Published date: October 1, 2025
Recommended Accommodation for Budget-Conscious Road Trippers✨
Room Type Stayed
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Experience of the stay
It was my first time staying at Smile Hotel, which apparently used to be Sunroute Hotel Yonago, and the facilities were impressive for the price. The lounge just inside the entrance had a corner with magazines and comics, notably featuring a "Mappu" travel guide, which I appreciated. There was also a coffee machine, although it cost 100 yen, so I didn’t use it.
Next to the lounge, there was a business corner with simple partitions that seemed quite functional. We stayed in a twin room; while the retro flooring in the unit bath might not be for everyone, it was sufficient for two adults and two small children (co-sleeping). Although we didn't use them, there were plenty of rental amenities available.
I didn't have breakfast there, but the price set at 1,000 yen per person seemed very reasonable. I initially assumed the hotel was near Yonago Station due to its name, but it’s actually about a 7-8 minute drive from the station; if using the train, the nearest station would be Fujimicho Station, which is a 10-minute walk. The parking was spacious, easy to use, and free, which I think is a significant benefit for those traveling by car.
Experiences during the trip
For dinner, we found a local izakaya called "Maimon-yakappa" near Yonago Station online and made a reservation two months in advance. We planned to drive and use the coin parking around Yonago Station, but there was an Aeon nearby where parking is free for two hours without any purchase, and it extends to four hours if you spend over 1,000 yen, which was perfect since we could buy souvenirs as well.
The food was excellent; while we don’t have any photos, the grilled black throat sea bream (1,500 yen) was rich and delicious. The all-you-can-drink plan was around 2,200 yen for 90 minutes, which satisfied my husband, a heavy drinker. Thanks to the early reservation, we got to enjoy a private room, which was great for our small children, allowing us to relax while enjoying the izakaya.
The next day, we drove about 30 minutes to Sakai Minato City. Our first stop was the Sakai Minato Fisheries Direct Sale Center (Free parking). It felt like a market, and even though it was a bit early in the season, there were plenty of snow crabs for sale, with some odd-sized ones priced at 5,000 yen for three, making it quite affordable. Unlike other markets, they had many tables and chairs centrally located for anyone to use to eat whatever they bought right there, which was revolutionary. There was one eatery where we bought two daily set meals and some crab and shrimp (Mosa-ebi and Ama-ebi) to share among our family of four, just enough for us to enjoy.
After that, we drove about 10 minutes to Mizuki Shigeru Road and the Mizuki Shigeru Memorial Museum (Parking 500 yen per day). Mizuki Shigeru Road has a nostalgic shopping street atmosphere scattered with yokai (Japanese monster) statues, making it busy yet enjoyable for taking photos and browsing shops. The museum charges 1,000 yen for adults, but if you buy tickets in advance, it’s 900 yen. The exhibition focuses more on Mizuki Shigeru’s autobiographical elements than his works, so I felt one visit was sufficient for me.
After immersing ourselves in the world of Mizuki Shigeru, we drove about 10 minutes towards the next day's accommodation, enjoying a scenic drive on the Betabumi Slope (Eshima Ohashi) that connects Shimane and Tottori along the coast.
During our trip to Tottori, we tried various foods, including meat, fish, and beef bone ramen, all of which were delicious and cheap, making me want to return to Tottori soon. While it’s a bit far from Kanagawa, once there, you won't feel crowded, parking fees are minimal, and you can casually stop by interesting sightseeing spots, making it a highly recommended way to enjoy at a great cost-performance ratio.