Tottori Tourist Guide

(1) Tottori Sand Dunes (Tottori City)

The sand dunes extend 16 km east to west, 2 km north to south. You can enjoy unique beauty here such as 47 m high Umanose which means the horse back, Fumon, the picturesque patterns formed by wind, and Suribachi, the area like a sandy mortar.

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(2) Jinpukaku Mansion / Tottori Castle Remains (Tottori City)

This is a beautiful French Renaissance-style mansion built as an accommodation for the Emperor Taisho, before he ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne, to rest when he visited San'in region in 1907.

Behind the mansion the ruin of Tottori castle stands. It once was the hub of the Tottori Clan. Although the structure itself was taken down in the Meiji era, the sanmon gate and beautifully piled foundation stones still remain. Now many cherry trees are planted and it became the favorite spot for cherry blossom viewing.

Moreover, a collection of arts and historical items relating to Tottori are on display at the Tottori prefectural museum located next to Jinpukaku mansion.

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(3) Tottori Hot Springs (Tottori City)

Tottori is famous for its plentiful hot springs. One can be found even in the heart of the city. Added to the Japanese style hotels (ryokan) and the like providing natural thermal baths, there are several public baths that do not require hotel reservation.

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(4) Yoshioka Hot Springs (Tottori City)

Yoshioka Onsen is a quiet town lying between mountains at the south side of the Koyama Pond. No less than 200,000 fireflies illuminate the nearby river in June.

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(5) Hakuto Beach (Tottori City)

A favorite beach in summer, you can also enjoy beautiful sunsets throughout the year here. This is the site of old fable Inaba no Shiro Usagi (White hare of Inaba). The story is recorded in Kojiki, the Japanese oldest history book.

One year a white hare who lived near a beach in Inaba (the old name of East Tottori) drifted to Okinoshima islands because of a flood. The hare, who wanted to go back home, hit upon an idea and asked a crocodile playing at the beach, “Let's compete the number of your friends and mine.” The hare had crocodiles make a row from the island to the mainland of Inaba and walked on their backs counting their number. But as he leapt off the last one's back, he made a slip of tongue. “Oh, you stupid crocodiles, now I have done with you!”

Then the furious crocodiles seized the hare and pulled out all his fur. When the hare was lying on the beach crying, the deities of Izumo (the old name of East Shimane) passed by and told the hare that he should bathe in the seawater and expose his skin to the wind to cure his wound, which made him end up having much more pain.

After that the deity called Okuninushi-no-mikoto passed by and told him to wash out salt with fresh water, roll on the fluff of cattails sprinkled over and quietly lie down at the place with no wind. Thereafter the hare was able to get back to what he was.

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(6) Tottori Karo / Minato Oasis (Tottori City)

Minato Oasis was opened in 2004 at the area from Tottori port in East Tottori through the historic fishing port, Karo port. It consists of Kanikkokan (crab aquarium), Karoichi (local seafood market), Karo beach and more.

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(7) Tottori Shan Shan Festival (Tottori City)

The biggest event in East Tottori. Over 3,500 dancers dance Inaba no Kasa Odori, which originally was a dance praying for rain. The festival is held the second Saturday of August every year.

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(8) Kannon'in Garden (Tottori City)

A traditional Japanese style garden that was created in the Edo era 窶骭€ mid seventeenth century. Walking around the man-made pond, one can enjoy the beauty of the garden. The garden employs the art of shakkei, the technique producing the garden using the natural landscape behind. It was nominated to a place of scenic beauty by the Agency for Cultural Affairs in 1937.

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(9) Ohchidani Park (Tottori City)

The park next to Ohchidani Shrine was built in 1650 forested with cherries, azaleas, maples etc. Recently, citizens' groups having propagated fireflies at the river inside the park, it became the sight for firefly watching in East Tottori. Do not miss the visionary park lit by thousands of fireflies in June.

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(10) Warabekan (Tottori Toy Museum) (Tottori City)

A museum of toys and nursery rhymes was built by reconstructing former Tottori Prefectural library. Featuring toys from all over the world, heroes' figures of animated cartoons and a recreated old wooden elementary school classroom, it is a favorite spot both for children and adults.

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(11) Yamabikokan (Tottori City History Museum) (Tottori City)

This museum presents the history and culture of Tottori with the latest technology. Tottori Theatre allows you to discover Tottori castle recreated by computer graphics and other booths where you can enter the simulation and fly over Tottori city. Special exhibits concerning the history of Tottori city are also shown frequently.

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(12) Koyama Pond (Tottori City)

Koyama pond is the biggest pond in Japan. The edge of the pond and Aoshima isle situated in the middle of the pond are developed as parks..

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(13) Ikeda clan grave (Tottori City)

Successive lords and their families of Ikeda clan are laid to rest here. Each tombstone is placed on a unique pedestal of turtle shape. Giving an important record of grave styles in Edo period, it is nominated to a National historic site.

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(14) Inaba Manyo Historical Pavilion (Tottori City)

This pavilion was built to commemorate two things: the achievements of the great Otomo-no-Yakamochi, the compiler and poet of Manyoshu (Japan's oldest poetic anthology of Waka poems) and the history and culture of the Inaba area. Added to the display of East Tottori folk-art such as Kirinjishi and Kasaodori, a high-vision theatre, rotary garden of Manyo vegetation and outfits of the Manyo period style are available.

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(15) Amedaki falls

This beautiful 40-meter height waterfall was nominated to the 100 best waterfalls of Japan. It is said that there are 48 more falls if you go up the mountain path behind the Amedaki fall.

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(16) Kawahara-jo Castle Pavilion (Tottori City)

History, culture and nature of Kawahara town are shown at this castle-shaped pavilion. It is said that General Toyotomi Hideyoshi pitched his camp here. Its donjon commands a panoramic view of Tottori Sand Dunes and Chugoku mountains. Around the pavilion, there is a park with a thousand apricot trees.

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(17) Floating Hina dolls in Mochigase (Tottori City)

Nagashi-Bina (floating Hina dolls) is a traditional event carried out on March 3 of the lunar calendar. Float a couple of paper made hina dolls riding on a straw bag to the river, wishing to flush out all the misfortune with them. Although this is the origin of Hina-matsuri (the Doll's Festival), nowadays it is rare to see this original event performed.

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(18) Nagashi-bina no Yakata (Tottori City)

This is a pavilion of floating Hina dolls, which is a traditional event of Mochigase. Various hina dolls throughout Japan are on display. The museum is timbered which is rather rare among modern large size Japanese architecture. It is the first class conventional construction in its size and beauty.

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(19) Saji Astro Park (Tottori City)

A unique astronomical observatory equipped with a planetarium and the largest telescope in the nation (diameter 103cm). The observatory provides accommodations for overnight astronomical observations for the public (reservation required).

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(20) Kami-ing Saji Paper Gallery (Tottori City)

Saji is one of the biggest manufacturing places of Inshu washi (Japanese paper). At this gallery folkcrafts made by Inshu washi are exhibited and sold. You can also experience making washi paper (reservation required).

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(21) Hamamura Hot Spring (Tottori City)

Hamamura hot spring continues to supply abundant natural thermal water over 500 years. It lies just 1 km away from Hamamura beach. You can even overlook the Sea of Japan from its open-air bath. Hamamura is also the birthplace of the Tottori's folk song, Kaigarabushi.

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(22) Shikano Hot Spring (Tottori City)

Shikano is a tranquil spa town at the foot of Mt. Juboyama. The town was named after the great samurai Shikanosuke Yamanaka. The hot spring is 15 minutes walk from the castle town still leave good old Edo feel.

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(23) Shikano Castle Park / Shikano Castle Town (Tottori City)

Shikano castle town was governed by the great lord, Korenori Kamei. Many classic houses still remaining, the town keeps its beauty of that time. Although the castle structure itself does not exist anymore, stone fences and the castle moat surrounded by cherry trees adds unique flavor to the park.

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(24) Aoya Washi Kobo Workshop (Tottori City)

Aoya is another manufacturing place of Inshu washi. Hands-on washi-making is available (reservation required). The permanent and temporary displays show the various washi paper crafts.

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(25) Uradome Beach (Iwami Town)

A beautiful rugged coastline extends 15 km. You can enjoy the beauty of nature at the beach, at the promenade, from the pleasure boats and at the Marine Park nominated by the Environment Agency.

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(26) Iwai Hot Spring (Iwami Town)

1300-year-old Iwai is the oldest thermal bath in the whole San'in region. The aesthetic spa town is well kept up preserving many classic houses.

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(27) Wakasa Hyounosen Shizen Fureai no Sato (Wakasa Town)

At this park in the middle of the mount Hyounosen, there is a lot of fun throughout the year provided by an accommodation Hyotakun, a nature museum Hibiki no Mori and the ski resort.

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(28) Chizu-shuku / The House of Ishitani (Chizu Town)

Chizu-shuku once flourished as a shukuba machi (post-station town) providing travelers lodging in Edo era. Leaving old houses and guideposts, Chizu-shuku is nominated to the one hundred best historical streets. Among the houses in the street, stands out the house of Ishitani, a family of shoya (the chief of the village supervising the tax payments of the whole village). The modern Japanese architecture is highly regarded for its building technique and its interior decoration.

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(29) Ashizu Valley (Chizu Town)

A valley stretching 4 km shows seasonal beauty 窶骭€ fresh verdure in early summer, red and yellow leaves in autumn and snow covering the whole valley in winter. This is a favorite site for camping, hiking and fishing.

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(30) Itaibara Village (Chizu Town)

The village still keeps original style of Japanese mountain village. Although there is a little change since some people live in this village, thatched roof houses make you feel as if you were in prewar village of Japan.

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