Shirakawa-go (Historic Village) | Review by Eddie

Encountering Yokai: A Fantastic Journey in Sakaiminato, Tottori

On a sunny afternoon, I set foot in this mysterious place. As I walked out of the station, instead of bustling crowds, I was greeted by a huge, vibrant mural on the wall—Kitaro and his yokai friends were smiling as they welcomed every visitor. This building is the Minato Sakai Exchange Center, and the colorful artwork on its exterior perfectly foreshadowed the theme of this journey: a city where yokai and humans coexist.

As I strolled along the famous Mizuki Shigeru Road, I saw adorable, intricately crafted bronze yokai statues every few steps. I stopped at a small plaza. It was filled with what looked like ordinary rocks, but upon closer inspection, each one had a lifelike yokai statue sitting on it. Some winked playfully, while others sat quietly in thought, as if ready to tell visitors ancient legends at any moment. Set against the green trees, these bronze statues looked even more distinctive, adding a touch of fantasy to the peaceful afternoon.

This journey left a deep impression on me: in Sakaiminato, Tottori, yokai are no longer frightening beings, but cultural icons that have become part of everyday life, bringing people joy and creativity. If you also enjoy adventure and fantasy, why not come here yourself and experience an unforgettable journey filled with surprises, walking alongside yokai!

Nara Park is much bigger than I imagined, and once you enter, you can see deer everywhere. Some walk slowly along the roadside, some lie on the grass to rest, and others stand right next to visitors, as if they're already used to everyone coming to see them. The park has many tall trees and green lawns, along with old buildings and stone lanterns. It's very pleasant to walk around, and the whole atmosphere is relaxing.

When you visit Nara Park, you have to buy deer crackers to feed the deer. It's practically become a must-do activity. When you first get the crackers, you may think the deer are cute and gentle, but as soon as they notice you have food, they'll immediately come over. Some keep staring at you, while others may follow you, nudge you with their heads, or bite your clothes to hurry you into handing over the crackers.

Be a little careful when feeding them, because more and more deer may gather nearby, and before you know it, you can be surrounded. Although it can be startling when a deer suddenly approaches, it's still fun to watch them eat. When you're done, open your hands to show them there's no food left, and they'll usually slowly walk away.

Besides feeding the deer, it's also pleasant to stroll through the park and enjoy the scenery. Overall, Nara Park is a great place to explore at a leisurely pace, and it also lets you experience Nara's distinctive history and culture.

On this trip to Osaka, I also planned a visit to Kuromon Market. I came in the morning to look around, and the whole market was livelier than I expected. Along the way, there were lots of seafood, fruit, meat, and prepared foods. There were so many choices, and just walking around and looking at everything was interesting.

What I liked most was that many vendors prepared the ingredients right there, so you could eat them immediately after buying them, which was very convenient for tourists. The seafood also looked very fresh, but some prices really weren't cheap, so it's better to compare a little before buying.

Kuromon Market isn't the kind of place where you can slowly spend an entire day, but it's easy to include in an Osaka city itinerary. You can spend an hour or two eating something and buying some fruit, then continue shopping around nearby Nipponbashi and Namba. Overall, it's a place worth stopping by while you're in Osaka.