Ghostly Kyoto

Ancient temples, haunted bridges, and spectral women—discover 87 supernatural tales where Kyoto’s history and Buddhist lore entwine with restless spirits, Hungry Ghosts, and the rituals that keep them at bay.

In Kyoto, ghosts are not just stories—they are neighbors, warnings, and, sometimes, protectors. This atmospheric collection gathers 87 supernatural legends from Japan’s former capital, where every street corner, shrine, and cherry tree harbors its own haunting. From the fires of Obon guiding the ancestors home to the Demon’s Gate and the wells said to lead straight to Hell, each tale pulses with the city’s living relationship to the otherworld.

Meet vengeful onryo, Hungry Ghosts with insatiable cravings, and poetic spirits trapped in the Six Realms. Witness monks who bargain with the King of Hell, statues that bleed or move, and women whose longing lingers for centuries. These stories are drawn from centuries-old chronicles, temple lore, and the whispered warnings of Kyoto cab drivers.

Written with the intimacy of a local and the curiosity of a folklorist, this book is a rare English-language treasury of Japanese ghost stories—perfect for readers fascinated by yokai, Buddhist afterlife, and the mysterious rituals that shape Kyoto’s everyday life. These tales will change the way you see the city—and what walks its shadowed lanes.“As with his Meiji era predecessor, Lafcadio Hearn, we should be thankful for Éric Faure’s hard work and passion in bringing us these supernatural tales. Some of them are oral folk culture written down for the first time, giving us a peek into a ghostly Japan that most of us have never seen before. Highly recommended for fans of ghost stories and Japanese history and culture.”
—Sean Michael Wilson, author of Musashi: A Graphic Novel

“Dive into the stories from this remarkable collector of legends—a modern-day Lafcadio Hearn. Éric Faure has a rare gift for bringing us face to face with the heart of Japan and its ancient beliefs, a world where everyday life brushes up against the supernatural in moments both haunting and beautiful.”
—Stéphane Ferrandez, storyteller and Rakugo performer
​​ÉRIC FAURE​ is a French researcher who has been living in Kyoto for over thirty years and, while teaching at university, has been studying Japanese legends. He defended a thesis at Inalco (National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations, Paris) on the subject, wrote for both university journals and magazines, and published 11 academic or general-interest books in French. His latest publications include The Story of the Poet Who Became a God (2020), Japanese Legends: Fifty Stories of Kamis (2021), Japanese Legends: Fifty Stories of Buddhas (2022), and From Kyōto to Dazaifu: A Journey into the World of Japanese Legends (2023).