Welcome to Yokai.com, the illustrated database of Japanese folklore. This is an illustrated encyclopedia featuring ghosts, monsters, and legendary figures from Japan. All of the entries on this site are …

Yōkai Finder Can’t think of the name of the yōkai you are looking for? You can browse yōkai by specific categories to narrow down your search. Please note that categories are not completely inclusive or …

Depending on who you’re talking to, specific creatures may or may not be classified as yokai. Are ghosts yōkai? Are oni yōkai? Can good spirits be yōkai or are they only evil spirits? Are kami yōkai? Does …

鬼 おに Translation: ogre, demon Habitat: Hell; remote mountains, caves, islands, abandoned fortresses Diet: omnivorous; especially livestock, humans, and alcohol Appearance: Oni are one the greatest …

Yokai.com opened in 2013 and has been growing steadily since then. This website is intended as an introduction to the supernatural creatures and phenomena of Japanese folklore known as yōkai.

唐傘小僧 からかさこぞう Translation: paper umbrella priest boy Alternate names: kasa obake, karakasa obake Appearance: These silly looking yōkai are transformations of Chinese-style oiled-paper …

玉藻前 たまものまえ Translation: a nickname literally meaning “Lady Duckweed” Appearance: Tamamo no Mae is one of the most famous kitsune in Japanese mythology. A nine-tailed magical fox, she is …

鯱 しゃちほこ Translation: fish-tiger Alternate names: shachi Habitat: oceans Diet: carnivorous Appearance: Shachihoko are fearsome sea monsters. They have the body of a large fish and the …

口裂け女 くちさけおんな Translation: slit-mouthed woman Habitat: dimly-lit streets and alleys Diet: none; though enjoys hard candy Appearance: The kuchisake onna is the ghost of a woman who was …

Appearance: The nue is one of the oldest yokai recorded, having its first appearance in the Kojiki (712 CE), an account of the early histories of Japan. It also appears in the Heian-period encyclopedia …