Mizuki Shigeru Road Yokai Walk Course in Sakaiminato

Sakaiminato is the hometown of Shigeru Mizuki, creator of GeGeGe no Kitaro. From the moment you step off the train, yokai spirits welcome you. This course is a relaxed stroll down a street that delights both adults and children.

Course Route

10:00 Start at JR Sakaiminato Station Statues of Kitaro and Shigeru Mizuki greet you at the station front. Pick up a guide map at the tourist office before setting off. Luggage storage and rental bicycles are available too, so you can start exploring unencumbered.

10:15 Walk Mizuki Shigeru Road The roughly 800 meter street is lined with 178 yokai bronze statues. Hunt for each one and enjoy taking photos along the way. Familiar characters such as Medama Oyaji and Nezumi Otoko appear one after another.

11:00 Try the yokai stamp rally Collect stamps as you walk with a guidebook in hand, and you will explore every corner of the street. Do not miss the smaller sights along the way, such as the Yokai Shrine and the Kappa Spring.

11:45 Visit the Mizuki Shigeru Memorial Museum At the end of the road, the museum lets you savor Mizukis world and the stories of the yokai. Admission is about 1,000 yen for adults, 500 yen for junior high and high school students, and 300 yen for elementary students.

12:30 Course ends with a seafood lunch Sakaiminato is a busy fishing port, so finish with a plate of fresh seafood. At the nearby Sakaiminato seafood market you can taste freshly landed fish and shellfish.

Highlights

Born in 1993, Mizuki Shigeru Road is a yokai lined street running from Sakaiminato Station to the memorial museum. Bronze statues of familiar characters such as Medama Oyaji and Nezumi Otoko stand in a long row. The statues have kept growing little by little and now number 178. After sunset, an evening display projects yokai as shadow figures onto the street.

Practical Travel Notes

Time needed Strolling the road and visiting the museum takes about two to three hours at a relaxed pace. With the stamp rally and photos, you can spend close to half a day. Add a seafood lunch and it makes a full and satisfying morning.

Getting there The entrance to Mizuki Shigeru Road is right outside JR Sakaiminato Station. From Yonago Station you can reach Sakaiminato Station without transfers on the JR Sakai Line. The line runs trains wrapped with Kitaro and other characters, so the ride itself is part of the fun. By car, head north on Route 431 from the Yonago interchange on the Yonago Expressway.

Getting around The street is flat and easy to walk even with a stroller, and the many cafes and souvenir shops make it easy to take breaks. As the road is a single straight route there is no worry of getting lost, and walking from the station to the museum, then stopping at shops on the way back, flows smoothly.

Crowds and budget Weekends and holidays are lively with families, so weekday mornings are best for a quieter walk. The stroll itself is free, so costs center on the museum admission, the stamp rally guidebook, and food and souvenirs.

A Quick Tip

The charm of the road is how its mood changes between day and night. If time allows, stay to enjoy the dreamlike evening illumination. There is a wide variety of yokai themed buns and goods, so souvenir hunting is another pleasure of this street.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Opening hours (Mizuki Shigeru Memorial Museum): 9:30-18:00 (last entry 17:30). Same-day tickets are sold at the first-floor reception until the last entry time, and online tickets are also available
• Closed: Open year-round
• Parking: There are three municipal pay-by-the-hour car parks run by Sakaiminato City (116 spaces in front of Sakaiminato Station, 58 spaces in Taisho-machi, and 87 spaces at Hinode near the Mizuki Shigeru Memorial Museum, each including 2 barrier-free spaces). The rates are the same at all three: 100 yen for up to 30 minutes from entry, 200 yen for up to 1 hour, 300 yen for up to 2 hours, 400 yen for up to 3 hours, 500 yen for up to 4 hours and 600 yen for 4 to 24 hours
• Inquiries: 0859-42-2171 (Mizuki Shigeru Memorial Museum)
• Official information: Official website of the Mizuki Shigeru Memorial Museum (visitor information) / official Sakaiminato City website, "Guide to municipal car parks"

* The above is a guide based on information published by each facility and local government. Hours and fees may change, so please check official information before you set out.