Located on Mizuki Shigeru Road in Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture, Yokai Shrine is a unique place of worship inspired by the supernatural creatures known as yokai in Japanese folklore. The shrine celebrates the imaginative world of GeGeGe no Kitaro, the famous manga created by Shigeru Mizuki, and offers visitors a playful twist on traditional Japanese spirituality.
Rather than simply praying to the gods, visitors can turn to the yokai for a little supernatural assistance. The shrine is associated with a variety of blessings, including success in examinations, the fulfillment of wishes, family safety, protection from misfortune, and good luck. Surrounded by the 177 bronze yokai statues lining Mizuki Shigeru Road, it is an ideal stop for anyone interested in Japanese pop culture, folklore, and unusual sightseeing experiences.
The shrine’s principal sacred object is a block of black granite approximately 3 meters tall, equivalent to about 10 Japanese shaku. Another sacred object is a Japanese zelkova tree believed to be around 300 years old. Together, they give the shrine a distinctive connection to both the natural world and the supernatural beings of Japanese tradition.
The shrine was officially dedicated in a ceremony held at midnight on January 1, 2000, marking the beginning of the new millennium. A completion ceremony had taken place on New Year’s Eve in 1999, attracting a large gathering of visitors. Shigeru Mizuki himself visited the shrine and performed a ritual to consecrate its principal sacred object, symbolically infusing it with spiritual power.
The shrine is also intended to protect and nurture an environment in which yokai can thrive, celebrating the imaginative folklore that has become an important part of Sakaiminato’s identity.
One of the shrine’s most distinctive features is its torii gate, inspired by Ittan Momen, a long, floating strip of cloth that appears as a yokai in GeGeGe no Kitaro. This imaginative design gives the entrance a character rarely found at conventional Japanese shrines.
Nearby, the purification fountain features Medama-Oyaji, the famous eyeball-headed character from the manga. These playful details make Yokai Shrine a memorable attraction for manga fans and families, while still incorporating familiar elements of Japanese shrine culture.
The shrine’s purification fountain is designed around Medama-Oyaji relaxing in his signature teacup bath. Made from granite, the structure stands approximately 1.9 meters tall and is one of the site’s most eye-catching features.
Inside the oversized teacup floats a spherical object decorated with an eyeball motif. Measuring 38 centimeters in diameter and weighing approximately 70 kilograms, the sphere slowly rotates under the force of flowing water. Visitors can touch it to change its rotation, while water flowing beside the structure can be used to purify their hands in the traditional manner before prayer.
The artwork’s name was chosen by Shigeru Mizuki himself, adding a personal connection to the creator of the yokai characters celebrated throughout the shrine.
One of Yokai Shrine’s most entertaining attractions is its mechanical fortune-telling machine featuring characters from GeGeGe no Kitaro. Housed in a box-shaped structure approximately 1.5 meters tall and designed to resemble a traditional wooden shrine, the machine delivers fortunes with the help of animated yokai figures.
After inserting two 100-yen coins, visitors receive a capsule containing a fortune, along with a good-luck sticker. A character from the Kitaro family, such as Kitaro or Neko Musume, appears to deliver the fortune with a bow or a purification gesture. Which character will appear is part of the fun, making this an amusing souvenir experience even if the fortune is less than favorable.
The shrine offers distinctive versions of ema, the wooden plaques traditionally used to write and dedicate wishes. Rather than ordinary rectangular plaques, these feature shapes inspired by yokai characters such as Medama-Oyaji and Ittan Momen. The wishes associated with the different designs vary, allowing visitors to choose one that suits their hopes.
Fortune slips, known as omikuji, also come with a supernatural twist. The shrine’s mechanical yokai bow and present the fortunes, adding a playful performance to a familiar Japanese custom. This combination of traditional prayer and manga-inspired entertainment makes the shrine especially enjoyable for visitors of all ages.
Yokai Shrine’s good-luck charms feature bags made from Yumihama Kasuri, a traditional textile associated with the Sakaiminato region. Inside are charms decorated with familiar characters, including Medama-Oyaji and Nezumi-Otoko.
According to the shrine’s traditions, Medama-Oyaji is associated with prayers for family safety, while Nezumi-Otoko is linked with wishes for financial good fortune. These character-themed charms combine regional craftsmanship with the distinctive world of Shigeru Mizuki’s yokai.
Yokai Shrine is part of the wider Mizuki Shigeru Road experience, where 177 bronze statues bring the characters and creatures of Japanese supernatural folklore into the streets of Sakaiminato. Visitors can enjoy a leisurely walk while discovering familiar manga figures and lesser-known yokai from traditional stories.
The shrine attracts tourists and notable visitors alike, and it has even hosted wedding ceremonies. Special illuminations are also held on occasion, giving the area a different atmosphere after dark.
With its giant sacred stone, rotating eyeball fountain, imaginative fortune-telling machine, and character-themed charms, Yokai Shrine offers a lighthearted way to encounter Japanese folklore. Whether you are a fan of GeGeGe no Kitaro or simply curious about the country’s mythical creatures, this unusual shrine is a memorable highlight of a visit to Sakaiminato.
9:00-17:00
Train: 5 min. walk from JR Sakaiminato Stn.
Car: 40 min. from Yonago IC on Yonago Expressway