Supernatural Tourism: 5 Most Haunted Destinations in The World

I can draw you a beautiful picture. Japan’s most majestic volcano, Mt. Fuji is covered in clouds that barely touch it and which makes it almost revered by the Japanese like a god. There is also a supernatural forest around the bottom of the mountain known as Aokigahara. And thus forest is one the most haunted destinations in the World.

This forest is pretty…well, except that it has become infamous as the suicide or haunted forest. Yes, tourists have experienced paranormal activities in this haunted place. Yet for many such places globally there are ghostly tales and yet they attract tourists in droves. People love everything supernatural or haunted about them.

Some return with vivid stories… some do not escape becoming part of its ghostly history though.

What is Supernatural Tourism?

Also referred to as paranormal tourism, supernatural tourism is a niche market in the travel industry that involves visits to destinations and experiences related to super-naturalism. This encompasses haunted places, ghost-sighting spots and sites associated with myths, folklore and strange phenomena.

There are several elements of supernatural tourism including:

Most Haunted Locations: These are places visited by travellers like old mansions, castles or hotels where ghost sightings and other paranormal activities have been reported. For instance Stanley Hotel in Colorado or Tower of London.

Mythical and Legendary Sites: Sites such as Loch Ness in Scotland or Bermuda Triangle which is surrounded by unexplained stories attract individuals who want to unravel the mysteries about them.

Paranormal Tours and Investigations: With guides through overnight stays in supposed haunted houses and use of professional gadgets together with guiding personnel for an experience in what it feels like being professionalized hunters for ghosts.

Historic Sites with Dark Pasts: These are places whose pasts had seen bloodshed such as former asylums, prisons or battlegrounds hence making visitors curious about their often gloomy histories. Such include Eastern state Penitentiary Philadelphia  and Gettysburg Battlefield.

Cultural and Spiritual Experiences: This involves tours that look at local beliefs, rituals and practices concerning the supernatural like voodoo tours in New Orleans or shamanic journeys in Peru.

Supernatural tourism combines history, mystery, excitement into a single package which appeals to those attracted by what they do not know about our world’s creepy side.

In today’s blog we will be looking at five such frightful sites. Then perhaps you could make up your mind whether you want to visit?

Related: Are You Scared Of Ghosts? What Is Phasmophobia And How To Conquer Your Ghostly Fears

Here are some supernatural and haunted destinations for you:

1. The Supernatural Aokigahara Forest, Japan: One of the most haunted destinations

Lets kick things off with the first destination I mentioned then: Aokigahara Forest, one of the most haunted places in Asia. Tucked down at the foot of Mount Fuji in Japan, Aokigahara Forest has a sordid past entwined with folklore and sad occurrences. According to Japanese legend, the area became known as a suicide hotspot, especially for people in debt and having no means to pay the debt off, and is home to yurei, or restless spirits.

Even with its unsettling reputation, people who are curious or seeking spirituality continue to come to Aokigahara.

A safe method to explore its trails and discover its legends and history is through guided tours. But there are numerous stories of people who go the forest solo and set up camps, hoping to view something supernatural in its haunted darkness. More unsettling is the fact that a lot of these people often go missing, lost to the depths of Aokigahara.

It is recommended that visitors approach the forest with mindfulness and respect, understanding its importance as a site of profound natural beauty. Aokigahara is undoubtedly eerie, but it also serves as a moving reminder of the frailty of life and the complexity of human nature.

2. The Haunted Poveglia Island, Italy:

If you are looking for haunted places to visit then Poveglia Island, which is in Italy’s Venetian Lagoon, is known as one of the most haunted locations in the world because of its eerie supernatural past. Narratives of plague victims being transported to the island’s shores to be confined and left to die linger from the island’s grim past, which dates back centuries. Poveglia turned into a cemetery for the dead during the 14th-century epidemics of the bubonic plague; an estimated tens of thousands of bodies were interred there.

Poveglia was the location of a psychiatric institution in the 20th century, where residents allegedly suffered horrifying treatment at the hands of a crazy physician. The island’s ominous reputation is further enhanced by numerous accounts of experimentation, torture, and patient mistreatment. Poveglia Island is now closed to the public and abandoned; the Italian government has restricted access to the island.

But some daring people still make the dangerous journey to the island, either by boat or by other unapproved methods, in spite of its sordid past. Poveglia attracts thrill-seekers and paranormal enthusiasts who are looking for ghost encounters and other strange events, but many are put off by the ominous atmosphere of the island and the rumors of curses that are supposed to follow anyone who ventures onto its shores. Poveglia Island’s reputation for being haunted draws many who are drawn to the darker side of history, even though entry to the island is still limited.

Poveglia is an eerie emblem of the mysteries that lurk in the Venetian Lagoon’s shadows, whether as a warning story or a terrifying remembrance of the past.

3. The Supernatural Winchester Mystery House, California:

The Winchester Mystery House is a home with a terrifying supernatural past that is regarded as the top 10 most haunted places in the World. It is situated in San Jose, California. The home, constructed by Sarah Winchester, the widow of gun manufacturer William Wirt Winchester, is rumored to be haunted by the ghosts of people slain by Winchester guns.

Story goes that Sarah Winchester, distraught at her husband and child’s deaths, went to a spiritualist for advice. The spiritualist informed her that she was cursed by the restless spirits of people killed by Winchester rifles. She started an endless building effort to pacify the ghosts, adding rooms and features to the mansion in an intricate network of hallways, stairwells, and secret passageways.

The Winchester Mystery House, which is still standing today, is evidence of Sarah Winchester’s fixation and the paranormal activity that is said to have occurred there. The estate offers guided tours where guests can stroll through its creepy hallways and hear tales of paranormal activity and ghost encounters. The enigmatic and alluring nature of the maze-like mansion is enhanced by the numerous accounts of discomfort from the visitors or feeling like they are being watched.

Tickets for the estate’s guided tours can be purchased in order to enter the Winchester Mystery House. Year-round, the estate welcomes guests who come to explore its eerie hallways and learn the mysteries that reside there. Visitors to the Winchester Mystery House, whether they are skeptics or just inquisitive adventurers, are bound to be enthralled by its spooky past and spectral stories.

4. The Haunted Eastern State Penitentiary, Pennsylvania:

The haunting supernatural past of Pennsylvania’s Eastern State Penitentiary has made it a well-liked destination for both thrill-seekers and ghost hunters, leading to a lot of supernatural tourism. Constructed in 1829, Eastern State Penitentiary was formerly among the most infamous prisons in the United States, infamous for its severe circumstances and rigorous use of solitary confinement.

Eastern State Penitentiary offers guided tours through its eerie hallways and dilapidated cellblocks, serving as a frightening reminder of its turbulent past.

Tour guides and former guards might share terrifying tales of paranormal encounters with visitors, and visitors can learn about the history of the jail, including notorious prisoners like Al Capone. Tickets for the prison’s guided tours are available to those who wish to visit Eastern State Penitentiary as mentioned before. Those who visit Eastern State Penitentiary are bound to be enthralled by its dark past and spectral tales, regardless of whether they are paranormal enthusiasts or just inquisitive travellers.

5. The Supernatural Bhangarh Fort: One of the most haunted destinations in India

One of the most notorious haunted locations in the world is Bhangarh Fort, which is situated in the Indian state of Rajasthan and has a mysterious past. The fort, which was constructed in the 17th century by Raja Madho Singh, is renowned for its unsettling reputation in addition to its stunning surroundings and spectacular architecture.

According to legend, a magician who fell in love with the princess of Bhangarh cursed the fort.

He cursed the fort, dooming it to ruin and bringing the untimely deaths of its occupants after his approaches were turned down. Since then, the fort has been haunted by tales of paranormal activity, including ghostly apparitions and odd happenings. Despite its reputation for being frightening, people travel from all around to Bhangarh Fort out of curiosity and a desire to see its eerie vibe for themselves.

With the assistance of local guides, tourists can explore the old ruins of the fort and discover its legends and history. Travelers can travel to the village of Bhangarh, which is around 80 kilometers from Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan, in order to view Bhangarh Fort. From there, guests can take a quick climb to the fort, which is perched on a hill with a view of the surroundings.

Visitors can freely explore the fort’s crumbling walls and enigmatic dungeons, immersing themselves in its eerie ambiance even if access to some places may be restricted for safety concerns. Visitors to Bhangarh Fort are bound to be enthralled by its mysterious past and the mysteries that reside within its old walls, regardless of whether they consider themselves to be adventurers with a paranormal bent or just inquisitive seekers.

So then… after reading about the supernatural histories and hauntings of these places from different parts of the World, would you visit any of them?

Related: Are Ghosts Real? Here’s What Science Has To Say

And while you’re at it, read this article to make sure that your house is not haunted! Spook or Not? 16 Eerie Signs Your House Is Haunted And What You Can Do About It

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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