Japanese Yokai List: 20 Supernatural Creatures from Japanese Folklore
A guide to 20 famous Japanese yokai, from kappa and tengu to kitsune and yuki-onna, including what they look like, their behavior and where they come from.
In this article
Yokai (妖怪) are supernatural creatures, spirits and strange phenomena from Japanese folklore. They range from mischievous to deadly: the kappa is a water imp that drowns swimmers, the kitsune is a shape-shifting fox, the tengu is a mountain goblin, and tsukumogami are household objects that come to life after a hundred years. Yokai were catalogued by 18th-century artist Toriyama Sekien and popularized in modern times by manga artist Shigeru Mizuki.
Here's a list of twenty of the most famous yokai.
A Quick Reference Table
| Yokai | Type | Danger level |
|---|---|---|
| Kappa | Water imp | Medium |
| Tengu | Mountain goblin | Medium |
| Kitsune | Fox spirit | Varies |
| Tanuki | Raccoon-dog trickster | Low |
| Oni | Demon/ogre | High |
| Yuki-onna | Snow woman | High |
| Rokurokubi | Long-necked woman | Low |
| Nukekubi | Flying detached head | High |
| Noppera-bo | Faceless ghost | Low |
| Kasa-obake | Umbrella spirit | Low |
| Zashiki-warashi | Child spirit | Beneficial |
| Jorogumo | Spider woman | High |
| Nurikabe | Invisible wall | Low |
| Bakeneko / Nekomata | Cat spirit | Medium |
| Umibozu | Sea giant | High |
| Nue | Chimera | Medium |
| Futakuchi-onna | Two-mouthed woman | Low |
| Ittan-momen | Flying cloth | Medium |
| Azukiarai | Bean washer | Low |
| Tsuchigumo | Earth spider | High |
Water Yokai
1. Kappa
A turtle-like creature about the size of a child, with a beak, a shell and a dish-shaped hollow on its head filled with water. Kappa drag people and horses into rivers. The trick to defeating one: bow. The polite kappa bows back, the water spills from its head, and it loses its strength. Kappa love cucumbers, which is why cucumber sushi rolls are called kappamaki.
2. Umibozu
A giant, dark, bald figure that rises from calm seas to capsize ships. Some versions say it demands a barrel; sailors give it one with no bottom so it can't fill their boat with water.
Mountain and Forest Yokai
3. Tengu
Bird-like goblins of the mountains. Early tengu were crow-like and dangerous. Later they became long-nosed, red-faced figures associated with mountain ascetics and martial arts. In legend, a tengu taught swordsmanship to the young warrior Minamoto no Yoshitsune.
4. Tsuchigumo
Giant "earth spiders" that appear in heroic legends, where warriors such as Minamoto no Yorimitsu slay them. The name was also historically used for local groups who resisted the imperial court.
Animal Yokai
5. Kitsune
Fox spirits that grow more powerful with age, gaining up to nine tails. They can shape-shift into beautiful women. Some are tricksters; others, associated with the Shinto deity Inari, are divine messengers. Statues of foxes guard thousands of Inari shrines.
6. Tanuki
Jolly, shape-shifting raccoon dogs that play pranks, often transforming using a leaf on their heads. Tanuki statues with big bellies and straw hats sit outside many shops and restaurants as good luck charms. See the tale of the lucky teakettle in our guide to Japanese folktales.
7. Bakeneko and Nekomata
Cats that become supernatural with age. A bakeneko can shape-shift and walk upright; a nekomata has a forked tail and may raise the dead.
8. Jorogumo
A spider that transforms into a seductive woman to lure men to their deaths.
Human-Like Yokai
9. Oni
Horned, often red or blue ogres with iron clubs. They appear in many tales, including Momotaro. During the Setsubun festival in February, people throw roasted soybeans and shout "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!" ("Demons out! Luck in!").
10. Yuki-onna
A pale, beautiful woman who appears in snowstorms and freezes travelers with her breath.
11. Rokurokubi
A woman who looks normal by day, but at night her neck stretches to enormous lengths.
12. Nukekubi
Similar but scarier: the head detaches entirely and flies around at night, sometimes attacking people.
13. Noppera-bo
A faceless ghost. It appears as an ordinary person, then wipes its hand over its face, revealing a smooth, blank surface. Lafcadio Hearn's story "Mujina" made it famous in English.
14. Futakuchi-onna
A woman with a second mouth hidden in the back of her head, under her hair. It eats greedily and uses her hair like tentacles.
Household Yokai
15. Tsukumogami and Kasa-obake
Tsukumogami are objects that come to life after a hundred years. The most famous is the kasa-obake, a one-eyed paper umbrella that hops on a single leg. Some say these stories encouraged people to respect and care for their tools.
16. Ittan-momen
A long strip of cotton cloth that flies through the night sky and wraps around people's faces.
17. Zashiki-warashi
A child spirit that lives in old houses, especially in northern Japan. It plays harmless pranks, and its presence brings good fortune. If it leaves, the family's luck runs out.
18. Azukiarai
An invisible yokai heard washing azuki beans by rivers, sometimes singing an eerie song.
Strange Phenomena
19. Nurikabe
An invisible wall that blocks travelers' paths at night. Tapping the bottom of it with a stick supposedly makes it disappear.
20. Nue
A chimera with a monkey's face, a raccoon dog's body, a tiger's limbs and a snake for a tail. Legend says it caused an emperor's illness in the 12th century and was shot down by the archer Minamoto no Yorimasa.
Where Do Yokai Come From?
Yokai beliefs grew from folk religion, Shinto ideas of spirits in nature, Buddhist tales and local legends. In the Edo period (1603–1868), they became popular entertainment.
- Hyakki Yagyo, the "night parade of one hundred demons," was a popular subject for picture scrolls.
- Toriyama Sekien published illustrated yokai encyclopedias starting with The Illustrated Night Parade of a Hundred Demons (1776).
- Shigeru Mizuki, creator of the manga GeGeGe no Kitaro, revived yokai for modern audiences in the 20th century.
Today yokai appear in anime, video games and films like Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away and Pom Poko.
For supernatural beings from other traditions, see our guides to jinn in folklore and Celtic folklore creatures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a yokai?
A yokai is a supernatural creature, spirit or phenomenon from Japanese folklore, ranging from playful to dangerous.
What is the most famous yokai?
The kappa, kitsune and tengu are among the best known.
Are yokai evil?
Not all. Some are dangerous, some mischievous, and some, like the zashiki-warashi, bring good luck.
How many tails can a kitsune have?
Up to nine. The number of tails increases with the fox's age and power.
What is the difference between yokai and yurei?
Yurei are ghosts of the dead, while yokai is a broader category that includes creatures, spirits and strange phenomena.
