Take Settlement: Chichibu’s Abandoned Village

Deep in the Urayama district of Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture, on the eastern side of the Urayama Dam, lies the abandoned village known as Take Settlement (Take Shūraku). Once home to families who made their living through forestry and farming, it now stands empty. The settlement is known not only as a haunted location but also among fans of the horror video game SIREN, which is said to have used it as a model for the fictional Hanuda Village.

History — A Village Built Into the Mountains

By around 1955 (Showa 30), Take Settlement is said to have had roughly ten households and forty-four residents living in these mountains. Villagers made their living through forestry and farming, but poor transport access and ongoing depopulation drew younger generations toward the cities, and the settlement gradually emptied out.

Today, decaying buildings and traces of daily life still remain at the former settlement site. Around 2013, a fire believed to have been arson caused further damage, accelerating the deterioration of the structures.

Location — Clinging to a Steep Slope East of the Dam Lake

Take Settlement is said to have been built on a steep mountainside on the eastern side of the lake formed by Urayama Dam. With little flat land, the houses lined the slope, and life was sustained by forestry and farming. One of the few firm figures we can cite is the 1955 national census, which recorded 10 households and 44 residents.

Many visit reports describe a mountain path that starts near the community hall of the Hinata district. But this is not a site set up for sightseeing, so we do not give directions here. This article exists to record why people left, not to guide anyone there.

Why Is It Called a “Haunted Location”?

A set of six jizo statues (Roku Jizo) stands at the entrance to the settlement, accompanied by a local legend that misfortune began striking the village one after another once these statues were moved. Although the settlement was emptied for the very ordinary reason of depopulation, the eerie stillness typical of abandoned villages, combined with the sight of decaying buildings, is thought to have fed rumors of curses and vengeful spirits.

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How Far Does the Connection to SIREN’s Hanuda Village Go?

Whenever Take Settlement is discussed, it is almost always described as a model for Hanuda Village, the setting of the PlayStation 2 horror game SIREN. A closed mountain village, collapsing houses, and roadside jizo statues overlap with the atmosphere of the game’s village. However, in our research we have found no record of the game’s creators officially stating that Take Settlement was their model. It is best understood as a reputation built up by fans repeating that it is “said to be one of the models.” Other settlements in Chichibu are also sometimes named as candidates, so there is no basis for calling it the only model.

This is our own speculation, but the game connection seems to have strengthened the view of the village as a “scary place” and brought more visitors. The more a real settlement is overlaid with a fictional setting, the harder it becomes to see the lives of the people who lived there. That is why this article puts the figure of 10 households and 44 people before the game.

Current Conditions & Accessibility

The former settlement lies in mountainous terrain that includes both privately owned and national forest land, and we have not been able to confirm any official no-trespassing signage. That said, the buildings are at risk of collapse due to age, and some sections show fire damage, making the area effectively hazardous. The coordinates shown on our map are approximate, as the exact location has not been pinpointed.

What Remains in the Settlement

According to visit reports, many buildings in the settlement have collapsed roofs and walls and are half or fully collapsed. A fire is said to have burned several buildings around 2013. As for the six jizo statues at the entrance, the stories vary: some say misfortune followed after they were moved, others say fires and other troubles came after a statue was stolen, and some reports mention a signboard about the statues on site. All of this comes from visit reports and oral tradition and has not been verified as fact.

Some accounts also say that Junisha Shrine stands at the far end of the settlement and remains a shrine even now that the settlement is deserted. It is a place of worship, so anyone who might visit should refrain from any behavior that treats it as a spot for thrills.

Reflection — The Real Depopulation Behind the Rumors

What follows is our own speculation. We suspect that what has driven Take Settlement’s reputation as a haunted spot may have less to do with any curse or vengeful spirit, and more to do with the sheer weight of a very real depopulation — a place where human life simply stopped. Everyday tools and religious objects left behind in a space no one inhabits anymore can create a powerful sense of otherworldliness for visitors, and we believe this has helped amplify the rumors over time.

In 2020, KARASU CHANNEL, the YouTube channel run by our site’s founder, Suzuking., conducted an on-location investigation at Take Settlement. Across several solo visits, the crew reported reactions during a Kokkuri-san séance and an encounter with a headless doll. This is entertainment footage that includes staged elements and is not offered as proof of anything supernatural, but we share it as a record of the site’s current, decaying state — footage from that visit can be viewed in the Related Videos section at the end of this article.

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A Nearby Recommendation — The Miso-tsuchi Icicles

In the Ōtaki district of Chichibu City, a formation of natural ice pillars known as the Miso-tsuchi Icicles appears each winter. They form as water seeping from the cliffs along the Arakawa River freezes solid, and the area takes on an almost otherworldly glow when lit up at night. The spot lies close to Lake Chichibu, in a quiet area dotted with small mountain settlements.

Notes

Take Settlement’s buildings carry a real risk of collapse due to age, and the area may include privately owned or national forest land. This article is intended as a record and introduction of the location as a reputed haunted spot, not as an encouragement to visit. Please do not enter without authorization.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is Take Settlement really uninhabited?

A. Yes. Residents left as the area depopulated, and it is now considered an uninhabited, abandoned village.

Q. What is its connection to the horror game SIREN?

A. Take Settlement is said to be one of the models for Hanuda Village, which appears in the video game SIREN. That said, the game is a work of fiction, and no events like those in the story are known to have actually taken place at the settlement.

Q. Have the creators of SIREN officially said that Take Settlement was the model?

A. We have found no record of an official statement from the creators. It is a reputation among fans that the settlement is “one of the models” for Hanuda Village.

Q. Do the buildings still stand?

A. According to visit reports, many buildings have collapsed roofs and walls and are half or fully collapsed, and some were burned in a fire around 2013. Because there is a danger of collapse, we do not recommend approaching.

Q. Has KARASU CHANNEL filmed on location at Take Settlement?

A. Yes. Our YouTube channel, KARASU CHANNEL, conducted an on-location investigation at Take Settlement in 2020. You can watch the footage in the Related Videos section at the end of this article.