Yonago Kitaro Airport YGJ

Yonago Kitaro Airport (YGJ) is in Sakaiminato, in Tottori Prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast, and serves the San’in region, with Yonago, Sakaiminato and Matsue as the main destinations. It is a small regional airport that shares its runway with a Japan Air Self-Defense Force base. It is named after Kitaro, the manga character created by Shigeru Mizuki, who grew up in Sakaiminato, and the nickname was adopted in 2010.

Terminals

There is a single three-storey terminal, with separate areas for domestic and international flights and customs and immigration services for flights abroad.

Airlines and destinations

The domestic link is to Tokyo Haneda, operated by ANA, and it is the only regular domestic route. Internationally there are flights to Seoul (Incheon) with Air Seoul and to Taipei (Taoyuan) with Tigerair Taiwan, although these routes have changed over the years, so check that they operate on your dates.

Services

This is a small airport with the basic facilities of a regional terminal. If you need something specific, such as yen in cash or food for a long journey, it is better to sort it out in Yonago or Sakaiminato before you leave.

Tips

With few flights a day, a delay or cancellation on the Haneda flight can disrupt your connection, so leave a good margin if you are connecting to an international flight. If you are coming from Tokyo, the flight saves a long journey overland. Make the most of your visit with a stroll around Sakaiminato, Kitaro’s town, where you will see statues and decorations of the character.