A San’in Road Trip From the Mountains and Onsen to the Sea ・ Part 5

▷ Read part 4 of this guide to San’in here!

The Sakaiminato Area

Mizuki Shigeru Road

Knowledgable anime fans might know that Tottori Prefecture is home to Detective Conan (AKA Case Closed), but the city of Sakaiminato is also the hometown of Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro author Mizuki Shigeru, and Mizuki Shigeru Road is a “yokai street” that stretches 800 meters east from Sakaiminato Station. The area includes fun yokai spots like the Yokai Shrine, the entertainment-focused Yokai Rakuen, and the Mizuki Shigeru Museum, too. Retro souvenir shops and coffee shops line both sides of the road, along with 177 yokai just waiting to say hi. You don’t have to be a Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro fanatic to enjoy this fun destination!

Mujara Handicrafts Center

Next to the Yokai Shrine along Mizuki Shigeru Road, Mujara Handicrafts Center acts like a shrine office, selling omamori charms and ema plaques, where you can write your dreams and wishes to be hung up outside at the shrine. But the shop also offers t-shirts, themed beer, snacks, and more great souvenir options for yokai lovers!

Mujara Handicrafts Center (手作り工芸館 むじゃら)
62–1 Taishomachi, Sakaiminato, Tottori
Hours: 9:00–18:00 (subject to seasonal changes)
Official Page (jp)

Katsukimaru

The city of Sakaiminato is sandwiched between the Nakaumi and the Sea of Japan, so fantastic seafood is a matter of course when you visit the city! Less than five minutes from the Mizuki Shigeru Museum, Katsukimaru serves up the seasonal flavors of the San’in coast in the form of colorful kaisendon (海鮮丼), fresh seafood rice bowls. Their famous lunch special is the teppei kaisendon, which includes a whole crab in its vibrant orange shell, and a luxurious selection of sliced sashimi to top it all off. This decadent meal is only 2,200 yen, making it a pretty sweet deal as well.

The restaurant has other tasty seafood options on the menu, and it’s not just the great food that has earned Katsukimaru plenty of local fans, but also the retro fishing village atmosphere. The old-fashioned tunes playing in the background add extra spice to this already delicious seafood spot.

Katsukimaru（旨いもん市場 海月丸）
16 Aioicho, Sakaiminato, Tottori
Hours: 11:00–14:00 (closed Wed)
*Only open for lunch, but may be able to accept dinner reservations.
Official Website (jp)

Yumeminato Tower & Park

Perched on the water on the east side of Sakaiminato, Yumeminato Tower is one big glass and steel observation deck with panoramic views of the Sea of Japan, and although this particular “tower” is actually not very tall (about 43m/141ft), the transparent walls offer a unique view of the sun and the blue sea stretching out in every direction. When the weather cooperates and visibility is good, visitors can see Mount Daisen, Miho Bay, all along the Shimane Peninsula, Yumigahama Beach, the Nakaumi, the streets of Yonago, and even the beaches of Kaike Onsen all at once. At the end of a trip through the heart of San’in, you can make your way up the tower and look back on all the places you’ve seen so far!

Inside Yumeminato Tower there’s also a cafe, a souvenir shop, and an exhibition area, and the building next door even has onsen facilities! Locals often take walks in Yumeminato Park or fish along the edge of the water, and benches along the paths offer great views of the San’in surroundings. (If you happen to visit during the winter, make sure you stay past sunset to see Yumeminato Tower lit up at night, too!)

Yumeminato Tower & Park (夢みなとタワー&公園)
255–3 Takenouchidanchi, Sakaiminato, Tottori
Hours:
◎Observation Deck/Exhibition Area (closed 2nd Wed of the month)
April ~ Sep 9:00–18:00｜Oct ~ March 9:00–17:00
*Final admission 30 min prior to closing.
◎Tower’s Cafe (closed Wed)
10:00–16:00 (last order 15:30)
Official Website (en)

A Land of Legends, Full of New Discoveries

For the Japankuru team, this was our third visit to the heart of the San’in region in recent years, and our third time exploring all of the sightseeing spots that make San’in special. San’in may be a region of ancient history, myths and legends, gods and magical creatures, and timeless natural beauty, but each visit has brought new delights to the surface, thanks to changes in season and new perspectives, along with quite a few new friendly faces.

In the end, isn’t that what travel is all about? We look forward to hearing about your visit to the region — we want to hear how your stories of San’in fit in with the stories of old!

Want to read more about the San’in region of Japan? Read our full guide on San’in (and much more about Japan) on Japankuru.com! You might also like our other guides to the area: San’in in 2020 | San’in in 2021