Japanese Urban Legends

Yuki-Onna

Yuki-onna is an urban legend about a rather illusive yōkai featured in animations, films, and literature. The origin of this legend came from old times, so it is unknown when this was created.

The term Yuki-onna means "snow woman", but they have many names that they go by. Most of the names translate to the same meaning, but a few translations are related to icicles.

Yuki-onna prey on travelers lost in the heavy snowstorms, usually in the Japanese Alps in the winter. They are known to have the appearance of a beautiful woman, with long black hair and deep violet eyes. There was only one that had stark white hair instead, which was in the first known story of a Yuki-onna. She has snow white skin, and a white kimono to go with it. The breath of a Yuki-onna is powerfully icy and allows her to easily freeze her victims by blowing on them. Their bodies are also cold- so cold that a mere touch will give someone a deep, unshakable chill.

Yuki-onna sometimes will fall in love with their soon-to-be victim and ends up letting them go free. Unfortunately, the husband is destined to eventually figure out who she really is. Whether it's noticing that she doesn't age, or noticing that she leaves a supernatural chill wherever she goes, the happy marriage usually comes to an end when he finds out her secret.

But that only happens sometimes. Most of the time, however, a Yuki-onna will spend her life hunting humans in the snow. They stay near snowy mountain roads, and wait for weary travelers to pass by- or they will break into homes and freeze everyone living inside. When a Yuki-onna spots a traveler coming by, there are different things she may do. These variations are due to the fact that there are a ton of stories about a Yuki-onna, and a lot of the tales talk about them differently. Sometimes, they are so far apart that it seems as if they aren't even talking about a Yuki-onna. 

So, when a Yuki-onna spots a person trudging in the snow, a lot of things can happen. In some tales, she lures her victims away from the path they are on and causes them to slowly freeze to death. She does this by showing her beauty but then walking away. Victims will then fall into a trance, and follow her out of curiosity. When they finally realize that they are lost, they become freezing cold as the Yuki-onna floats up to them gently. Then, she blows her icy breath on them, freezing them to death.

In a different variation of the story, the Yuki-onna doesn't care about trickery and instead goes straight for the kill. When she spots her victim, she will walk up to them and suck out their life force. After they are dead, she will continue walking down the path, searching for a new person.

In another version, she calls out to the person. If they walk towards her in response, she will begin to attack them. If they ignore her calls, she will throw them off of the mountain cliff in a fit of rage.

Either way, no matter what variation you go by, they all do terrible things. From hypothermia to making people wander into the snow, her ways usually are intended to kill. So, if you ever see a pale lady in the middle of a snowy area, it is best that you don't approach her.