Top 13 Scariest Junji Ito Manga Tales

There is no storyteller on Earth quite like Junji Ito. Since his professional manga debut in 1987, he has been captivating and terrifying readers with his macabre tales and chillingly iconic creations. The brilliantly talented mangaka has rightfully earned his place as one of the most renowned horror storytellers of his generation, and for good reason. Junji Ito's beautifully illustrated comics conceal deep, devastating secrets, and each tale he weaves haunts and horrifies in a uniquely unsettling way.

Junji Ito Collections

Alley

5 See it at Amazon!

Uzumaki: Deluxe Edition

15 See it at Target See it at Amazon!

Tomie: Complete Deluxe Edition

7 See it at Amazon!

Mimi's Tales of Terror

0 See it at Amazon!

Remina

1 See it at Amazon!

Shiver

0 See it at Amazon!

Gyo: Deluxe Edition

5 See it at Amazon!

Smashed

2 See it at Amazon!

Lovesickness

2 See it at Amazon!

Narrowing down Junji Ito's vast collection to just 13 of his most bone-chilling stories was no small task. While many of the scariest Junji Ito short stories can be found as scans online, they are also compiled into physical collections. Some collections, like Tomie and Uzumaki, follow a specific narrative, while others, such as Shiver and Smashed, feature standalone stories grouped by theme.

The Scariest Junji Ito Stories

From eerie ghost stories and heart-wrenching gothic horror to grotesquely bizarre modern fables, here are the 13 most terrifying tales from one of the masters of horror manga, Junji Ito.

13. The Beautiful Boy at the Crossroads

Ito often explores the theme of love and its potential to curse us. The first story in his Lovesickness collection, "The Beautiful Boy at the Crossroads," is a prime example. We meet Ryusuke on a train, returning to his hometown after years away, haunted by the very thought of it. The reason for his distress soon unfolds, coinciding with a trend of young women seeking "crossroads fortunes." As the bodies of schoolgirls who ask strangers for their fortunes begin to appear brutally murdered, the mystery deepens. How does it connect to Ryusuke's past? This chilling mystery introduces one of Ito's most memorable and terrifying creations.

12. Village of the Siren

Turning to folk horror, Ito crafts another bleak homecoming in "Village of the Siren." After receiving a strange phone call from his parents and witnessing an ominous apparition at his window, Kyochi decides to reunite with his family. Upon returning, he finds the once lively village transformed into a ghost town, centered around a mysterious factory. The nightly sirens emanating from it consume the villagers' lives. If you enjoy stories about strange rituals, unusual cults, and the occult, this tale will captivate you. It also breaks taboos with a significant death count and a rarely seen demographic of victims.

11. I Don't Want to Be a Ghost

When Shigeru kindly picks up a beautiful, wandering woman from the side of the road, his life changes forever. Initially concerned about her bloodied and disoriented state, he is reassured by her explanations. Days later, they begin a secretive affair, despite Shigeru being married and expecting a baby. Blinded by her beauty, he overlooks her frequent appearances covered in blood and her claim to "love his ghosts." Her true, darker desires are revealed too late for Shigeru.

10. The Strange Hikizuri Siblings

One of Ito's more humorous creations, "The Strange Hikizuri Siblings" follows a set of unhinged siblings who delight in tormenting each other and unsuspecting victims. Over two tales in Lovesickness, we meet some of the unfortunate individuals who cross their path, including an old school friend and a photographer. While their schemes can be deadly, the Hikizuri siblings are generally hapless, though you wouldn't want to join them for dinner.

9. The Mystery of the Haunted House

The arrival of a haunted house turns a town upside down as derision turns to terror with each new visitor. Two young boys become entangled in the proprietor's twisted games after trying to sneak in for free. Exploring the ghoulish halls, they discover a true house of horrors filled with victims claiming to be the owner's family. The dark comedy in this story comes from Ito's recurring character, the scheming Souichi Tsujii, though his crimes are anything but funny. The Mystery of the Haunted House is a wild ride that will delight fans of haunt culture.

8. Honored Ancestors

Family is a recurring theme in Ito's tales, and "Honored Ancestors" might feature his most psychedelically deranged story yet. On a seemingly normal evening, Risa is brought home by her close friend Makata, who claims she suffers from amnesia. According to doctors, her amnesia is caused by immense emotional stress. As Risa becomes haunted by visions of a giant caterpillar, the truth about Makata and his family's strange traditions is revealed in Ito's dementedly awful fashion. It's a family reunion you'll never forget, though you'll wish you could.

7. Uzumaki

Likely the most famous of Ito's works, Uzumaki has earned its status as a classic. Weaving a supernatural curse into a ghost story centered around the small town of Kurouzu-cho, haunted not by spirits but by spirals, this tale is uniquely spooky. Ito's distinctive linework transforms the usually unassuming shapes into something utterly terrifying. Uzumaki explores themes of obsession, paranoia, and the mundane becoming bizarre. Its impact is undeniable, with multiple video game and film adaptations and a highly anticipated anime adaptation in development. You can check out our review of the first episode of the Uzumaki anime to see what we thought.

6. Fashion Model

While many of Ito's stories are slow-burn haunters, "Fashion Model" is a more direct horror tale that reveals its monster early on. Like Tomie, it has become one of Ito's most popular long-running tales. When a young man sees a bizarre model in a magazine with dagger-like teeth, he becomes consumed by her image. As life moves on, he and some friends begin casting for a student film, and the model reemerges in a brutal and all-too-real fashion. This is a great entry into both Ito's and monster horror canon.

5. Tomie

Probably Ito's most famous creation, the stunningly beautiful Tomie was murdered by her classmates only to reappear the next day. Since then, she has been terrorizing readers and lovestruck men for years. The collected edition of Tomie tales allows you to read her story from her earliest to most recent appearances, each more delightfully dark than the last. Her ever-shifting true face is the stuff of nightmares, yet Ito's striking illustration style has made her a perennial pop culture figure. Even if you've never read an Ito story, you've likely seen Tomie as a sticker, tattoo, or t-shirt. Ironically, in her stories, it's nearly impossible to capture her beauty in an image unless you want to see her true face too.

4. House of the Marionettes

Puppets have always held a particularly creepy place in horror, and Ito uses this to his advantage in "House of the Marionettes." The story follows a strange family obsessed with marionettes, beginning when a young girl named Kinuko befriends the son of a family of puppeteers. Becoming close with Haruhiko, she visits his home and becomes wary of a large marionette named Jean-Pierre. Years later, after reconnecting and marrying Haruhiko, they return to his family home and make an awful discovery. This is one of Ito's more classical stories, yet it still shocks and surprises at every turn.

3. Used Record

Eerie and atmospheric, "Used Record" tells the story of an odd record that hypnotizes and entices the listener. When Ogawa buys the vinyl, she quickly becomes obsessed, as does her friend Nakayama upon hearing it. Soon, all they can do is listen to the song repeatedly. But with only one copy, the girls are on a tragic path. The relatable fact that we've all had that one song we can't stop listening to makes this story terrifying. Ito takes it to a supernaturally nightmarish level, making this wonderfully drawn tale as addictive as the song at its center.

2. Greased

Growing up above her family's barbeque restaurant by Mount Fuji, Yui is sick of the grease that has slowly accumulated, coating their home. While she worries about its effects, her violent and abusive brother Goro embraces the cooking oil, drinking it from the bottle until his face becomes covered in large, grotesque pustules. Goro's obsession with the grease and Yui's hopes of surviving it are deeply entangled in this, one of Ito's most stomach-churning tales. It will threaten both your lunch and your sleep cycle. Truly, this is the kind of story you have to mentally prepare to read, so don't take checking this one out lightly.

1. The Hanging Balloons

What makes "The Hanging Balloons" Ito's scariest story? It's one of his most bizarre tales—where he excels—and it feels utterly claustrophobic and inescapable in the best way. After the unexpected suicide of a celebrity schoolgirl inspires a spate of copycat deaths, people begin to report seeing imposing balloons in the sky. But these are no ordinary balloons; they are giant inflated heads of the deceased. Many more balloons soon appear, chasing those whose faces they wear, with metal nooses swinging beneath them. What is their purpose? If they catch up with those they resemble, they hang them. This is a psychedelic night terror come to life.

What's Next for Junji Ito?

Pre-Order

Uncanny: Origins of Fear

2 Releasing October 15 See it at Amazon!

Alley is the most recent short story collection from the horror manga author, though Junji Ito's latest release is something entirely new. Uncanny: The Origins of Fear is a written memoir and analysis of the horror genre that was released last Fall. A sneak peek at the memoir is available on Viz Media's website.

Looking ahead, a new Junji Ito story collection titled "Moan" is set to release on October 7. According to the new collection's preorder page, you can expect "Obsession and persistence... warping reality in this collection of macabre stories set in Junji Ito’s bloodcurdling world."

Looking for more manga guides? Take a look at our guide to the best manga for beginners or dive into some of the best free manga websites and apps. You can also check out our updated guide on where to buy manga if you're looking for physical copies of Junji Ito's work.