OSAKA - Police are investigating a possible case of arson after a fire broke out in the parking lot of a closed restaurant in Daito, Osaka Prefecture, early on October 3, damaging approximately 460 square meters of the property, which has become a popular gathering place for young people after being featured online as a haunted location.
The fire occurred at around 5 a.m. on October 3 at the former restaurant site in Nakagaito, Daito City. A nearby resident called the fire department, reporting that flames had erupted following the sound of an explosion.
The blaze burned approximately 460 square meters of the parking area before being extinguished. No injuries were reported.
According to police, entry to the property is prohibited, but the abandoned restaurant has been introduced on the internet as a "ghost spot," attracting young people and other visitors who have repeatedly gathered there without permission.
The site's reputation as a haunted location has continued to draw unauthorized visitors despite restrictions on access.
A separate fire occurred at a nearby garbage disposal area in May this year, raising further concerns about suspicious activity in the vicinity.
Police are investigating the cause of the latest blaze, including the possibility that it was deliberately started.
Source: YOMIURI
