Yokai of Saitama

Records in Saitama

Kamaitachi

鎌鼬（かまいたち）

In Nagano in 1955 the kamaitachi was a weasel so fast that no one had ever seen it — known only by the clean cut it leaves on a stumbling traveler's shin.

Mountain · Road
Harmful

Danger 3/5 Editorial rating Danger rating 3 out of 5. This is an editorial rating, not a folklore measurement.

undated Chichibu Folklore record
Whirlwind that cuts

Raijū

雷獣（らいじゅう）

An Edo-period account from Shimotsuke describes a mouse-like animal that waited in a mountain hole each summer until its own thundercloud came to collect it.

Mountain · Sky · Field
Harmful

Danger 3/5 Editorial rating Danger rating 3 out of 5. This is an editorial rating, not a folklore measurement.

undated Iwatsuki Legend or tale
Raijū that fell into a field, was caught, refused food and died

Records Library: Saitama

1980 The raijū that fell at Iwatsuki and would not eat Iwatsuki, Saitama · Raijū

Places to visit in Saitama

Kijin Shrine 鬼鎮神社 Shrine or temple Ranzan, Saitama — The shrine that worships oni as its guardians, where iron clubs are offered and the Setsubun cry is "oni, come in".

Places to Visit