For decades, a bright red car from the 1970s rested mysteriously on a steep cliff in Iwafune, Tochigi Prefecture. There were no roads nearby, and no one knew how it had gotten there. In summer, thick greenery hid it from view, but in winter, the crimson body stood out sharply against the pale rock, catching the eye of travelers and local residents alike.

When explorers finally reached it, they found an old Isuzu Gemini, its interior covered in dust yet surprisingly intact. The car had no license plates, fueling speculation that it might once have been used as a “company vehicle” at a nearby quarry or industrial site.

Over time, the red car became a small urban legend. Locals and haikyo enthusiasts traded theories online: Was it abandoned after an accident? Was it carried up piece by piece? Or was it simply a prank lost to time? Television crews even visited the site to document the mystery.

After sitting on the cliff for more than 25 years, the car was finally removed in 2022. With the help of heavy machinery, workers carefully lifted it down, a task that reportedly cost around 800,000 yen. A lawyer confirmed that removing the vehicle posed no legal issue.

Though the “Red Car of Iwafune” is gone, its story lives on as one of Japan’s most curious countryside mysteries.