Yonago
Yonago (米子市 Yonago-shi) is a city in Tottori Prefecture of Chugoku (western Honshu island).
Get in
By plane
- 1 Miho-Yonago Airport (YGJ IATA) (Straddles the border of Yonago and Sakaiminato, about 15 km from central Yonago. Airport buses (¥590) and trains connect to the city center.). It is served by flights from Tokyo Haneda, Seoul Incheon and Hong Kong. Some people call this airport Yonago-Kitarō Airport, after the manga character created by the late Shigeru Mizuki.
- Izumo Airport (出雲空港 IZO IATA), Izumo (50km away, at the other end of Lake Shinji.). A slightly distant but useful airport with flights to Haneda, Osaka-Itami, Nagoya-Komaki, Fukuoka, and Oki. By car, it is about 45 minutes along the San'in Expressway; by public transport it is 30 minutes and ¥1030 on the bus to JR Matsue Station, and then 40 minutes and ¥500 by local train (25 minutes and ¥1970 by Limited Express) to Yonago.
By train
Yonago Station is a stop on the San'in Main Line and the larger Hakubi Line.
The Limited Express Yakumo connects Yonago to Niimi, Takahashi, Sōja, Kurashiki, and Okayama. Okayama is the nearest shinkansen stop.
Yonago is served by the Sunrise Izumo overnight train from Tokyo, which takes 9 hours. Japan Rail Pass holders can travel in the carpet spaces for free, but must pay a surcharge for a bunk or private room.
Yonago is also served by the Super Matsukaze and Super Oki Limited Express trains, which run along the San'in Main Line. Heading east, they go to Kurayoshi and Tottori, reaching the latter in about an hour at ¥3,560. Heading west, they go to Matsue, Izumo, Ōda, and eventually Shin-Yamaguchi.
The Rapid Tottori Liner runs on the San'in Line to Tottori in 1 hr 40 min at ¥1660, and the Aqua Liner reaches Masuda in 4 hours at ¥3,350. Local trains are sufficient for travel to Matsue (40 min, ¥500) and Izumoshi (1 hr 30 min, ¥1,140).
As an alternative to the JR Pass, JR West sells two regional rail passes covering Yonago, which are available to temporary visitors with foreign passports.
- San'in-Okayama Pass. Covers services to Okayama, a large stretch of the San'in Main Line from Hamasaka to Hagi, and a few rural lines in the mountains. It can be used on local and rapid trains and the non-reserved seats of Limited Express trains. 4 days. ¥4,500 if purchased abroad, ¥5,000 if purchased in Japan.
- San'yō-San'in Pass. Covers a vast area, stretching from Kansai's Urban Network to Takamatsu, Miyajima (via the JR ferry), and Hakata, and including the entire San'yō Shinkansen. It is valid on local and rapid trains and both reserved and non-reserved seats of Limited Express and Shinkansen trains, including Nozomi and Mizuho. 7 days ¥19,000 if purchased abroad, ¥20,000 if purchased in Japan.
By bus
Yonago Station is served by a large number of highway buses.
- Camel (Yonago Line). This night bus connects with Hamamatsuchō and Shinagawa Bus Terminals in Tokyo. 10 hrs 20 min. Confusingly, the night bus to Tottori and Kurayoshi is also called the Camel. ¥11,500.
- Willer Express Bus. An overnight bus that connects with Shinjuku.
- Izumo-Matsue-Yonago-Dream-Nagoya-Gō. Operated by Chūgoku JR Bus. Service connecting with Nagoya Station's Shinkansen Exit and the Iwatsuka Subway Station. 8 hr 20 min. Arrives at Yonago Station at 05:50. ¥8,350 one way, ¥15,100 return.
- Momotarō Express. Runs nine times a day from Okayama. 2 hr 30 min. ¥3,100 one way, ¥5,700 round trip.
- Merry Bird (Yonago Line). Runs seven times a day from Hiroshima Station Shinkansen Exit, Hiroshima Bus Center, and Ōzuka Station. 3 hr 30 min. Confusingly, another Merry Bird runs on the Tottori Line. ¥3,900 one way, ¥7,000 round trip.
- Ōkuninushi. Runs four times a day to Tottori (2 hrs) and Matsue (35 min). Tottori ¥1,500, Matsue ¥800.
- Daisen. Runs overnight to Kitakyūshū and Fukuoka (Hakata and Tenjin). 8 hr 30 min. ¥8,200 one way, ¥14,700 round trip.
- Nihon Kōtsū. This company runs many routes within Kansai. See the website for information if you're headed to Kyoto, Osaka, or Kobe.
Get around
See
- 1 Kanda Shrine (勝田神社), 2-10 Bakurōmachi (15-minute walk from Yonago Station, or 2 minutes from Bakurōmachi Station on the JR Sakai Line).
- 2 Minatoyama Park (湊山公園) (20-minute walk from Yonago Station).
- Sea of Japan.
- 3 Yonago Castle (米子城) (20-minute walk from Yonago Station).
- 4 Yonago Museum of Art (米子市美術館), 12 Nakamachi (15-minute walk from Yonago Station, next to the Library and across from the City Hall), ☏ +81 85-934-2424. 10:00-18:00, closed Wednesdays. ¥320.
- 5 Fukadashi Garden (深田氏庭園).
- Kaike Beach (20 minutes by bus from stop 3 of Yonago Station).
Do
Visit the wonderfully relaxing indoor and outdoor onsens (natural hot springs) at Kaike Beach. Don't be afraid to get naked!
Participate in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Find yourself a beautiful second-hand kimono and attend a kimono-wearing lesson. Take a drive to nearby city Sakaiminato for some amazing views of the ocean and some deliciously fresh seafood. Take the trek up to Mt. Daisen. Do some hiking in the summer or some skiing in the winter. Visit some shrines and temples.
Buy
Eat
There are many chain stores and local shops with Japanese and international food.
Drink
Asahimachi is Yonago's small but busy entertainment district. Sing your heart out at karaoke.
- 1 Jealousy, 42 Asashimachi, ☏ +81 705-053-4709. 21:00-05:00 daily. Cozy karaoke bar. All-you-can-drink ¥1,000/2,000 for women/men.
Sleep
- 1 Kaike Tsuruya (皆生つるや), 2-5-1 Kaikeonsen (20 minutes by Kaike Line bus from Yonago St.), ☏ +81 859-22-6181. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 10:00. A traditional, Japanese-style hot-spring hotel. From the 9-floor East Building guests can enjoy some wonderful views of Daisen, while the 6-floor South building looks out on a serene and tranquil courtyard.
Go next
| Routes through Yonago |
| Matsue ← Yasugi ← | W  E |
→ Daisen → Tottori |