"Old 1935 Ryogoku Hotel - Haunted in 1990"

I was walking around recording images & sounds of the area along the river and soon after crossing over a bridge and arriving in the Ryogoku Station area, I noticed unusual-looking doors in an old building. Taking a closer look, I peered through the glass doors and saw what looked like a hotel front desk, although there was no one in sight and it was clearly not being used as a hotel as I stood there, in September 1990. I walked in (not something I would do now, in the security-conscious 21st century, but at the time, it wasn't so outrageous), and after looking around the halls a little, and seeing what I thought were vacant apartment rooms on the top floor, I ran into a tenant who told me that the hotel was built in 1935, and was a luxury hotel at the time, with nice views of the river (now obscured by the expressway). He went on to explain that the building had been requisitioned by the US military following the end of WW-II and used as a residence for US military women. It used to have high-ceilinged hallways, but fake ceilings had been put in. There were plans to tear the building down, but the last ten (or so) tenants were resisting. Apparently the building had been used in some old movies as well. He told me it was alright to take pictures in the halls, but to be careful of the second floor, as a few people lived there. That building is long gone now, and I'm not seeing info about it under "old Ryogoku Hotel" or "Chiyoda Heights Building", so more research is in order.

Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://uk.youtube.com/lylehsaxon

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Old
• 1935
• Ryogoku
• Hotel
• Chiyoda
• Heights
• 1990
• Tokyo
• LHS
• ITG

[HP1212555]

It would be interesting to hear more about that building - especially when it was new.

[lylehsaxon]

I agree.  I'll try to find out more information. - LHS

[ChocoBanana777]

When I saw the title I was like... マジ～？！？ ｗ

That building certainly does look dangerous to live in.

Off to the records library I guess...

[lylehsaxon]

Well, what happened is I was on the fourth floor when I ran into this guy who was working late, and he told me the history of the building. I commented that it almost felt like there were ghosts in the building and he answered matter-of-factly "Yes, there are ghosts here", and he didn't seem to be joking. Later, when I got into a dark part of the basement, I began to believe him and then I decided it was a good time to leave the building! That building is gone now... - LHS

[ChocoBanana777]

Running into someone in a seemingly empty building would make me jump.

I wish I had as much guts as you ･･･ I'll pass on the basement. XD

[lylehsaxon]

I came in off of a fire escape, and the guy was in the hallway taking out some trash. That wasn't too shocking, but before that, at about 1:22 in the video, there was a banging noise on another floor - watch closely and you can see the camera jump before I panned to the other direction! That was me jumping at the sudden unexpected sound in the... haunted building... [dramatic music...] - LHS

[gof22]

That old hotel looked like something out of Silent Hill.

[ChocoBanana777]

あっ、本当だ。ｗ

I'd make a complete "about face" for the nearest exit. XD