Yonago Station may seem like an ordinary railway station, but it is one of the most fascinating gateways in the San’in region.
From here, your journey can lead toward:
- Mount Daisen
- Sakaiminato
- Matsue
- Izumo
Mountains, the sea, and tranquil lakes all spread out from this single station.
Yonago is a quiet crossroads where many different stories begin.
Exploring San’in from Yonago Station
If you’re planning to visit Mount Daisen, Sakaiminato, Kaike Onsen, or eastern Tottori, renting a car can be one of the easiest ways to travel.
While trains and buses are convenient, having your own car allows you to stop wherever you like—especially when exploring Mount Daisen, the Sea of Japan coastline, or the rural landscapes of Tottori.
Contents
- Morning at Yonago Station
- Toward Mount Daisen
- The Sakaiminato Line and the Kitaro Trains
- Sakaiminato — A Harbor Town
- Evening Around Yonago Station
- East Toward Tottori
- Where the Stories of San’in Begin
Morning at Yonago Station
Sunrise Izumo arriving at Yonago Station
The Sunrise Izumo overnight sleeper train connects Tokyo with Japan’s San’in region.
Every morning, an orange-colored train quietly glides into Yonago Station.
It is the Sunrise Izumo, Japan’s last regularly scheduled overnight sleeper train.
After traveling through the night from Tokyo, it brings travelers gently into San’in.
Yonago Station is where many journeys begin—or continue.
From here, the road leads toward mountains, lakes, and the sea.
This is where San’in quietly opens before you.
More Stories
- The Gateway to San’in — Sunrise Izumo and the Hakubi Line
- Water’s Memory — Discovering the Hakubi Line
Toward Mount Daisen
Snow-covered Mount Daisen seen from Yonago
On clear days, Mount Daisen rises beautifully above the city.
About 50 minutes by car or bus from Yonago Station brings you to the foot of Mount Daisen, where panoramic views stretch across Yonago City and the Sea of Japan.
Often called the “Mt. Fuji of Hoki,” Mount Daisen is one of the symbols of the San’in region.
More Stories
The Sakaiminato Line and the Kitaro Trains
The Sakaiminato Line is famous for its six themed trains featuring characters from GeGeGe no Kitaro.
Platform 0 at Yonago Station
Walk downstairs and you’ll find a sign pointing toward Platform 0.
It almost feels as though you’re being invited into the world of yokai.
More Stories
→ Mizuki Shigeru Road — From Daylight to Night
Cat-themed decoration on the platform
Look to your left and you’ll find the playful “Yonya-go Station” sign.
Kitaro-themed station stairs
Even the station stairs celebrate the world of GeGeGe no Kitaro.
Platform 0 welcomes visitors with Medama Oyaji, while Nezumi Otoko appears on the stairs.
In the world of GeGeGe no Kitaro, Yonago is known as Nezumi Otoko Station.
Sunakake Babaa Train
One of the six yokai-themed trains running toward Sakaiminato.
We were lucky enough to see the Sunakake Babaa Train.
Nezumi Otoko Train
Since the train begins its journey at Yonago Station, you can comfortably find a seat and relax as you travel toward Sakaiminato Station (Kitaro Station).
Continue Reading
→ Mizuki Shigeru Road — From Daylight to Night
Sakaiminato — A Harbor Town
At the end of the line lies Sakaiminato, a lively fishing port.
Here you can enjoy:
- Mizuki Shigeru Road
- Fresh seafood
- A traditional fishing harbor
Mizuki Shigeru Road becomes especially magical after sunset.
Beyond the famous yokai statues, the road continues toward peaceful fishing streets and scenic coastal landscapes.
Seafood bowl topped with snow crab and salmon roe
Fresh seafood from the Sea of Japan is one of Sakaiminato’s greatest pleasures.
More Stories
- Mizuki Shigeru Road — From Daylight to Night
Walk through Sakaiminato from daylight to night and discover how the town transforms after sunset into a quiet world of yokai. - Mihonoseki — A Cape Town of Myth and the Sea
- Mihokan — A Historic Ryokan by the Sea
Evening Around Yonago Station
As evening falls, the streets around Yonago Station begin to glow with the lights of izakaya, seafood restaurants, and local eateries.
Yonago is much more than simply a place to change trains.
Stepping outside the station and wandering the surrounding streets becomes part of the journey itself.
Restaurant street near Yonago Station
Many local restaurants and izakaya are within walking distance of the station.
From the nearby bus terminal, you can also travel to Kaike Onsen, a seaside hot spring famous for its naturally flowing thermal waters.
Yonago is a wonderful base from which to explore the coast.
More Stories
– Five Traditional Ryokan in Kaike Onsen
East Toward Tottori
The San’in Main Line continues east toward Tottori City.
If you’re lucky, you may even spot one of Tottori’s famous Detective Conan wrapped trains.
Detective Conan train at Yonago Station in winter
Tottori Prefecture is well known as the “Manga Kingdom.”
Alongside Shigeru Mizuki, Gosho Aoyama—the creator of Detective Conan—is one of Tottori’s most celebrated manga artists.
Kaito Kid and Conan artwork on the train
By riding this train, you can continue your journey toward:
- Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory in Hokuei
- Tottori City
- Hakuto Shrine
- The Tottori Sand Dunes
More Stories
- Memories of the Sea of Japan and Hakuto Shrine
- Misasa Onsen — One of the World’s Finest Radon Hot Springs
Where the Stories of San’in Begin
Yonago Station is where journeys branch toward
- the mountains,
- the lakes,
- and the sea.
Every direction leads to another story waiting to be discovered.
Continue Exploring
- Mizuki Shigeru Road — From Daylight to Night
- Stay Overnight in Sakaiminato
- Daisenji Temple and the Sacred Ley Line
- Kaike Onsen — Walking Through a Quiet Seaside Hot Spring Town
Yonago Station is a quiet but important hub in the San’in region of Japan.
From this station, your journey gently unfolds in different directions —
toward Matsue, Izumo, and the historic hot spring town of Tamatsukuri.
Rather than being a destination itself,
Yonago is a place where paths begin to branch into different stories.