In Japanese folklore, the spider yōkai said to transform into a beautiful woman is Jorogumo.
Jorogumo is a shape-shifting spider spirit in Japanese legends. The name is commonly translated as “whore spider” or “prostitute spider,” although translations vary because the Japanese term carries historical and linguistic nuances. Tales often describe the creature using an attractive human appearance to deceive men.
In many stories, the jorogumo spins webs, plays musical instruments, or lives near waterfalls and caves. Once a victim is lured close, the spider reveals its supernatural nature and may bind or consume him. The imagery combines fear of predatory spiders with cautionary stories about seduction and deception.
Jorogumo should not be confused with bakeneko, a supernatural cat, or nure-onna, a snake-like female yōkai associated with water. Japanese folklore frequently gives animals magical transformations, but each creature has its own traditional motifs and regional versions.