After Takashi Natsume’s grandmother passes away, he inherits the mysterious Book of Friends, a book that contains the names of all of the yokai that his grandmother had control of. As the yokai hunt Natsume with the prospects of regaining their freedom, Natsume must stay out of danger while accompanied by the cute but mysterious cat yokai, Madara. Together, the two will look for a place where they truly belong while also helping out the yokai that deserve it along the way.

Natsume Yuujinchou has a much lighter atmosphere about it than Kyokou Suiri does but also exhibits the dark and dangerous side of yokai. This anime is very similar to Kyokou Suiri in that the main character was chosen to wield the gift to help yokai or control them just like Kotoko. They have similar roles and simply wish to help despite the dark and dangerous beings that stand in their way and hunt them. Natsume Yuujinchou tops our list of best anime to watch if you are enjoying Kyokou Suiri!

Mirai Kuriyama is tasked with protecting the world by hunting down youmu, or demons that come into being out of negative human emotions. She soon encounters a youmu that she discovers is immortal after plunging her blade into him. The two form an unlikely bond that is enhanced when they join the Literary Club with two other powerful warriors. The youmu grow more powerful as the members of the club grow closer together, resulting in a dangerous situation that will determine the fate of the world.

Not all yokai are bad, just like not every youmu is an evil being. The distinction is clear in both Kyokou Suiri and Kyoukai no Kanata. A strained relationship is present in both anime as well where they both seem somewhat taboo. Kyoukai no Kanata not only holds meaningful relationships but also delves into more philosophical questions about good and evil. Between a half-youmu and a Spirit World warrior and a half-demon and a god, which relationship do you think will withstand the test of time?

Aoi seems to be just a normal high school student with a tragic history that she wanted to put behind her but when a demon appears claiming that she must repay her grandfather’s debt, her life changes forever. The demon claims that she must become his bride in order to repay the debt of her deceased grandfather. Aoi refuses and chooses to work off her debt by cooking in the spirit world.

Kakuriyo no Yadomeshi is much more lighthearted than Kyokou Suiri but gives a similar in-depth look into the spirit world. If you feel as though Kyokou Suiri would be perfect if it had a little more humor and charm, Kakuriyo no Yadomeshi would be the perfect anime for you. Romance is also an important element of this show but it evolves from a relationship of force and conditions into a relationship built on a foundation of respect.

As a God, Yato seeks one thing above all else, he wants a shrine of his own or he risks being forgotten and disappearing altogether. Yato proclaims to be the Yato God, who can complete any job for the going price of a measly five yen. His life changes once he meets Hiyori Iki, who saves him from a car crash that wouldn’t have been disastrous in the least. Upon this chance meeting, Hiyori’s soul becomes loose, allowing her to disconnect from her human body and have her spirit to wander free. She and Yato must form an unlikely friendship and help each other in order to achieve their ultimate goals.

The spirit world can be a dark and dangerous place as both Noragami and Kyokou Suiri display. Both anime also give a more human look at the gods to show that they aren’t perfect and have flaws of their own. Just as no human is created the same, neither are the gods and they rely on humans for, sometimes, the most basic of things. Fans of Kyokou Suiri will enjoy the similarities between the relationship between Yato and Hiyori as they do with Kotoko and Kurou.

After Yoshino Takigawa’s girlfriend dies, his best friend and brother of his recently deceased girlfriend mysteriously vanishes leaving behind the dark message that he will find the villian who murdered his sister and make them pay. After a month of his normal and boring life continuing, Yoshino is suddenly held at gunpoint and saved in a timely manner by his missing friend, Mahiro. The plot twists and turns as the duo become entwined with the fate of the world upon meeting the witch Hakaze Kusaribe. Together, they will travel to find the “Tree of Exodus” and save the world from the dark fate that is threatened upon the success of Hakaze’s brother.

Zetsuen no Tempest is a dark anime that very much matches the tone of Kyokou Suiri. Those who enjoy the mystery elements of Kyokou Suiri will surely enjoy this anime, especially when the weight of the world falls on the characters’ shoulders and each decision could mean certain death. Viewers that love to be kept on their toes and enjoy that particular aspect of Kyokou Suiri will appreciate the plot twists of the cryptic Zetsuen no Tempest.

At Maison de Ayakashi, reincarnations of spirits come together to find safety and get away from a life filled with criticism. Such is the case with reincarnations like Ririchiyo Shirakiin. Ririchiyo tries to turn her attention from her bodyguard, Soushi, a cunning and loyal fox spirit who seeks her approval and love above all else. As the two learn more about each other, they fall in a fated love that has spanned generations. Can Ririchiyo navigate high school, love, and the strange new friends she has made at Maison de Ayakashi? or will it turn out to be disastrous for everyone involved?

If you enjoy the fated push-and-pull romance that Kyokou Suiri has, you will definitely enjoy Ririchiyo and Soushi’s tumultuous relationship. Rather than being a speaker for the yokai, Inu x Boku’s characters are half yokai which creates a whole new set of problems to explore. While there aren’t necessarily gods in Inu x Boku, it is definitely an anime with a similar feel to watch in the empty moments between episodes of Kyokou Suiri.