The Exit 8 shines light on real-life Japanese stations’ creepy passageways

The Exit 8 is a recently released indie horror game that explores the creepiness of liminal spaces. It is set in the maze-like corridors of a fictional underground station in Japan where the player must find “Exit 8.” To find the elusive exit, the player must look for anomalies. If you don’t notice anything that is out of place you can safely proceed but if something looks odd you must head back quickly. 

The game’s graphics realistically recreate the distinctive signs, posters and corridors often found in Japanese stations. So it’s no wonder that some players have taken to X/Twitter to point out real life anomalies. 

The subway station under the spotlight is Kiyosumi Shirakawa station, which has some very odd-looking light fixtures. Located on the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon and the Toei Oedo lines in Koto City, Tokyo, the station apparently features a ceiling covered in zig zagging fluorescent tube lights near Exit 3. There’s even a Google Street view of the point. One X user referenced the game’s popularity overseas, joking that international fans of The Exit 8 would receive a big fright if they visited the station. Japanese streamer Uimama also pointed out the resemblance when she missed a ceiling light anomaly while playing the game. 

Another X user pointed out that there’s also a similar art installation at the station’s Exit 8! 

For The Exit 8 players, this definitely seems like something you should run away from. Other users pointed out that the corridors leading to Burakucho station’s Exit 8 and Shinjuku Sanchome station’s Exit E1 (both in Tokyo) also give off The Exit 8 vibes. 

The Exit 8 is now available for PC (Steam).