Okiku's Well (Banshu Sarayashiki) at Himeji Castle - Himeji, Japan

In the center of Himeji, Japan on a hill top above the city, the tower of Himeji Castle rises into the skyline.  This castle was built in the early 14th century and several hundred years later it was expanded.  At the base of the castle there is a well which is located next to what is called the Hari-kiri Maru or in English, the suicide gate.  This is where those who have been dishonored are forced to take their own lives via disembowelment by their own sword.  The well was used to clean up after each Hari-kiri ceremony.  There is one particular victim who did not take their own life here that has returned to haunt those who wrongly put her to death.

Himeji Castle in Hyogo Prefecture, Himeji, Honmachi, Japan

Okiku's Well at Himeji Castle, Honmachi, Japan

Centuries ago, a Himeji Castle servant girl named Okiku took care of a most revered treasure of the lord who lived there, ten gilded plates the value of which was more than imaginable.  Himeji was in love with the lord, however being only a servant girl, she kept this secret to herself.

Okiku of Himeji Castle, Japan

One day Okiku overheard a plot by one of the lord's chief retainers of which she served under, to kill him and overtake the castle.  Fearing for her the one she loved, she told the lord of what she had heard.  However, the chief escaped and later found that Okiku had informed the lord of his plan.  Now, he plotted against Okiku.  He stole one of the gilded plates.  Since these treasures were in the close guard of Okiku, she was blamed for stealing the plates and was later found guilty of stealing it and plotting against the lord's retainer. Instead of just subjecting her to commit Hari-kiri, she was mutilated and tortured to death by none other than the chief retainer himself and then afterwards her body was thrown into the castle well.

Himeji Castle rises above the skyline of Himeji, Japan

Himeji Castle in Himeji, Honmachi, Japan

Okiku's soul would not rest.  Every night between the hours of 2 and 3, Okiku's ghost (or yurrei) would rise up out of the well from which her body was thrown into.  She would then proceed to scream out the number of gilded plates, counting them from 1 to 10, wailing and screaming louder as she got to 10.  She would then disappear back into the well.  This would awake the lord every night, so he could not rest.  This drove him more and more insane.  He finally learned the truth about Okiku and how she was wrongfully tortured and murdered and that his retainer was the guilty one.  This drove him over the edge and he went completely insane.

Artist's impression of Okiku rising from the well of Himeji Castle

This epic tale and variations of it have been told in Japan for centuries.  It known as Banshu Sarayashiki. It is said that to this day, Okiku still arises from the well every night wailing out the count of the gilded plates and it is now known as Okiku's Well.  She cannot rest because of her wrongful death and will haunt the well of Himeji Castle forever.

Himeji Castle, Japan at night

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