Released back in 2018, Kakuriyo: Bed and Breakfast for Spirits (aka Kakuriyo no Yadomeshi) is an anime series that captivates viewers with its unique blend of fantasy, mythology, romance, and heartwarming storytelling.
With its gorgeous art style, superb world-building, and characters who all have such touching backstories you fall in love with half of them, I watched the first episode a few months ago, and then binge-watched the other 25 over a two day period.
Here then is why I think Kakuriyo: Bed and Breakfast for Spirits is a must watch for anyone who loves a superb mythology-based anime as much as I do.
Especially as Kakuriyo 2 is now on its way.
The Kakuriyo: Bed and Breakfast for Spirits plot
The story revolves around Aoi Tsubaki, a young woman with the ability to see spirits (ayakashi), which is a gift she inherited from her grandfather.
After her grandfather’s sudden death, Aoi discovers that he left her a significant debt. Not a debt to your average debt-collector, however, but to an ogre named Oodanna.
To repay this debt, Aoi is abducted and taken to a Hidden Realm completely populated by spirits, and it is there where she is given two choices: marry Oodanna or work at his inn, the Tenjin-ya.
Choosing her independence, and not wanting to marry anyone, especially an ogre she doesn’t even know, Aoi opts to work at the inn, using her culinary skills to earn her keep and gradually becoming an indispensable part of the inn’s very unique staff.
The Kakuriyo: Bed and Breakfast for Spirits characters
- Aoi Tsubaki: The female protagonist, Aoi is determined, kind-hearted, and very skilled in cooking. Her ability to see and communicate with spirits sets her apart, and her compassionate nature helps her bond with the ayakashi she encounters. So much so, she even makes friends with ayakashi who really don’t like her.
- Oodanna: The ogre who owns the Tenjin-ya inn, Oodanna is initially seen as intimidating and demanding, but gradually reveals a caring and much more gentle and honorable side. His complex character and his interactions with Aoi form a central part of the story. It is also where the romance part of the story lies.
- Ginji: A nine-tailed fox spirit who works at Tenjin-ya, and can change shape on demand. Ginji is charming, playful, and fiercely loyal to Aoi, often acting as her protector and friend. Aoi also believes he may be hiding a secret in that he might just be the ayakashi who visited her, and helped her, when she was a child and had just been abandoned by her own mother.
Japanese mythology and themes
One of the wonderful things about Kakuriyo: Bed and Breakfast for Spirits is the way the anime delves deeply into Japanese folklore and mythology, but in a way that makes the story instantly understandable and its many unique characters relatable.
Especially when you begin to learn about each mythical character’s backstories and funny, strange, and often sweet personalities.
The portrayal of these spirits is not just for fantasy’s sake either, as it often ties into themes of tradition, respect for the past, and the natural world.
In other words, it has many “teaching moments” for those of us who sometimes worry about the direction the modern world is heading.
The setting of Tenjin-ya itself is also steeped in cultural references, providing a satisfying experience for viewers interested in Japanese mythology.
Even if only on a cursory level.
The romance between Aoi and Oodanna
While the romantic subplot between Aoi and Oodanna is a slow burn, it is also beautifully crafted.
Their relationship begins with Aoi being skeptical and cautious of Oodanna’s intentions — well, you would be if you had suddenly been summoned to the spirit world, and told you must marry an ogre.
But, as they spend more time together, she begins to see his true nature as Oodanna’s initial stern demeanor softens, and he reveals his genuine care and affection for Aoi.
This gradual development of trust and affection makes their romance compelling and heartwarming, as Aoi starts to think being married to an ogre may not be that bad of a fate after all.
Why Kakuriyo: Bed and Breakfast for Spirits is a must-watch
- The anime’s unique setting/atmosphere: The series transports viewers to a beautifully rendered spirit world, full of enchanting landscapes and detailed settings that bring the hidden realm to life. The world-building is also so wonderfully done, the relationships between the ayakashi themselves, their sometimes complicated connection to the human world, and to Aoi and her late grandfather almost immediately become believable.
- Engaging characters: Each character, from the main protagonists to the supporting cast of spirits, is well-developed and adds depth to the story. All have some kind of backstory that explains who they are and why they behave as they do — and many of those stories are incredibly touching.
- Cultural richness: The incorporation of Japanese folklore also provides an educational glimpse into the country’s myths and traditions, enhancing the viewing experience with an interesting cultural context. Personally, I know little about Japanese mythology except what I have picked up from other anime, but Kakuriyo: Bed and Breakfast for Spirits fills in so many of the gaps about the country’s mythical creatures, at the end of it I felt like I understood it just a little bit more.
- Heartwarming storytelling: The narrative is full of emotional moments, whether it’s Aoi saving (and feeding) a curmudgeon of a Tengu Elder who fell from an airship, being kidnapped (three times) and making the best of her situation, or her growing relationship with Oodanna. It is a lovely story about creating your own place in a world that is unfamiliar, building relationships with beings completely different from you, and understanding their unique perspectives.
- Beautiful visuals and music: The lovely visual style, the wonderfully designed anthropomorphic characters, the stunningly intricate backdrops, and the Kakuriyo: Bed and Breakfast for Spirits soundtrack complement its enchanting atmosphere, making the entire anime a feast for the senses.
So yes, if you love a good mythology-based anime, Kakuriyo: Bed and Breakfast for Spirits is a must-watch due to its rich storytelling, exploration of Japanese mythology albeit in a romantic and absolutely wholesome way, and in the anime’s well-crafted and instantly relatable characters.
Throw in the utterly sweet and slowly developing romance between Aoi and Oodanna, and Kakuriyo: Bed and Breakfast for Spirits is a magical and unforgettable viewing experience.
Having my favorite voice actor playing Oodanna (Katsuyuki Konishi, who was also the voice of one of my all-time favorite characters — Sekaiichi Hatsukoi‘s main dude Masamune Takano only added to my enjoyment too.
You can watch all 26 episodes of the first season of the mythology-based anime Kakuriyo: Bed and Breakfast for Spirits now as they are streaming via Crunchyroll.
Plus, seven years after the first season premiered, Season 2 of the anime was finally announced earlier this month, along with two cute key visuals and a premiere date of Fall, 2025.
Sure, that’s still a ways off but, if the resulting anime turns out to be as superb as its first season, it is well worth the wait.
