[2][3] At night, usually during the summer, a group of people visits an ominous place such as a cemetery, haunted house, or secluded forest path to carry out specific missions there.
[8] In Ōkagami, a Japanese historical tale from the early 12th century, it is written that Emperor Kazan sent three of Fujiwara no Kaneie's sons to a house purportedly haunted by oni at 3 o'clock in the morning; only Fujiwara no Michinaga succeeded in visiting the house, returning with a sword-damaged wooden post as evidence.
This suggests that the idea of a "test of courage" had existed near the end of Japan's Heian period.
Kimodameshi may be overseen and carried out by school clubs or summer camps.
In such instances, some preparation may be involved, and others may assume the role of scaring the participants.