Mori no Hakan (Ura Sano Villa): The Haunted Abandoned Mansion Hidden in Wakayama's Forest

Buried under the thick foliage of the Wakayama Prefecture in Japan is an eerie abandoned place in Japan that is not widely known about. This location is known as Mori no Hakan or more simply as Ura Sano Villa. The reason why Ura Sano Villa is quite famous is due to its reputation of being a place where many weird things happen. Although there is no concrete evidence for most of the terrifying events occurring at the location, the fact that the place is abandoned in itself is enough to attract people.

Unfortunately, there are not many reliable historical facts about the origins of the abandoned villa. Different from other haunted spots, which usually boast extensive and proven pasts, there are few official sources regarding the date of construction and the initial owner of the villa. It seems that according to all the information available, the site used to be the personal holiday retreat of somebody, and then it was simply left there to decay with time passing by.

As years went by and the structure remained vacant, many stories about it started spreading among the local inhabitants and adrenaline junkies. People either said that something bad happened in the house, or there was something spiritually eerie about the whole forest around it. There is no historical evidence whatsoever that could prove the truthfulness of any of those stories, but they are an important part of the recent folklore associated with the place, attracting many paranormal fanatics from all over Japan.

People who visit the house often experience a sensation that they are being watched. Some people have also heard the sounds of footsteps coming from the deserted rooms where there were no people at all. The same people say that sometimes they hear whispers, crying, or faraway voices although everything is eerily quiet around the deserted structure.

The most popular ghost story that tourists tell is a black shadow, which usually emerges on upper floor levels and dark passages. Visitors usually claim that they saw a silhouette of a man standing still and then vanishing in just a few seconds. Moreover, many tourists state that the figure appears just in the peripheral vision and thus make people think whether they witnessed the paranormal occurrence or invented something.

Another common event that happens in Villa Planchart is the spontaneous opening and closing of doors and windows. Even in spite of its poor state, people exploring the place report strange sounds of doors slamming. It has even been told that tourists have seen rooms being closed despite the fact that minutes ago they were opened. Additionally, electronic equipment including cameras and voice recorders tend to malfunction at times.

Mori no Hakan's surroundings add much to its sinister appeal. Tall trees keep out most of the sun, making the place feel isolated even in broad daylight. Tourists frequently describe how quiet the place is, except for the sound of wind whistling between the trees. There are those who say that they have been hearing footsteps behind them while walking in the forest but have not seen anyone.

Though there are many ghost tales about Mori no Hakan, it must be noted that none of the paranormal stories have been proved scientifically. The majority of the stories are based on witness testimony and rumors spread on the internet. Yet despite this, the abandonment, mystery and haunting nature of this place make it one of Wakayama Prefecture's most haunted sites.

Even in today’s world, the spirit of the place of Mori no Hakan still serves more as a symbol of mysteriousness than of the real supernatural phenomena. It doesn’t really matter whether people come here because of belief in these ghosts or just because they like the feeling of visiting such abandoned sites, but one thing is clear: this villa continues to enchant those interested in Japanese legends.