Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology
Alternative names: Crane Monster; Tsuru-bakemono
Category: Bird
The Myth
The Tsuru-bakemono is a yokai said to appear in the wetlands between Sanjo Town and Gomyō in present-day Niigata Prefecture. Travelers passing through the marshes at night may suddenly see a white, crane-like figure floating before their eyes.
Little else is recorded about the creature. It is simply described as a mysterious white apparition resembling a crane that haunts the marshes after dark, appearing unexpectedly before nighttime travelers.
Sources
TYZ. (2009, July 26). 鶴化け物 (Tsuru-bakemono). In 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1010653550.html