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'I live with a ghost': Japan's haunted homes attract bargain hunters
BBC • • world
Key Points:
- Ryua, a young Japanese entertainer, chose to move into an apartment despite learning a man had committed suicide there, experiencing daily paranormal activity since then.
- In Japan, properties where deaths have occurred, known as "jiko bukken," are stigmatized but often sold or rented at significant discounts due to cultural beliefs about lingering spirits ("yuurei").
- Since 2021, Japanese estate agents are required by law to disclose deaths such as suicides or murders in properties for sale indefinitely and for rentals within three years.
- Compared to Japan, countries like the UK and the US have less stringent or varying disclosure laws regarding deaths in properties, with some US states requiring limited disclosure.
- Despite superstitions, rising property prices and living costs have led over half of Japanese people in a 2025 survey to consider renting stigmatized properties if they are affordable.
