Facts You Didn’t Know About The Suicide Forest

1. Aokigahara is the second most popular suicide spot in the world

Image source/ wikiAokigahara (青木ヶ原), also known as the Suicide Forest or Sea of Trees (Jukai), is a forest that lies at the northwest base of Mount Fuji in Japan. The forest contains a number of rocky, icy caverns, a few of which are popular tourist destinations. Due to the wind-blocking density of the trees and an absence of nearly all wildlife, the forest is known for being exceptionally quiet.

2. It is the second most popular spot for suicides

Image source/ HistoryAokigahara is the second most popular spot in the world for suicides. It has gained a reputation and is now referred to as the suicide forest. It comes second only to the golden gate bridge which currently is known for being the most notorious place for suicide deaths.

3. A LOT of bodies are found each year

Image source/ science-rumoursIn 2003, 105 bodies were found in Aokigahara (the suicide forest) and that is probably not a true representation of the reality given the fact that the terrain is treacherous and the density of trees is huge. It has become a destination highly associated with committing suicide.

4. Hanging is the most common method

Image source/ wikiWithin the forest, the majority of suicides that happen here are caused by hanging. This is because there are so many trees so that it is seen as a viable option for those who have tragically decided to commit suicide within the forest of Aokigahara .

5. But people also die in other ways

Image source/ science-rumoursOf course, when a place has so many suicides, hanging is not the only method that people choose to die. Within the forest there are of course other ways. Some of these in the past have included somebody taking an overdose and self induced poisoning...

6. Many suicide victims are never found

Image source/ infyworldThere are annual searches for new bodies in the forest. These are made up of people from law enforcement as well as forest workers and members of the public who volunteer to help. They routinely search the forest to discover any bodies that are there.

7. People travel to die here

Image source/ anomalienThe suicide forest has not gained its name just from local people in the area. Because it is known far and wide, people travel from all over to come specifically to die here within Aokigahara forest. And so this is why numbers over the years have steadily grown.

8. It is totally silent

Image source/ blogspotThe forest is totally quiet, this is because of the high density of trees and the lava floor makes the forest absorb any sound giving it a very eery sense of still silence. In fact, many have claimed that you cannot even hear the screams of people within the forest.

9. The local government stopped the publishing of suicide numbers

Image source/ sickchirpseAs we have discussed, the notoriety of the suicide forest means that more people go there for that purpose. And so the local government have stopped the figures from being published in an attempt to try and discourage more people from doing the same.

10. There are lots of volunteers to prevent suicide

Image source/ disclosetvAs well as the patrolling of the forest by the suicide prevention team, there have also been other measures implemented to try and reduce the number of suicide deaths. Volunteers have been specifically trained in how to talk someone down when they see somebody at risk.

11. Forest workers have to remove the bodies

Image source/ blogspotIf a body is found in the Aokigahara forest, the responsibly is given to the forest workers to remove the body. So when they wander the forest as a part of their job - finding bodies and having to move them is unfortunately a sad part of working at the suicide forest.

12. Bodies are held in a room

Image source/ TumblrAccording to some workers from the forest, when the forest workers have collected bodies they are put into a special room where they are held until they can be collected by the relevant people such as law enforcement. They are then transported elsewhere.

13. There are a suicide prevention patrol

Image source/ tatringaOf course, when a certain place becomes so notorious for suicide, certain measures are put into place to try and stop it from happening. So, there is a suicide prevention patrol team who try and check on people in the forest and assess their mental state and try and prevent it from happening if they can find people inside the forest's depths.

14. People try and camp here

Image source/ businessinsiderOnce you are deep inside the forest you cannot really find or see anybody. People who are intrigued by the forest and it's tragic reputation sometimes try to camp. If the suicide patrol team find them they will continuously check on them in case it is somebody who has not yet decided whether to take their life.

15. People believe it is haunted

Image source/ VICEOf course, with a place surrounded by so much tragedy and death, superstitions arise that the forest is actually haunted and occupied by spirits with unfinished business. Some people say that they have seen or experienced a ghostly presence whilst in the for

16. It lies on a field of lava

Image source/ documentarytubeThe Aokigahara actually lies on a field of lava. This lava comes from the eruption of Mount Fuji in 864 CE. Since then the lava has provided lots of nutrients for plant life and so the forest steadily grew thick and past out of the lava. The lava still provides a rocky terrain.

17. There is no trace of human life here

Image source/ allthat'sinterestingWhen you venture deep into the forest, around half a mile in...all traces of human presence within the forest totally disappear. Any trace of hikers who have been there are no longer traceable due to the thickness of the trees and the unsteady terrain, making it feel even more ominous.

18. A book boosted its notoriety

Image source/ wikiNami no Tō, which translates as the Tower of Waves, is a book written by Seichō Matsumoto in 1961. The book featured the forest and since its release it boosted its notoriety and actually increased it as a destination for suicide although it had a reputation still decades before.

19. Many believe it's a home to Tengu the bird demon

Image source/ pinterestTengu is a bird demon from Japanese folklore and many people believe that the Aokigahara forest is haunted by this mythical demon due to the forest connotations with suicide. Some also believe that the forest is occupied by different forms of human variety.

20. Compasses go haywire

Image source/ blogspotWhen people try to navigate a compass within the forest they will find that it starts to behave oddly. This is due to the floor having volcanic lava in it, the iron content is very high which can mess with the compass. But of course, many think it is because of the ghosts...

21. There is a permanently frozen cave inside

Image source/ allthat'sinteresting#There is a permanently frozen ice cave inside the forest which known as the Narusawa Ice Cave. It is frozen all year round and many tourists flock to see it within the forest each year. It manages to retain its lovely 37.4 degree Fahrenheit all year round.

22. It is very easy to get lost

Image source/ dravenstalesIt is extremely easy to get lost inside the Aokigahara  forest. The trees within the forest are so thick and dense that it is hard for visitors who have wandered in to make their way back out of the forest again because there is no sense of direction within the thick mass of trees.

23. It features in many films

Image source/ RedditThe suicide forest gains a LOT of attention, especially in the media, due to its notoriety. It features in many forms of media, such as books, songs, social media etc.. Logan Paul even did a controversial YouTube video on a suicide victim in the forest,

24. Aokigahara means sea of trees

Image source/ acidcowThe name Aokigahara is nothing like the name it has been given - the suicide forest. In actual fact Aokigahara translates to sea of trees. This of course is because of the huge expanse of forest filled solely with trees. And when looking at it it does look like a sea of trees.

25. Even experienced hikers stay close to the path

Image source/ HistoryWe've all heard the famous line - don't stray from the path. And within the suicide forest even the most experienced hikers stay close to the path. Because of the rough terrain and the mass of trees, forging your own path is impossible and so it is never advised to go far from the outside pathways.

26. It's full of butterflies

Image source/ science-rumoursIt sounds strange that a forest with such a reputation is full of something so delicate and beautiful. But it is indeed full of butterflies. Many hikers do not manage to see them because of the thick green growth of plants. But, there are more than nine species here.

27. It has a famous bat cave

Image source/ infyworldAs well as the famous year round ice cave there is also a famous bat cave which is huge (roughly over 1268 feet long) and it is filled with bats. It is another very popular tourist attraction that brings lots of visitors to it each year who want to see the forest's deep cave.

28. There are personal items scattering the forest

Image source/ wikiWhen the bodies are removed, there are no real signs that the forest is the suicide forest. But, people do occasionally stumble across people's personal items such as shoes. These of course are often left by people who have died here by committing suicide.

29. People claim abandonment happens here

Image source/ blogspotUbasute refers to the act of taking someone elderly unwell to die somewhere remote. Some people claim that people take those who are dying to die here and that it is a common issue here. As well as suicide, people claim that abandonment is also an issue that happens here.

30. It is full of anti suicide signs

Image source/ beappetuerThe forest is full of anti suicide signs which have been placed here in an attempt to stop people going with an intent to kill themselves and try and change their mind. This is another of their anti-suicide prevention measures that have been put in place.

31. There are scavengers

Image source/ PinterestThe wildlife that fills the forest is actually limited. Because it is not very liveable terrain for many animals, it is too densely populated by trees and unstable terrain and so wildlife does not exactly thrive here. However, sadly scavengers are sometimes attracted to bodies found here.