"Assalamuwalaikum"
The Aokigahara Forest in Japan is also known as the Suicide Forest in the World. So, have you ever heard of Aokigahara Forest in Japan? If not, let me tell you, this beautiful green forest is not for your quiet morning walks, but it has a bad reputation as the second most popular place in the world to commit suicide (first is the Golden Gate Bridge). ! I wish it was a joke, but it's the absolute truth behind this beautiful yet eerie forest in Japan, less than 2 hours from Tokyo, the country's bustling capital.
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Forest location:
Aokigahara Forest or Suicide Forest is located to the northwest of majestic Mount Fuji. Spreading over a large area of about 35 square kilometres, Aokigahara forest is dense with foliage, so it is also known as the "Sea of Trees". Getting lost here is quite easy but almost impossible to get out due to the density of the jungle.
Related spooky legends:
The forest is said to be the home of yūrei, which in Japanese mythology means ghosts of the dead. According to official records, about 105 bodies were discovered in the forest in 2003 and most of them were badly decomposed or were eaten by wild animals. Most Japanese spiritualists believe that these suicides pervaded the trees of Aokigahara, thereby leading to paranormal activity.
Second, all modern technologies and devices such as compasses and cell phones fail here due to the abundance of ferromagnetism produced by the volcanic soil of the area. Compass is acting weird and showing the wrong direction while the cell phone is not receiving a signal. So now you know why getting out of the woods is nearly impossible. Because nothing works in the forest!
According to the people, the bodies of those who committed suicide should not be left alone in the forest, so the forestry workers brought them back and the corpses were kept in a special room in the local police station. It is done because people believe it is bad luck for suicide victims and their minds cry and scream all night and move their own bodies.
A budding hub for hikers and adventurers:
With its natural beauty, it is visited by many hikers and adventure seekers to admire the beauty of Mount Fuji from here. In addition, those who enter the forest for the purpose of tourism do not go alone and also carry plastic tape with them to make a sign to avoid getting lost. They continue to mark the tree with plastic or duct tape and circle around the tree to help them find their way back. In addition, the forest has unique trees over 300 years old, another feature of the forest.
Things to note before visiting
Do not leave the path and always follow the signs.
Never risk alone.
Always have plastic tape or tape as a marker.
Avoid visiting at night.
Japan has a high suicide rate:
The global financial crisis of 2008 and the economic turmoil that followed appear to have driven the number of suicides in Japan to a 15% increase. The impact peaked in March 2009, at the end of Japan's fiscal year. While the number of suicides in the country is down 0.4 percent in 2021 from the previous year, the rate among women has increased and remains high among young people. And by 2022, the suicide rate has increased by 2.7%, making it one of the leading causes of death for men aged 20-44 and women aged 15-34.
The myth of the suicide forest may be related to the ubasute:
Ubasute is a form of assisted suicide, roughly translated as "abandoning an old woman". In this practice - believed to have been used in Japan during the famine - a family reduced the number of mouths to eat by training an elderly person against a mountain or similar environment to die of dehydration, starvation. or exposure. Many argue that the ubasute was never an actual tradition, but rather a product of folklore, likely related to the Suicide Forest.
The Suicide Forest Can Be Haunted:
Some believe that the ghosts - or yūrei - of those abandoned by the ubasute, as well as the gloomy spirits of those who committed suicide, linger in the woods. Folklore claims that they are taking revenge, wanting to torture tourists and seduce those who are sad and lost. Not everyone who commits suicide in the woods has thoughts of death. Local residents regret the murderous reputation that the peaceful forest has. Many visitors come here simply to admire the majestic view of Mount Fuji and to visit the highlights of the natural landscape, such as the distinctive lava plateau, 300-year-old ancient trees and The charming Narusawa Kilometre"
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