Since she was a child, Aoi could see spirits. One day, while feeding a hungry spirit, she is whisked off to the hidden realm of spirits where an ogre states she will be his bride. It seems her grandfather sold her off to marry him in order to satisfy his debt that he accrued at his inn in the spirit world. Instead, Aoi refuses and works off the debt owed in the bed and breakfast as an employee.
Nothing makes for a more refreshing break from beautiful demon men like spans of delicious anime food. If you are looking for more anime recommendations like Kakuriyo, then head on down below.
Anime Like Kakuriyo – Bed and Breakfast for Spirits
For Fans of Strong Independent Female Romance Protagonists
Kamisama Kiss
Homeless and in debt, high schooler Nanami Momozono thinks things are looking up when she rescues a man and he offers to let her stay at his home. She soon discovers that his home is a rundown shrine. Trying to leave, she is mistaken for the man she saved – the man that is also the land god of the shrine, Mikage. Finding out she was tricked into being a god and not wanting to be homeless, Nanami tries to embrace her new divine duties, but has to deal with a hot-headed fox familiar to keep things running smoothly.
Both series follow normal girls that wind up entwined in the spirit world for some reason or another. While there isn’t the same element of arranged marriage in Kamisama Kiss, she still winds up living with a series of handsome spirit men.
The Ancient Magus’ Bride
After being abandoned by her family, Chise Hatori is a 16-year-old teenager without hope. In order to not have to worry about herself, she sells herself to slavers, only to be purchased by Magus Elias Ainsworth. There she is told she will become his apprentice and, in the future, his bride. Together they work together to build a relationship and work to control her own magus powers that will eventually result in her early death.
The Ancient Magus’s Bride does tend to lean more on the melancholy side as both main characters have rather sad backstories. However, like Kakuriyo, a girl ends up in an arranged marriage, weary of the man at first, but grows to slowly admire him over the course of the series.
Meiji Tokyo Renka
One night, ordinary girl Mei Ayazuki is transported to the Meiji Era by a magician. In this era, she meets many handsome historical figures and discovers that she is a Tamayori. Tamayori are those that can see ghosts, and have skills that are highly valued in this era where spirits run rampant.
Both series follow girls who can see spirits and who are spirited away to another place or era. While there, she is besieged by a series of very handsome men who all admire her strong personality.
Snow White With The Red Hair
Shirayuki is an herbalist that lives a normal life in the country of Tanbarun. However, when her beautiful red hair is noticed by the Prince Raji, he tries to make her his concubine. She then decides to cut her hair and flees into the forest. It is there she is rescued by the second Prince of neighboring country, Wistalia, named Zen. In order to repay her life debt to him, she sets her hopes on becoming the court herbalist in the capital of Clarines.
While Snow White With The Red Hair doesn’t really have a spiritual element, but, like Kakuriyo, it is a shoujo series that focuses on a strong girl making her own way in a new location. While she is capable of supporting herself, she is also falling in love with a handsome man that admires her tenacity.
For Fans of Surrounded By Spirits
Elegant Yokai Apartment Life
After his parents died and he realized he was a burden to his relatives, Inaba Yuushgi decided to move into a dorm for high school. Limited by his low funds, he ends up living in Monster House, a place where humans and the supernatural live together.
While Elegant Yokai Apartment Life has a male main character and isn’t a romance, it is filled with amusing slice of life moments as his apartment is stuffed full of creatures. If you enjoy your yokai variety, this has that in spades.
The Morose Mononokean
After spending his first few days of school in the infirmary after a spirit attached itself to him, Ashiya asks for the help from the owner of a small tea shop called the Mononokean. Though morose, this tea shop owner helps spirits wander from this world to the next.
Both series are ultimately about helping spirits through service and kindness. However, The Morose Mononokean is a comedy series and doesn’t really have much romance.
Gugure! Kokkuri-san
One day, self-proclaimed doll Kohina Ichimatsu accidentally summons a fox spirit named Kokkuri. Rendered powerless by modern society taking all his believers, this fox of once-legend takes it upon himself to ensure Kohina lives a decent life as well as gets proper meals.
Instead of a human taking care of spirits through food, Gugure! Kokkuri-san has a singular spirit that ends up taking care of a human through food. While the spirit men in this series are also plenty handsome, it is more of a comedy series.
For Fans of Inn Service
Hanasaku Iroha
Ohana Matsumae is an energetic teenager that lives with her mother in Tokyo. However, when her mother decides to run off with a man, she is sent to the country to live with a grandmother she has never met. As it turns out, her grandmother runs a traditional Japanese inn, but due to her frivolous mother, treats Ohana quite coldly. Eager to earn her keep and grandmother’s affection, Ohana begins the hard work that makes sure an inn runs smoothly.
While Hanasaku Iroha doesn’t have spirits, like Kakuriyo, it is about a girl that is forced to go to a new place and ends up working in an inn. There is less of a food element in Hanasaku Iroha too, though it is still present. You also get to enjoy both main characters trying to make sense of their feelings for a man as well.
Isekai Izakaya
There is a bar located in Kyoto called Nobu. However, its front door leads to another world. In Nobu, they bring Japanese food and drink to the residents of another world.
If you didn’t necessarily need the romance in Kakuriyo, Isekai Izakaya captures the same feeling of amazing looking food eaten by interesting individuals that aren’t of our world. However, it is much simpler in its plot.
Restaurant to Another World
The nondescript Youshoku no Nekoya is a cafe that has been in business for 50 years. However, while it serves salarymen and other workers most of the week. On Saturdays, it closes down to the public in order to serve special guests, mythical creatures that come from another world looking for comforting cuisine.
Both series ultimately focus on restaurants that serve good food to clientele from another world. What’s more, they also put a focus on serving the right food to people for what they need in that moment. While this adds some complexity to the plot in both shows, it remains the only complexity in Restaurant to Another World.
Konohana Kitan
Young kitsune Yuzu has recently started her first job at a hot springs inn for spirits called Konohanatei. While she has no experience working at such a high class place, she has the help of the staff to help her get accustomed to it and her earnest and eager nature adds a special touch for many guests.
Both series feature the main characters working at an inn, being kind of bad at it, but eventually finding their feet in their own ways. However, whereas Kakuryo has her open an eatery on the inn grounds, Konohana Kitan is more about her adapting to the work. Regardless, both shows highlight unique patrons and shows service at top tier.
Yotsuiro Biyori
Kyousui Tougoku has inherited a Japanese-style cafe called Rokuhoudou from his grandfather. The staff of the cafe does their very best to ensure service that will turn one-time customers into long-time patrons. However, pleasant days turn into chaotic ones when the cafe turns into an overnight sensation.
Kakuriyo and Yotsuiro Biyori are about people coming into a business and growing it through quality service and recommendations from others. However, while Kakuriyo has romance, Yotsuiro Biyori is more just handsome men providing excellent service to customers and having lovely food visuals.
Do you have more anime recommendations like Kakuriyo? Let fans know in the comments section below.
