Japan’s coastline is home to countless legends of haunted waters, but few are as chilling as the story of the Ominato Ghost Ship and the tragic spirits of the Ukishima Maru. In this episode of Supernatural Japan, we explore how history and folklore collide to create one of the country’s most unsettling maritime mysteries.

The Ominato Ghost Ship is said to appear in the waters of Mutsu Bay, near Aomori Prefecture. Witnesses describe a phantom vessel emerging silently from the mist, glowing faintly under the moonlight before vanishing without a trace. For centuries, sailors have considered such sightings to be bad omens, warning of disaster or restless souls adrift at sea.

This haunting takes on even greater weight when connected to the fate of the Ukishima Maru. Originally built as a civilian passenger ship in the 1930s, the vessel was taken over by the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. On August 24, 1945, just days after Japan’s surrender, the Ukishima Maru sank in Maizuru Harbor while carrying thousands of Koreans who had been forced into labor during the war. The official explanation blamed an old naval mine, but many believe the sinking was deliberate. The tragedy left thousands dead, their bodies unrecovered, and their spirits said to remain unsettled in the waters.

Folklore suggests that these souls, denied closure, may manifest as the phantom Ominato Ghost Ship. In Japanese culture, water is often seen as a boundary between the living and the dead, and shipwrecks frequently inspire tales of wandering spirits. The Ukishima Maru’s victims are remembered not only as casualties of war but also as voices that continue to echo through Japan’s maritime ghost stories.

In this episode of Supernatural Japan, we uncover the history of the Ukishima Maru, the eerie sightings of the Ominato Ghost Ship, and the cultural significance of haunted seas in Japanese folklore. Whether you believe in ghosts or see them as symbols of collective memory, this tale serves as a reminder that the ocean holds more than just waves—it also carries the weight of untold stories.

Listen now to The Ominato Ghost Ship and the Spirits of the Ukishima Maru on Supernatural Japan, available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.