The daytime streets of Sakaiminato are bright and lively.
Bronze yokai statues line Mizuki Shigeru Road.
Souvenir shops display playful eyeball-shaped sweets.
At the harbor, fresh crab and oysters from the Sea of Japan await.
But as evening falls,
the town begins to change.
The shops close.
The crowds disappear.
Shadows of yokai quietly emerge beneath the streetlights.
If you stay overnight,
you’ll discover a completely different Sakaiminato.
This guide introduces two very different places to spend the night in the town of yokai.
Contents
- Staying Overnight in the Yokai Town
- Onyado Nono Sakaiminato — Returning to the Yokai After Dark
- A Night Beside Sakaiminato Station
- Stepping Back into the Night After the Hot Spring
- A Morning of Seafood by the Harbor
- Kaigyokutei Megumi — A Quiet Retreat on Mizuki Shigeru Road
- Staying in the Heart of the Yokai Town
- A Place for a Special Evening
- Beyond Sakaiminato — Toward Mihonoseki
- Stay Overnight in Sakaiminato
Staying Overnight in the Yokai Town
Before visiting Sakaiminato,
I assumed Mizuki Shigeru Road was simply a place to visit during the day.
But after walking along the harbor at sunset
and returning to the road after dark,
the atmosphere felt completely different.
Dark alleyways.
Yokai shadows appearing beneath your feet.
Cats wandering through the quiet shopping street.
And finally,
Sakaiminato Station,
where the yokai seemed to gather as if the town had become their own.
Only after staying into the evening did I realize
that Sakaiminato is a town best experienced overnight.
Read more in:
→ Mizuki Shigeru Road — From Daylight to Night
Onyado Nono Sakaiminato — Returning to the Yokai After Dark
Just beside Sakaiminato Station stands
Onyado Nono Sakaiminato.
Outside the station,
Medama Oyaji street lamps quietly glow.
Bronze yokai stand beneath them,
while Kitaro and his friends seem almost ready to begin another adventure.
When the daytime visitors have gone home,
it feels as though the town belongs to the yokai once again.
Onyado Nono places you right beside that nighttime world.
A Night Beside Sakaiminato Station
Outside the station,
Shigeru Mizuki continues drawing,
with Kitaro and Nezumi Otoko beside him.
At night,
the bronze statues almost seem alive.
Inside the hotel,
the natural hot spring Yunagi no Yu offers a peaceful place to relax after walking through the town.
Yet after soaking in the bath,
you may find yourself wanting to step outside once more.
The quiet streets are waiting.
Stepping Back into the Night After the Hot Spring
Near the hotel is the small Yokai Footbath.
Walk once more beneath the cool evening air.
Past the station.
Past the glowing Medama Oyaji lamps.
Back toward Mizuki Shigeru Road.
This second walk often becomes the most memorable part of staying overnight.
A Morning of Seafood by the Harbor
Morning brings another side of Sakaiminato.
At Onyado Nono,
guests can enjoy a breakfast featuring a build-your-own seafood bowl topped with fresh local seafood.
After spending the previous evening with the yokai,
the morning returns you to the harbor.
It is a wonderfully Sakaiminato way to begin another day.
Kaigyokutei Megumi — A Quiet Retreat on Mizuki Shigeru Road
While walking along Mizuki Shigeru Road,
one building quietly caught my attention.
Gray walls.
A white noren curtain.
A straight pathway leading inward.
Beyond it lies
Kaigyokutei Megumi.
Note: Depending on the booking site, this property may appear under a different Romanized name. On Agoda, it may be listed as Minayutei Kei, while the official name is Kaigyokutei Megumi (皆玉邸 恵).
Unlike the lively streets outside,
this small luxury retreat feels calm and secluded.
Each of its four villas offers more than 100 square meters of space,
complete with a private open-air bath.
It is a striking contrast—
a peaceful sanctuary hidden within the town of yokai.
Staying in the Heart of the Yokai Town
Spend the day searching for bronze yokai.
Watch the harbor glow at sunset.
Return to Mizuki Shigeru Road after dark,
when the streets become quieter
and the shadows seem to come alive.
Then,
walk back to your room,
still carrying the memories of the evening.
Few places in Japan allow you to experience such a gentle transition from lively streets to peaceful silence.
A Place for a Special Evening
Each villa at Kaigyokutei Megumi has its own unique character,
with spacious interiors,
private baths,
and a peaceful atmosphere.
Anniversaries.
Birthdays.
Or simply a journey that deserves a slower pace.
The room itself is only part of the experience.
The cool sea breeze.
The quiet harbor.
The Medama Oyaji lamps.
The shadows of the yokai.
Together,
they become memories that stay with you long after the journey ends.
Beyond Sakaiminato — Toward Mihonoseki
Across the water lies the Shimane Peninsula.
Cross the bridge,
and your journey continues toward Mihonoseki,
home to Miho Shrine,
Aoishidatami Street,
and one of Japan’s oldest fishing ports.
Or return through the Path of Gods and Buddhas beside Lake Nakaumi,
where quiet waters connect Sakaiminato with Matsue.
Sakaiminato is not simply a town of yokai.
It is also a gateway
to myths,
harbors,
and the tranquil landscapes of San’in.
Continue Exploring
- Mihonoseki — A Cape Town of Myth and the Sea
- Miho Shrine and Aoishidatami Street
- The Path of Gods and Buddhas
Stay Overnight in Sakaiminato
During the day,
people come searching for yokai.
At sunset,
the harbor grows quiet.
At night,
the streets belong to shadows,
and the station seems to welcome the yokai home.
Had I returned before evening,
I would never have discovered this side of Sakaiminato.
If you visit,
stay a little longer.
You may find yourself walking through a town where the stories continue long after the sun has gone down.
Sakaiminato is more than a fishing port and the home of GeGeGe no Kitaro.
It is also one of western Japan’s important cruise ports, welcoming international cruise ships that connect San’in with the wider world.
