Uguisudani Tunnel

Uguisudani Tunnel (鶯谷トンネル) runs through Mount Kinka in Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture, the same mountain that carries Gifu Castle.

Verified history

The original tunnel opened in 1947. Local sources describe funding difficulties resolved partly because the tunnel was designated for use as an air-raid shelter during WWII, covering part of its construction cost through national funding. A second, newer tunnel, Shin-Uguisudani, opened alongside it in 1972.

Several Japanese sources state people died inside during air raids, though we found no precise casualty figures or records — this detail is repeated across ghost-story sites but appears to originate from oral history. A small shrine near the entrance is locally believed to memorialize war victims, though its founding is undocumented.

The legend

Some Japanese sources cite Uguisudani as a possible birthplace of the “Kuchisake-onna” (Slit-Mouthed Woman) urban legend, though this claim is disputed given multiple competing origin claims nationally. Visitors report cold spots and a female apparition entering vehicles — personal anecdotes without independent verification.

Our take

The wartime shelter use is the best-documented and most plausible source of the haunted reputation. The Kuchisake-onna origin claim and specific sightings are folklore layered on top.

Can you visit: Yes. Both tunnels are ordinary public roads in daily use.