20 Things to Do in Tottori

Spring and autumn are the recommended seasons for visiting Tottori, as they offer picturesque landscapes.
In spring, you can enjoy cherry blossoms at famous viewing spots, while autumn offers a stable climate perfect for admiring the fall foliage.
Additionally, winter is perfect for those who love skiing or snowboarding, as you can enjoy the Daisen Ski Resort.

Tottori can be reached quickly from major cities, taking about 2.5 hours by JR limited express train from Osaka and about 1.5 hours by plane from Tokyo.
Tottori Prefecture has two airports, Yonago Kitaro Airport and Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport, which serve as travel hubs and are also enjoyable tourist spots in themselves.

Located on the Sea of Japan side of Tottori City in Tottori Prefecture, the Tottori Sand Dunes stretch 16 km from east to west and 2.4 km from north to south, making them one of the largest dune systems in Japan. These dunes, designated as a special protected area and a Natural Monument of Japan, are a major tourist attraction representing Tottori Prefecture.

It is Japan's only shrine with such a fortuitous name. The shrine enshrines Ame-no-Tokotachi-no-Mikoto, Yatsukamizuomizunu-no-Mikoto, and Omizunu-no-Mikoto, the deities of land management, fortune, and nation-building.

This is a National Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, where old merchant houses and storehouses built between the Edo and Taisho periods are lined up along the Tamagawa River. The area flourished as the castle town of Uchibuki Castle in the Muromachi period (1336-1573), and during the Edo period (1603-1868), samurai residences were built around the camp, making it a historical area with a beautiful townscape, also known as "Little Kyoto”.

Mizuki Shigeru Road was established in 1993. The 800-meter-long street from Sakaiminato Station to the Mizuki Shigeru Museum is lined with 177 bronze yokai sculptures. Meet the most famous characters from Mizuki’s manga, such as Kitaro, Medama-Oyaji, and Nezumi-Otoko; yokai that live in the forest - Korpokkur and Sunakake-Babaa, etc.; the religious and spiritually powered yokai -ZashikiWarashi and BimboGami etc.; yokai that hide in familiar places - Azukiarai and Ittan-Momen; yokai that live in houses - Kasabake and Makuragaeshi. They all fit in well with Sakaeminato’s old Showa-era townscape.

The world’s first museum, curating sand creations. It is produced by Katsuhiko Chaen, who was selected as “100 Most Respected Japanese People.” He invites sand sculptors from all over the world to display sand sculpture at the global top level.

At 1709m above sea level, this is the highest peak of a polygenetic volcano in the Chugoku District. Selected into Japan’s 100 great Mountains and Japan’s 100 Scenic Places, it is the symbol of Tottori and is designated as the Daisen Oki National Park, which includes the surrounding Hiruzen Area, Oki Island, Shimane Peninsula, and Mt. Sanbe Area.

It is one of the most radioactive springs in the world, containing high concentrations of radon and this old hot spring resort is recognized as the first Japanese Heritage site. The legend has it that a samurai named Okubo Samanosuke, a retainer of Minamoto no Yoshitomo in the late Heian period (794-1185), was led by a white wolf to this hot spring as thanks for saving it. The name comes from the legend, "If you stay for three nights and wake up in the morning three times, you will be cured of all illnesses.

With Mt. Daisen, a tall and beautiful mountain, as a borrowed landscape, this is one of the largest flower parks in Japan where visitors can enjoy seasonal flowers.
The main flower is the lily, with more than 100 varieties displayed throughout the year. Nearly half of the world's lily varieties are cultivated here, and all 15 species of lilies native to Japan, including the "Ukeyuri,(Lilium alexandrae）" also known as the "phantom lily," are on display at this valuable facility.

The 10,000m² vast garden was created as a symbol of friendship between Tottori and China's Hebei Province. To recreate the Chinese royal garden faithfully, Chinese engineers did from its design to obtaining the supplies.
A group of gorgeous buildings stands against the background of mountains in San-in Region and Lake Togo.

This hall was built as the inner sanctuary of Sanbutsuji Temple, a Kosatsu (an old temple with a long history) of the Tendai sect, and is perched on a steep cliff 520 meters above sea level on the north side of Mt.Mitoku. Legend has it that an ascetic threw the hall into a rock cave by the power of the Dharma. It is believed to have been built in the late Heian period (794-1185) in the kakegake-zukuri style with long pillars supporting the floor and is one of the oldest existing Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples.

Mizuki Shigeru wrote one of the most famous manga comics, GeGeGe no Kitaro. His memorial museum is located in Sakaiminato City, his hometown. A 14-minute walk from JR Sakaiminato Station along "Mizuki Shigeru Road" will take you to the museum.
As soon as you enter the museum, the statues of Mizuki and his character Kitaro welcome visitors at the GeGeGe Entrance. Following the path, you will first come to the "Mizuki Shigeru Manga World" and see displays of Muziki’s life work.

This is the only museum in Japan specialized in pears which Tottori is famous for. Displays on pears, taste comparison, pear desserts, sales of souvenirs, hands-on experience of cultivating pears, and there are other ways to get to know pears.

The site of 'Tottori Castle,' built during the Sengoku period by utilizing the steep terrain of Mt. Kyushozan. During the Edo period, the foothills were developed as the political center of the Tottori Domain. Today, remnants such as stone walls and the base of the main keep remain, and the site has been designated as a national historic site. In 2006, a restoration plan was devised to revert to its appearance in the Edo period, and by 2021, the main entrance, Giboshi Bridge (Otemon Bridge), and the front gate of Nakanogomon-omotemon (Otemon Gate) were restored. Further restoration of buildings at the foot of the mountain is planned, drawing significant interest from history and castle enthusiasts.

Utsubuki Park is renowned as one of the premier cherry blossom sites in the San'in region, with the park coming alive with cherry blossoms and azaleas in spring. The park includes playgrounds, a baseball field, and tennis courts, making it a beloved relaxation spot for the locals.

Daisen Makiba Milk no Sato is a leisure facility located within the Daisen Pasture, offering views of the famous Mount Daisen. Operated by the Daisen Dairy Agricultural Cooperative, known for its Shirobara milk, the facility allows visitors to see cows grazing up close in the pasture area. The restaurant serves dishes rich in homemade milk, butter, and cream, along with ingredients sourced from Tottori Prefecture.

Yokai Shrine sits along Mizuki Shigeru Road, known as a quirky destination surrounded by bronze statues of yokai, or Japanese monsters. The shrine's most distinctive feature is its torii gate, designed to resemble Ittan Momen (a famous yokai). The shrine is dedicated to a black granite stone and a 300-year-old zelkova tree, both imbued with the spirit of GeGeGe no Kitaro creator Shigeru Mizuki.

Hakuto Shrine is a historically significant shrine mentioned in Kojiki and Nihon Shoki. Legend keeps it as the setting for the myth "The Hare of Inaba”, which is why today so many still come here for blessings to heal burns or skin ailments. Mirroring the tale where the hare helped bring together Okuninushi and Princess Yakami, the shrine remains today as a destination for matchmaking wishes, garnering extra buzz recently as Japan's first "sacred place for lovers."

This classic ryokan is designed in the manner of a Japanese castle with white walls and tiled roofs. The complex faces clear the Mitoku River, which accentuates the beautiful Japanese garden by incorporating an all-season background landscape.

Kasuitei is long-loved ryokan in and staple of the San-in area of Japan. In addition to its view overlooking the Japan Sea, it’s known for swooping views out towards the peaks of Mt. Daisen. Once inside, prepare for a stay filled with the sheer beauty of the surrounding region’s nature.

Located in the coastal hot spring area of Kaike Onsen on the northern side of Yonago City, Kaike Shogetsu was established in 1927 and continues to operate with 19 rooms, a number that has remained unchanged since its inception. This allows for a highly personalized hospitality experience, which has earned the inn high praise.