Exploring Aokigahara, known as Japan’s “Suicide Forest,” and the setting of the upcoming film “Sea of Trees,” starring Matthew McConaughey, Ken Watanabe and Naomi Watts, and directed by Gus Van Sant.

Unlike Van Sant’s Sea of Trees, this is filmed on location.

Japanese authorities recover up to a hundred bodies a year in the sea of trees, most victims of suicide.

I went into the sea of trees, also known as Jukai in Japan, on the morning of July 31st.

The portion of Aokigahara infamous in Japanese culture and folklore for its restless spirits can be reached from the walking path that connects the Fugaku Lava Cave and Narusawa Ice Cave, accessible by the No. 1 Green Line bus from Kawaguchiko station at the base of Mt. Fuji.

I don’t recommend going in alone.

32 Comments

  1. Some of the people that left the ribbons where explorers that left them so they don't get lost

  2. I'll never understand people's irrational fear of spiders…are you afraid they may tickle you to death?

  3. You are afraid of spiders yet you are venturing into suicide forest where you don't belong! Makes not one bit of sense. Stay at home with your Mum. Leave the dead in Peace!

  4. You really just have it built up in your head, which I totally understand. I wouldn't be afraid of a "haunting" or whatever, instead I'd be afraid to see a body of someone who had taken their own life, that would freak me out.

  5. He didn't go far obviously. Why? because he didn't filmed his walked through the woods he's like 8 meters from the exit hahaha

  6. savage “we found another do not enter sign so we’re gonna go ahead and explore that”

  7. I noticed by watching these videos of the forest day/night, that faces appear everywhere. Spooky!

  8. Eewwww spiders!! How spooky. So scary. Run for the hills! Spiders are part reason why forests such as the Aokigohara are biological wonderlands. Spiders should be revered and marvelled at, not vilified and trashed. If I was to choose where my last moment might be, a spider laden forest sounds right.

  9. At 7:06 in the back ground 2 trees next 2 each other have 2 faces one scull face an one looks like a girl.their spirits are in the trees.

  10. It is sickening for 100 Japanese people including kids go to sea of trees every year and take their life 😔😔😔😔

  11. A japanese told me that the area around the mountain is a strange magnetic zone. I didn't know about the suicide forest at that time.

  12. I think suicide should be legal. Life is hard and brutal, with only small breaks of joy. I think its wrong to leave people that are dependent, but if nobody care, then nobody cares.

  13. Anyone ever call you "suggestible"? If you are thinking of a career change, you might cross "lion tamer" off your list.

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