushika Hachimangu Shrine (now located nearby) and the ruins cannot be seen by anyone other than the shrine’s priest.
One legend says that folk hero Mito Komon once entered the forest and emerged claiming it was home to a deadly bottomless pit. Still another theory posits that the area is actually blocked off for health reasons, with the low-lying forest being home to toxic swamp gas emerging from the earth.
Okinoshima – Fukuoka’s World Heritage Site
This fully uninhabited island is located between Japan and Korea, and was historically revered by sailors navigating between the two countries. As a result, the entire island has been declared sacred, and setting foot on it is prohibited.
In 2017, UNESCO declared Okinoshima a World Heritage Site. Authorities occasionally allow approved priests to step on the island after undergoing a ritual purification that includes bathing nude in the ocean. Okinoshima’s addition to the World Heritage list was somewhat controversial because the island fully bans women and considers them “impure.”
Okinoshima is not the only kinsokuchi island. The entire northern part of Kudaka Island in Okinawa is off-limits because it supposedly houses several gods. The island has multiple utaki (Okinawan places of worship) including Fubo-Utaki, which was the most sacred and valuable utaki of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
Nitta Shrine – Home of a terrible curse
Not all kinsokuchi are remote islands. In Tokyo’s Ota Ward is the Nitta Shrine, dedicated to military commander Nitta Yoshioka. While praying at the shrine itself is allowed, entering the tomb where Nitta is believed to be buried is forbidden.
This is because Nitta, who was betrayed and murdered, is a vengeful spirit who will happily curse anyone who dares disturb him. Those cursed by the shrine are believed to experience terrifying hallucinations, including lightning strikes and fire falling from the sky.
Iwo Jima – Tragic memories
One of the more recently established kinsokuchi is the island of Iwo Jima. Once inhabited, it was abandoned during World War 2 and became the site of a major battle where many soldiers lost their lives. In 2011, it was declared a World Heritage Site.
While Iwo Jima remains closed to tourists and ordinary people, some members of the Japanese Self-Defense Force are regularly stationed on the island. However, as volcanic activity is gradually leading to the creation of new islands near Iwo Jima, it’s possible authorities may revoke its forbidden status in the future.
Other kinsokuchi
There are many other kinsokuchi besides those covered in detail here.
Panari (Shinjo) Island in Okinawa, which is reported to have a population of only ten individuals, is off-limits outside of special guided tours. A shrine on Mt. Koya in Wakayama is said to be the eternal home of spiritual leader Kobo Daishi, and can be visited only by approved monks.
In Ishikawa Prefecture, the “Irazu no Mori” – literally “Forest of No Entrance” – is sacred to the monster-slaying deity Omi Takamikoto. Several other sacred shrines are forbidden for religious reasons, including Yudanoyama in Yamagata, Amaniwato in Kyoto, Ise Grand Shrine in Mie, and Yakumoyama in Shimane.
From boiling lakes to god-dwelling spots
Nara Prefecture’s Mount Miwa is thought of as the place where the gods descended to earth. Previously, worshipers could petition for the right to pray on the mountain, but authorities suspended this during the public health crisis. Other kinsokuchi in Nara Prefecture include Ishigami Shrine and the mausoleum of Emperor Jimmu, Japan’s first ruler.
Meanwhile, Hokkaido’s kinsokuchi, such as the boiling lakes and toxic hot springs of Daisetsuzan National Park, are generally forbidden for practical reasons. Visitors can sometimes travel to Nagasaki’s Tatsunoshima. However, locals encourage travelers to avoid the cursed Sword Pond, which they say will drag unsuspecting sojourners into its depths.
These forbidden sites can unfortunately not be part of your itinerary when traveling to Japan. However, learning about them reveals fascinating stories about Japan’s history, religion, and mythology.
Sources
[1] PR Times. https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000188.000026633.html
[2] Japan Mystery. https://japanmystery.com/chiba/yawatayabu.html
[3] Okinoshima Heritage. https://www.okinoshima-heritage.jp/
[4] Nitta Shrine Official Site. https://nittajinja.org/
[5] NHK. https://www.nhk.or.jp/shutoken/newsup/20231205a.html
[6] Tabi Zine. https://tabizine.jp/2022/08/13/487040/
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