Sakaiminato Mizuki Shigeru Road & Yonago Castle Ruins

Sakaiminato, a historic fishing port at the western tip of Tottori Prefecture, and Yonago Castle ruins together make a full but rewarding day trip, roughly 55 km west of Tottori City. The most economical public transport route runs the JR Limited Express Super Hakuto to Yonago Station (about 1 hr 30 min), followed by the JR Sakai Line — nicknamed the 'Kitaro Train' after Sakaiminato's most famous local export, manga artist Shigeru Mizuki — to Sakaiminato Station (about 45 minutes); stations along this branch line carry yokai-themed names such as 'Kitaro Station,' matching the bronze yokai statues that line the route. From Sakaiminato Station, the 800-meter Mizuki Shigeru Road runs to the Mizuki Shigeru Museum, lined with 177 bronze sculptures of yokai characters from Mizuki's GeGeGe no Kitaro manga, along with themed shops and cafes; the museum itself, a 14-minute walk from the station, covers Mizuki's life and work in more depth. Sakaiminato's working fishing port, one of Japan's largest by catch volume, also supports excellent fresh seafood restaurants near the harbor, worth timing for lunch. On the return leg through Yonago, a stop at Yonago Castle ruins is an easy add-on: reached by a roughly 15-minute walk from Yonago Station's Masugata entrance, or the Dandan Bus loop service, the ruins sit atop a hill with an easy 20-minute climb from the trailhead to stone foundations dating to the 1600s, opening onto a 360-degree panoramic view over Yonago city, Mount Daisen, and Lake Nakaumi. Because the full loop involves two train changes and a fair amount of walking, an early departure from Tottori is worthwhile to leave enough time at both stops before the last convenient return connection.