Aokigahara

The dense forest at the northwest foot of Mount Fuji, grown on hardened lava so the soil is thin and the trees’ roots twist above ground, the volcanic rock disturbs compasses, and the porous ground swallows sound to an unnerving degree. In folklore it is a haunt of yurei, the restless dead. It is also, and this deserves to be said plainly rather than sensationalised, a place where many people have taken their own lives, and Japan posts signs urging visitors to reconsider and seek help. Walk the marked trails, treat it with respect.