© MIZUKI Productions
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Meet yokai monsters day and night! 177 yokai bronze statues will be waiting for you along the road from Sakaiminato Station to Mizuki Shigeru Museum.
Mizuki Shigeru Road was established in 1993. The 800-meter-long street from Sakaiminato Station to the Mizuki Shigeru Museum is lined with 177 bronze yokai sculptures. Meet the most famous characters from Mizuki’s manga, such as Kitaro, Medama-Oyaji, and Nezumi-Otoko; yokai that live in the forest - Korpokkur and Sunakake-Babaa, etc.; the religious and spiritually powered yokai -ZashikiWarashi and BimboGami etc.; yokai that hide in familiar places - Azukiarai and Ittan-Momen; yokai that live in houses - Kasabake and Makuragaeshi. They all fit in well with Sakaeminato’s old Showa-era townscape.
While searching out the yokai statues, there are more sites you should stop by. There is the popular spiritual site, Yokai Shrine, and an intriguing pond in a square called Kappa-spring where nine yokai hang out. And for even more fun, visit the many souvenir stores and restaurants.
Mizuki Shigeru Road has a unique atmosphere, but at night the mood changes completely. After sunset, shadow puppets of yokai are projected onto the pavement and the roadside bronze statues of yokai are softly lit up, creating a mysterious and dreamy atmosphere. The lights are kept on until 10 p.m. Experience the fascinating world of yokai along a street transformed from the daylight.
Kitaro and Medama-Oyaji in GeGeGe no Kitaro © MIZUKI Productions
The human size Nezumi-Otoko statue © MIZUKI Productions
Mizuki Shigeru in his studio © MIZUKI Productions
A bronze statue of Mizuki Shigeru and his wife © MIZUKI Productions
Betobeto-san, a yokai that follows people at night © MIZUKI Productions
Mizuki Shigeru Road at night! © MIZUKI Productions
Some reviews are AI-translated.
Encountering Yokai: A Fantastic Journey in Sakaiminato, Tottori
On a sunny afternoon, I set foot in this mysterious place. As I walked out of the station, instead of bustling crowds, I was greeted by a huge, vibrant mural on the wall—Kitaro and his yokai friends were smiling as they welcomed every visitor. This building is the Minato Sakai Exchange Center, and the colorful artwork on its exterior perfectly foreshadowed the theme of this journey: a city where yokai and humans coexist.
As I strolled along the famous Mizuki Shigeru Road, I saw adorable, intricately crafted bronze yokai statues every few steps. I stopped at a small plaza. It was filled with what looked like ordinary rocks, but upon closer inspection, each one had a lifelike yokai statue sitting on it. Some winked playfully, while others sat quietly in thought, as if ready to tell visitors ancient legends at any moment. Set against the green trees, these bronze statues looked even more distinctive, adding a touch of fantasy to the peaceful afternoon.
This journey left a deep impression on me: in Sakaiminato, Tottori, yokai are no longer frightening beings, but cultural icons that have become part of everyday life, bringing people joy and creativity. If you also enjoy adventure and fantasy, why not come here yourself and experience an unforgettable journey filled with surprises, walking alongside yokai!
While traveling in Sakaiminato, Tottori, I made a special pilgrimage to Mizuki Shigeru Road, an absolute must for manga fans! The moment I stepped onto this fantastical street, I felt like I had fallen straight into the yokai world created by Shigeru Mizuki. The many bronze yokai statues lining both sides of the street are incredible. From Kitaro and Medama-Oyaji to Nezumi-Otoko, every character is so vivid and detailed that I couldn't stop taking pictures along the way.
Besides searching for all the hidden yokai sculptures, the souvenir shops lining the street are also a lot of fun to browse. They're packed with all kinds of exclusive Kitaro merchandise and character-shaped treats, all so cute that you'll want to take one of everything home. The street has a very relaxed, laid-back atmosphere, and even the creatively designed streetlights and mailboxes are full of surprises. I highly recommend adding Mizuki Shigeru Road to your itinerary when visiting the San'in region. Both adults and kids can have a great time here!
The street is packed with Kitaro elements, along with all kinds of cookies and souvenirs to choose from. We also happened to run into the Yamada mascot.
Mizuki Shigeru Road at night feels even more ghostly~~~~ The colors are intentionally eerie, but it’s actually a lot of fun!
People who scare easily might really get startled! The creative lighting along the street kept making us smile, and we were constantly wondering what fun thing would appear next. If you happen to be staying near the station, come take a walk at night and experience it for yourself!
I seriously absolutely love this street.
I kept taking pictures the whole way. I originally wasn’t planning to stay that long, but I ended up spending the entire afternoon here. It was so awesome.
There are so many works here? I guess that’s how I should put it?
This is where I have to talk about the iPhone for a second.
The new feature lets you cut things out and turn them into stickers.
It works especially well with these.
Hahahaha I seriously love it.
And it has so much attitude, don’t you think?
There are sarcastic ones,
slapping ones,
funny goofy ones,
and tons of stunned-looking ones.
I could even use these pictures to tell stories hahaha.
I’m actually not very good with punctuation.
I’m not really sure how to split things into sentences and paragraphs.
