In a rural town, yokai, humans, and gods all live normal everyday lives together.
One summer, an old cat named Buchio evolved into a nekomata. Wondering why this evolution happened, he meets other youkai living in the area to learn about his evolution and what he must do now.
Elsewhere in the neighborhood, young Muu-chan is tracking her town's guardian, a tengu named Jirou. As she watched him carry out his duties, she began to respect him more and more for the long service he had done to the town.
While people live in relative peace, the will of some yokai often creates dangerous and unpredictable situations that threaten peace.
No one expected that this exciting performance would hurt them as much as it did. If you're looking for more anime recommendations like Tonari no Yokai-san, check out the section below.
Anime Like Tonari no Yokai-san
For fans of Yokai and Human Daily Life
The book about Natsume's friends
As far back as he can remember, Takashi Nutme has been chased by spirits, but recently he discovered that the cause was his late grandmother who passed away to him as “The Book of People” friend,” a book containing all the souls she has controlled.
Now, Tsume realizes that these spirits haunt him in the hope of gaining freedom. With few friends, no family, and constantly hunted by evil spirits, Tsume searches for where she belongs.
Similarities between Tonari no Yokai-san and Natsme's Book of Friends
Both series take place in a world where both humanity and yokai exist and live. The plots are emotional stories about humans and yokai. Minimal action, maximum slice of life and character story Vibes of rural, rural life
Differences between Tonari no Yokai-san and Naruto's Book of Friends
The book about Tsume's friends has a loose overall plot, but it has many plot twists and often unrelated stories. By comparison, Tonari no Yokai-san is an ensemble cast that doesn't have an overall plot but explores each of their individual stories. In Natsme's Book of Friends, the vast majority of people do not realize how many demons there are in the world because they may not be able to see them. Tonari no Yokai-san helps them fully integrate into human society.
Elegant Yokai apartment living
After his parents passed away and he realized he was a burden to his relatives, Inaba Yuushgi decided to move to a dormitory to attend high school.
Limited by his poor circumstances, he ends up living in the Monster House, a low-rent place that turns out to be an apartment complex where humans and supernaturals live together.
Similarities between Tonari no Yokai-san and Yokai Elegant Apartment Living
Humans and yokai live side by side quite happily. Both series offer more slice of life and drama than any other action genre. Both series emphasize the theme of acceptance, be it accepting the supernatural or accepting yourself for who/what you are.
The difference between Tonari no Yokai-san and Yokai Elegant Apartment Living
While Elegant Yokai Apartment Life has a fairly large cast, it really focuses primarily on the story of one main character while Tonari no Yokai-san has multiple main characters. ongoing character story. Elegant Yokai Life limits yokai and humans to living together in a special apartment building. Although it doesn't act on it, Elegant Yokai Apartment Life has an above-average amount of not-so-subtle homosexuality going on between the main character and his friends.
Interview With Monster Girls
Although not entirely common, Ajin or demi-humans have become a part of society. High school biology teacher Tetsuo Takahashi becomes increasingly interested in Ajin for research, but having never met one himself, he lets it happen.
He was about to give up until he discovered that there were not only three students from the Demi-Humans in his school, but also a fellow teacher.
When arranging interviews with them, Tetsuo discovers that they have both human and demihuman problems to overcome.
Similarities Between Tonari no Yokai-san and Interview with Monster Girls
Humans and supernatural creatures live side by side in the world as if it were completely normal Mostly happy slice-of-life episodes, but there is some drama surrounding yokai life issues
Differences between Tonari no Yokai-san and Interview with Monster Girls
Interview with Monster Girls is a series about school life. While both explore multiple character stories, those stories in Interview with Monster Girls are primarily framed through the lens of one main character. Tonari no Yokai-san lets each character explore their own story. Tonari no Yokai-san is quite heavy on drama, but Interviews With Monster Girls is not.
For fans of supernatural country life
Kamichu – Goddess who is a middle school student
Yurie Hitotsubashi is a middle school student who spends her days studying and trying to get Kenji, the blind boy she likes, to notice her.
One day, she playfully tells a friend that the night before she became a goddess, attracting the attention of another classmate, Matsuri. When her family's Shinto shrine ran into financial difficulties, Matsuri asked her to become their new goddess.
Now, Yurie must balance school life with fulfilling the wishes of those who seek her help.
Similarities between Tonari no Yokai-san and Kamichu
Supernatural anime set in the countryside Both series take place in a world where you sometimes wake up as a yokai/goddess and everyone is pretty chill about it. Adjusting to being a new type becomes difficult but easier with a support system.
Difference between Tonari no Yokai-san and Kamichu
Kamichu has the least drama and any drama that does occur is of a teenage nature. Tonari no Yokai-san has a more diverse supernatural side
The Flying Witch
Young girl Makoto Kowata is a witch, but her magical skills are not as expected. To practice her craft further, she moved to rural Aomori to live with her cousins.
This nature-rich area is the ideal place to commune with the forces of nature and hone her craft.
Similarities between Tonari no Yokai-san and the Flying Witch
Humans and supernatural living in the world together is quite normal Anime about rural life set in the countryside Most of the plot is just about what's happening to the neighbors
Differences between Tonari no Yokai-san and Flying Witch
While Flying Witch probably has more variety in its supernatural creatures, you don't see as many as in Tonari no Yokai-san. Flying Witch has a bit of drama, but nothing as heavy as Tonari no Yokai-san. Mostly, it's a colder slice-of-life story. The Flying Witch only explores the main character's story and not an ensemble cast like Tonari no Yokai-san.
Gingitsune – Fox messenger of the gods
Gitarou is a fox that has protected the small temple since the Edo period. The owner of the temple always possesses the ability to see him, but only one family member can get it at a time.
After her mother passed away, Saeki Makoto inherited her abilities and using the power of a fox spirit, she tried to help her community.
Similarities between Tonari no Yokai-san and Gingitsune
Supernatural that exists alongside humans Slice of life stories set in the countryside Both series explore stories of guardian-type yokai (Jirou, Gintarou)
Difference between Tonari no Yokai-san and Gingitsune
Humans are largely unaware of the supernatural in Gingitsune. Gingitsune only really focuses on the two main characters rather than a large cast like Tonari no Yokai-san
For fans of mostly slice-of-life pieces but also the occasional drama
Mushishi
In this world there exist Mushi, souls that often exist without purpose. However, these Mushi can affect the physical world in countless forms, from illness to more pleasant phenomena.
Why do these Mushi exist?
That's the question Ginko the Mushi-shi, a researcher into the phenomenon, asked himself as he traveled across the land investigating incidents involving Mushi.
Similarities between Tonari no Yokai-san and Mushishi
Both series are set in worlds where humans and supernatural entities live side by side with different effects. Human-related issues create drama in these films. Often atmospheric and set in remote rural areas
Difference between Tonari no Yokai-san and Mushishi
Mushishi is divided into several episodes as well as framing all the individual stories through a traveling protagonist. The Mushi in Mushishi are more like “balls of energy” than the variety of yokai lore on display in Tonari no Yokai-san. While Tonari no Yokai-san often feels quite cheerful outside of the heavier series, Mushishi is often a more melancholic series when it comes to its overall tone.
Barakamon
After losing his temper before a critic, famous calligraphy artist Sieshuu Handa is exiled by his father to the Goto Islands for self-reflection.
There, he searches for new inspiration for his art, but finds that his neighbors and some neighborhood kids keep getting in his way.
Similarities between Tonari no Yokai-san and Barakamon
Both series are slow country life anime about characters in the countryside. They both enjoy random, peaceful life moments interspersed with heavier dramatic characters.
Difference between Tonari no Yokai-san and Barakamon
There are no supernatural elements in BarakamonBarakamon explores the emotional turmoil of just one main character while Tonari no Yokai-san does the same, but with a larger cast. Barakamon, in addition to the drama and slice of life, also injects a lot of random humor from the younger characters.
My roommate is a cat
Subaru is a novelist, and is not good at communicating with people. He has been lonely since his parents died, but one day, while praying at their graves, a cat came and ate his offerings.
Deciding to bring it home, he now has a cat on his shoulders, and this stray cat is on his shoulders taking care of a human who can barely take care of himself.
Similarities between Tonari no Yokai-san and My Roommate is a Cat
An above-average focus on the life of a cat. Slice of Life's pleasantness is broken up by heavier character drama and emotional trauma. Explore the difficulties that non-human creatures face in life as well as humans.
The difference between Tonari no Yokai-san and My Roommate is a Cat
There is no supernatural in My Roommate is a Cat My Roommate is a Cat mainly keeps the story focused on the lonely human protagonist and the stray cat he adopts. It divides each episode between human and cat perspectives.
Do you recommend any more anime like Tonari no Yokai-san? Let fans know in the comments below.