Yokai Ghost Walk highlights creepy storytelling

By Lethbridge Herald on October 29, 2025.

Joe Manio
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Yōkai Ghost Walk is a unique experience of culture, folklore and fright, all set against the beauty of the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden by night and a perfect way for families to celebrate Halloween. The annual event is a way for Nikka Yuko to share Japanese folklore and a creepy vibe during the Halloween season.

A break from the common “jump scare” Halloween experience, it’s thrilling and scary storytelling that only Japanese culture can tell. For those who missed the Oct. 22, 24 and 25 walks, there are two more opportunities to catch it on Thursday and Friday.

The Yokai Ghost Walk began as a Halloween event to showcase Japanese folklore and myths through storytelling. The experience is an interactive performance that includes a guided night walk through the garden and features tales of supernatural creatures called yokai (which includes ghosts, demons, monsters, shapeshifters, and assorted tricksters)

The event features actors from New West Theatre who lead the walk through the garden, bringing stories of yōkai to life. It is designed as an enchanting and spooky experience rather than a bloodcurdling one; with both family-friendly and more mature time slots available. 

Twenty-seven-year-old New West Theatre performer Cole Pryor plays a “witness to the kappa” who narrates the story of the kappa, a yokai which he describes as a creepy turtle-like figure with greenish skin, wide yellow eyes and a bird’s beak. 

“It has this plate on its head and to avoid being taken and having your soul taken by the kappa, you just have to bow to it and pray that it bows back to you,” says Pryor.  “It’s a great story for all ages. It gets lots of great reception with the kids and a lot of the adults have a lot of fun with it too.”

Japanese folklore is rich with ghost stories, deeply influenced by Shinto and Buddhist beliefs about spirits, life, and death. These tales often feature yūrei (ghosts) and yokai and are used for moral lessons, entertainment, and cultural preservation, reflecting beliefs about unresolved issues and vengeful spirits (onryō).

“Everybody’s been having a great time. We’ve had everything from people getting spooked to people just laughing and having a great time,” says Pryor.

Since 2019 the Yokai Ghost Walk has introduced visitors to Japanese myths, folklore and scaring participants with ghosts, demons and monsters from the Land of the Rising Sun.

The Yokai Ghost Walks run every 30 minutes starting from 5 PM at the Nikka Yuko Bunka Centre and the last tour departs at 8:30.Tickets can be purchased at the Bunka Centre.