Yōkai (妖怪) is the broad umbrella for strange or supernatural beings in Japanese folklore — from mischievous river spirits to vengeful ghosts and sacred fox messengers. Many entries blend Shinto kami, Buddhist demons, and local oral tradition.
Use the A–Z directory when you know a name, category pages for creature types (oni, tengu, kitsune), and seasonal lists when exploring festivals or calendar folklore. Creature pages include kanji, summaries, and longer encyclopedia text where available.
For shrine and temple travel, see our OSM shrine directory — a separate guide to real-world Shinto sites across Japan, with curated landmark shrines linked from that hub.