Can Tanjiro actually see the dead or is it just symbolic?

I was rewatching Demon Slayer and something hit me during the part when Tanjiro trains on Mount Sagiri. He clearly interacts with Sabito and Makomo, who were already dead. At first, I thought it was just a hallucination or some kind of dream sequence. But they literally teach him techniques and help him break the boulder.

Later, after some battles, he also seems to sense or interact with the spirits of others (like Rengoku’s spiritual message). So now I’m really confused — does Tanjiro actually have the ability to see the dead? Or is this just a narrative tool to show how the past helps guide him?

If this is a real ability, why doesn’t it show up more clearly or consistently? Or is it tied to his deep empathy and kindness, making him “feel” their presence instead of literally seeing ghosts?