Trapped in Aokigahara Bat Cave! 🦇 👻 😮 🎃

An Aokigahara Tale for the Halloween Season – We were trapped in the Bat Cave! In October 2021, knee-deep into the pandemic, myself and Bushido Devil Dog went camping in Japan’s notorious Aokigahara Forest known for its ghosts and unfortunately suicides. Despite the image of a desolate forest in the middle of nowhere, a lot of people go there for camping, hiking, and visiting the caves that had been created over a thousand years ago when Mt. Fuji erupted in 864.

The Lake Saiko Bat Cave is a bat preservation site where bats sleep in the daytime and hibernate in the winter. Bushido Devil Dog and I arrived late in the afternoon and were one of the last ones in the cave. When we were at the far back of the cave, the lights suddenly went out! Fortunately, Bushido is one of those always be prepared from his Marine days and had a flashlight. I had to make do with my small light on my phone to get us back to the entrance. When we reached the entrance we discovered to our horror they had locked us in! The entrance was completely covered with metal bars including the top so we couldn’t climb out. Fortunately, I had a brochure with me and Bushido was able to get cell phone reception (at that time my phone was only receiving calls) so he was able to call the office where thank goodness they were still there and answering the phone. They got us out and gave us some cup ramen and a bottle of water for our troubles.

Bushido Devil Dog has done a number of solo camping trips in Aokigahara:
https://www.youtube.com/@UCuTvYuuh1Vk6YM0cYOd40yg
His version of events:

0:00 Cold Opening
0:07 Aokigahara Forest
2:24 Complaining about fakery of travel channels
3:26 Entering the Bat Cave
5:00 Taking the Rough Path
8:11 Protected Bat Area
9:17 DISASTER!!!
10:55 TRAPPED!!!
11:55 BATS!!!
13:27 FREE!!!
15:06 FREE STUFF!!!
16:13 Fuji Water

#japan #aokigahara #fail