Tottori Prefecture
Information
Tottori is an 80-minute flight from Tokyo and a few hours by train from Osaka and Kyoto. Nestled between the Sea of Japan and the Chugoku Mountains, this region of unparalleled natural beauty blessed with the fruits of the land and bounty of the sea is an ideal destination for travelers seeking to venture off the beaten path. This page introduces some of the seasonal attractions in Tottori. Though only a portion of the many attractions across Tottori, we hope that they help convince you to come and see this beautiful land.
Access
Tottori is accessible from all of Japan’s major cities and airports. Refer to the maps and charts on this page to find your way to Tottori and the destinations introduced in this brochure. Estimated travel times are provided to help you plan the perfect itinerary for your own Tottori adventure!
5 MUST-SEE spots
Tottori Sand Dunes
The Tottori Sand Dune is a must for any visitor to Tottori. Located in the heart of the San’in Kaigan Geopark and stretching 2.4km north to south and 16km east to west, it is one of the finest coastal sand dunes in the country. The ripples swept in the sand by the winds of the Sea of Japan are a constant delight to visitors. The small hill known as Umanose (‘the horse’s back’) offers a picturesque panorama of the ocean.
Information
| Address | Fukube-cho Yuyama, Tottori City, Tottori |
|---|---|
| TEL | 0857-22-3318 |
| URL | https://www.sakyu-vc.com/en/ |
| Access | (By bus) From Tottori Station, take the Nikko or Hinomaru bus bound for the Tottori Sand Dune (Tottori Sakyuu) and get off there. On the Loop Kirin bus, 26 min. to the Tottori Sand Dune (Saturdays, Sundays & holidays only) (By car) 20 minutes from Chuugoku Expwy Sayo JCT to Tottori Expwy Tottori IC. 1 hour 20 min. from Sayo. |
Mitokusan Sanbutsuji Temple
Sanbutsuji is a mountain temple on the premises of 900-meter high Mt Mitoku. The temple, built into the mouth of a cave on a sheer precipice, is a one-of-a-kind national architectural treasure further renowned for the beauty of construction in its jaunty roof and hall support beams. The precise date of construction is unknown, but legend has it that the structure was built from the ground up through the spiritual power of the founder of the mountain asceticism-shamanism tradition Shugendo, En no Ozuno.
Viewing the temple up close requires traversing a rather rough mountain road, but a perfectly agreeable vista is possible from the safety of one’s vehicle at the nageiredo yohaisho.
Information
| Address | 1010 Mitoku, Misasa-cho, Touhaku District, Tottori |
|---|---|
| TEL | 0858-43-2666 (Mitokusan Sanbutsuji) | 0857-43-0431 (Misasa Onsen Tourism Association) |
| URL | http://www.mitokusan.jp |
| Access | 40 min. by highway bus from Kurayoshi Station. 50 min. by car from Chuugoku Expwy Innoshou IC to Rt. 179; 50 min. from Yonago Expwy Yubara IC to Rt. 313 to Rt. 482 to Rt. 179. |
Wagasa Denshokan: Craft a Traditional Japanese Umbrella
In vogue during the Edo period, the traditional Japanese umbrella called wagasa is made from wood and oiled paper; to this day, it does not fail to charm with its whimsical and chic design. With a careful eye and a steady hand, craft your own Japanese umbrella in this challenging and fun make-your-own wagasa workshop. Take home your own piece of traditional Japanese culture to treasure for a lifetime.
Information
| Address | 796 Yodoe, Yodoe-cho, Yonago-shi, Tottori |
|---|---|
| TEL | 0859-56-6176 |
| URL | http://www.yonago-navi.jp/yonago/yodoe/experience-culture/wagasadensho/ |
| Hours of Operation | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm |
| Closed | Sunday, Monday, national holidays |
| Fees | From 6,480 yen per wagasa |
| Parking | 2 large bus spots 10 passanger vehicle spots |
| Access | 3 minutes by car from Yodoe IC 25 minutes on foot from JR Yodoe Station |
Wakasa Railways
Running between Kooge and Wakasa Stations, this local railway, opened in 1930, features a wooden station house with old-fashioned waiting room and benches, and the old steam locomotive and its facilities can still be seen at Wakasa terminal juxtaposed with modern furnishings. Enjoy a leisurely trip through the valley, gazing through the windows at the cherry orchards bursting with fruit as the train chugs along on the old iron tracks.
Information
Mt. Daisen Parade of Torches
The Mt. Daisen Summer Opening Festival, held every year on the first weekend of June, is one of Tottori’s signature seasonal events. After a ceremony at Ogamiyama Shrine, some 2,000 participants with torches in hand follow a Shinto priest as he descends the path to Bakuroza making it appear as if a river of flame flows down the mountainside. Anyone can join in and experience this mystical event firsthand!
Information
| Address | Daisen, Daisen-cho, Saihaku-gun, Tottori |
|---|---|
| TEL | 0859-52-2502 |
| URL | https://tourismdaisen.com/en/ |
