Passport? Check. Luggage ready? Check. JR Pass? Check. Ghibli Park
tickets? Booked. You are all set for your trip to Japan but are you
ready for a potential encounter with its more mystical inhabitants? From
water sprites to shape-shifting animals, wandering ghosts to powerful
demons, Japan has a rich and ancient mythology.
Do you know how to
behave in Tengu territory? What should you do if you meet a Kappa?
Should you be concerned if you see a cat or a fox with two or more
tails? Is your accommodation haunted? And what about that weight on your
back that seems to be getting heavier and heavier? Not all of these
creatures are dangerous or out to get you, for the most part yōkai are
mischievous, cheeky pranksters. Some though are indeed dangerous; should
you have the misfortune of crossing the path of the more blood-lusty
sort, well, it's been nice knowing you.
If tales of the supernatural intrigue you, a good starting point would
be reading the works of famous storyteller, manga-ka and folklore
collector
Shigeru Mizuki, and maybe visiting
Sakaiminato, his childhood hometown.
So -
ofuda
at the ready - happy exploring!