A port town lined with bronze monsters
Sakaiminato, a fishing port in Tottori on the Sea of Japan, is the hometown of Shigeru Mizuki, the manga artist behind GeGeGe no Kitaro, who made yokai, the spirits and monsters of Japanese folklore, famous across Japan. A street of about 800 meters from the station is lined with about 180 small bronze yokai, and you spot them one by one on your way to his museum. It is about 45 minutes from Yonago on local trains painted with his characters, and about three and a half hours from Osaka in all, so it suits a night in the region.
About 180 bronze yokai stand along both sides of the street from Sakaiminato Station, from Kitaro himself to one-eyed goblins and a hopping umbrella, each small enough to crouch down beside for a photo. At night the statues are lit, and shadows of yokai are projected onto the pavement. Walking the street is free.
A museum near the end of the street about Mizuki's life and work, told through his original drawings and films, including his years as a soldier in World War II, when he lost his left arm. It was renewed in 2024.
A small shrine on the street dedicated to yokai. At the shop next door you can get ema, small wooden plaques for writing wishes, painted with yokai, and charms.
A shop near the museum selling sweets and snacks shaped like yokai. Pick up something to eat as you walk, or a box of sweets to take home.