Kicked off the morning by burning time admiring the sculptures outside Yonago Station while I waited for the hourly train to Sakaiminato.

There are a lot of creative statues around Yonago Station as you walk to the cultural centre.

Sculpture Road was lined with them.

They didn't quite look as good once they're all illuminated like it's Christmas at night though...

Could do a bit of train watching at the station too where there's a passageway they dubbed, "Gaina Road". Pretty popular with the kids but since train networks are so big in Japan, it's probably a good thing they have new drivers covered by inspiring them.

For some reason there was a train with Detective Conan themed livery.

I've been seeing it a lot during this trip but I really only know the show, never watched it.

I thought I had ended up on the Kitaro train but it was linked up with the Nekomusume train too. Funny since she's supposed to be his love interest. No actual romance in the show although the modern seasons seem to include some form of flirting.

Nekomusume was in her original form, not the make over one of course.

I re-visited during the day because it was too hard to see at night. Not to mention I was rushed with less than an hour before the last train.

Couldn't see the Yonago Airport during the night but now you could. The faster option if you don't want to spend over 6 hours on trains from Tokyo.

It was a lot more busy during the day… During the night, the train you can have your own double seat but hardly chance of that during the day. It’s still quite easy to take clean photos, no long queues unlike mainstream tourist spots.

You still hear the modern day voice actors doing the station announcements while aboard. Thought they’ll keep the voices for night time since they try to sound over-exaggerated creepy like when you’re telling a creepy story.

Before kicking off the tour, you can buy a stamp rally book at the tourist office right next to the station for 600 yen if you’re interested.

If you’re going during May it’s also really hot. When I went it was 32C… The sun’s been blazing hot on the skin. Again, I felt like I was just moving from shadow to shadow while natives wore wide brimmed hats or brought UV umbrellas.

Much easier to admire the detailed statues during the day. Every member of Kitaro's gang got their own statue of course, not just the Yokai.

Nekomusume during the day in her Youkai fighting form.

Nurikabe ready to tank.

Kitaro and his gang are everywhere.

And a few of the more familiar Youkai including ones that gave Kitaro and his gang a tough time.

Rokurokubi and Snow Woman are fairly much depicted as beautiful ladies in stories but not with the statues around here.

Don’t just look at them though. Look down for the decorate drain lids too. I think they just repeat the character portraits though.

Be sure to have cash ready because most places only take cash including the vending machines. There are no chain conbinis to save you.

Bought a powdered Daisen Matcha ice-cream that got some promoting on Japanese TV. It can make people choke when the powder's accidentally inhaled and it was already melting away as soon as I got it.

Some of the powder ended up on my white t-shirt because of the wind so that wasn’t too pretty.

Stamps to look out for if you're doing the stamp rally.

Didn’t spend much time at this Youkai Shrine the night before. Medama Oyaji's eye was rollable.

Kappa Springs looking better during the day too.

I thought this statue of statue of Akuma-kun with his assisting demon Mephisto was a sundial but doesn't seem to be so.

Even the railings get a bit of an artist's touch. They only have two different designs though I think.

Tottori Police Station was one of the stamp rally stops interestingly enough.

Really was a lovely day aside from the blazing sun. No problem shooting photos in this light.

If you're lucky, you might catch sight of a Kitaro themed ship at the port near the station too.

Check out this Mitsubishi battery vending machine. Must be vintage!

During the first tour along Shigeru Road, I somehow missed the Shigeru Memorial Museum. Turns out I turned back too early when I reached the clocks so I decided to make my way back…

Chimneys usually mean there's a public bath to soak in the area.

I like how they don't just decorate manhole covers but theme the toilet signs too in Japan.

It's great to see a place dedicated to Gegege no Kitaro but, there's too many stores selling the same things...

It’s 1000 yen entry and you see a gallery presentation of the late Shigeru’s autobiography; how he fought in his 20s and survived the Pacific War during WWII before becoming a Manga artist.

I didn’t know he had one of his hands amputated during the war… Photographers did well to not show it in photos.

He thinks he met Nurikabe while he was taking refuge on an island. One night, a giant wall and had no way of moving it. The next morning, it was gone and he believes it may have been the Youkai that protected him from being discovered.

His Manga career kicked off with Terebi-kun in 1965, first Kitaro Anime in 1968 black and white.

There was a room filled with Youkai statues which was kind of like viewing all the metal statues in colour. They reminded me of the original tea house in Chofu but there were a lot more of them this time round.

I think this alone is worth the entry fee.

There are a lot more Yokai to see here than in Chofu but maybe not quite worth the long distance trip just to see the statues and the museum alone.

A room was dedicated to quotes by Shigeru Mizuki with English such as "Sleep is the key to happiness".

Perhaps one of the best was, "Those who praise war are people who haven't been to the battlefield."

At the back of the museum was a post box where mail is given a special stamp. I'm guessing it's local post only.

Thought I’d explore more of Yonago when I got back. I was planning to visit the castle ruins and followed the Sculpture Road.

This structure housed a public toilet. Pretty interesting shape, eh?

Unfortunately, the closer I got along the river, the more flies there were. Whole swarming clouds of them.

Yes, all those specks you see on the right here aren't because of a dirty lens!

You’d probably have a mouthful of them if you opened up your mouth so I decided to abandon the trip. Maybe the locals are more accustomed to them but I wasn't really up on catching something when I was travelling solo in foreign country.

Shame because it looked like it would have been a nice walk. Maybe another time. It was a great sunset though.

Wasn't a long stay in Yonago but quite enjoyed being away from the hustle and bustle of the major cities.

Yet still have the comfort of familiar chain stores and venues.

Another night at the nearby Gusto with Bellabot. Japanese dishes seem to be lacking in vegetables for some reason.