TripZilla
Image credits: Guilhem Vellut
Mt. Fuji is so beautiful and peaceful but what lies hidden at its foot will give chills down your spine. Found at the northwest base of Mount Fuji is Aokigahara, the forbidden suicide forest of Japan. No one is encouraged to trek this terrifying site but many brave souls have broken the rules.
Image credits: keio
Suicide used to be a samurai’s noble sacrifice known as seppuku or hara-kiri. However, in this modern world, suicide is no longer considered a heroic act. While the Japanese government does measures to discourage suicide, it still has one of the highest suicide rates in the world. There’s no better witness to this morbid phenomenon than Aokigahara forest. Letters, clothes and other personal belongings tell the pain and suffering of the countless victims.
If you’re too scared to be there, here’s a short documentary for you to watch.
Head down to Japan to explore the suicide forest yourself.
