On August 1 and 2, 2026, a haunted house event was held at the former Hon-ume Elementary School in Hon-ume-cho, Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture, transforming the abandoned school building into a site of terror. Families who stepped into the spine-chilling space—meticulously crafted by local residents—filled the air with screams of panic, with many remarking that it was frightening even for adults.
The event was organized by "Ume no Keikaku" (The Ume Project), a residents' group exploring ways to repurpose the school building. Utilizing three classrooms, the experience was themed around a visit to install information signs at the nearby ruins of Kazukeyama Castle.
Upon entering the pitch-black classrooms, participants were ambushed by the second-in-command (kaishaku-nin) of the Kazukeyama Castle lord, who was in the midst of committing ritual suicide (seppuku). As they fled in terror, they encountered defeated samurai wearing eerie masks appearing one after another, causing children to scream and cry out in fear, shouting things like "No!" and "I can't do this!"
The event was a resounding success, drawing approximately 320 visitors over the two days. A five-year-old boy from Kameoka City, who visited with his father on the first day, said with a trembling voice, "It was all so scary..."
Members of "Ume no Keikaku" were delighted, noting how grateful they were to see such strong reactions of fright from the visitors. The gymnasium also buzzed with activity, featuring a play area with handmade games and table tennis.
