

Kwaidan
In the tradition of "RASHOMON" and "GATE OF HELL."
Taking its title from an archaic Japanese word meaning "ghost story," this anthology adapts four folk tales. A penniless samurai marries for money with tragic results. A man stranded in a blizzard is saved by Yuki the Snow Maiden, but his rescue comes at a cost. Blind musician Hoichi is forced to perform for an audience of ghosts. An author relates the story of a samurai who sees another warrior's reflection in his teacup.
TMDB
7.7/10
484 votes
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- Status
- Released
- Budget
- —
- Box office
- —
- Language
- Japanese
- samurai
- based on novel or book
- story teller
- snowstorm
- tea
- promise
- snow
- blind
- spirit
- vengeful ghost
- ghost story
- ghost
Top billed cast













Behind the camera
Where to watch
All optionsAvailability for United States. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.
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Videos
Release dates
United StatesUS
- Theatrical15 Jul 1965
- PhysicalDVD10 Oct 2000
- PhysicalBlu-ray20 Oct 2015
- Digital / OTTPG-13HBO Max27 May 2020
United KingdomGB
- Physical15DVD29 May 2006
AustraliaAU
- PhysicalPGDVD15 Mar 2006
FinlandFI
- TheatricalK-166 Jan 1965
FranceFR
- TheatricalTP28 Jul 1965
- Premiere4k restoration, Cinémathèque française3 Jan 2026
- Theatrical1 Jul 2026
JapanJP
- PremiereYuurakuza Theater29 Dec 1964
- Theatrical (limited)Roadshow6 Jan 1965
- Theatrical27 Feb 1965
- TheatricalRe-release29 Nov 1982
MalaysiaMY
- TheatricalJapan Festival30 Jul 1994
NetherlandsNL
- Physical12DVD19 Jun 2008
PhilippinesPH
- TheatricalEigasai1 Sept 2005
PortugalPT
- TheatricalM/1628 Feb 1968
SpainES
- Theatrical13 May 1968
ThailandTH
- PremiereBangkok International Film Festival12 Oct 2025
Frequently asked questions
Kwaidan was released on 6 January 1965.
Audience reviews
1- C7/10
CinemaSerf
12/2/2024
I'm always a little daunted when I settle down in a cinema seat for a film that is 3 hours long - I fear the last glass of wine may have been one too many - but this simply flew by. It is a compendium of four different Japanese "poems" that deal with just about every emotion in the human panoply - love, hate, greed, joy, fear, envy, betrayal... You name it! Each story has a central theme that, perhaps not terribly so…
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