This Way to Tottori

GUIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS

TOTTORI AT A GLANCE

Located in the Chugoku region of western Honshu, Tottori is the capital city of Japan’s least-populated prefecture^[2], also named Tottori. It’s best known for the Tottori Sand Dunes – a surreal stretch of coastal desert that looks like it belongs in North Africa, rather than coastal Japan.

Compared to tourist hotspots like Tokyo, Osaka, or Kyoto, Tottori operates at a much slower pace. It’s accessible using the Kansai Wide Area Pass and may be an interesting detour for people wanting something quieter and more off the beaten path in Japan.

BEST TIME TO VISIT TOTTORI

Like many places in Japan, the best times to visit Tottori are spring and autumn. The weather is comfortable, and the scenery is at its most striking. Think soft pink cherry blossoms in spring and fiery red and orange leaves in the fall.

Having said that, winter may be one of the more interesting times to visit Tottori. Matsuba Crabs are in season, and if you’re lucky, you’ll get a chance to see the sand dunes covered in snow.

From what I understand, Tottori is one of the few places in the world where you can see snow, sand, and sea all at once.

WHERE TO STAY IN TOTTORI

Tottori is a relatively small city that usually doesn’t require more than an overnight stay. For convenience, it’s best to stay near Tottori Station.

You can check Booking.com or Agoda for hotel listings around Tottori Station. Here are some of the top-rated hotels in the area:

THINGS TO DO IN TOTTORI

Climb Over Giant Walls of Sand

If someone showed you the photo below, would you think you were looking at Japan? Probably not, and that’s what makes the Tottori Sand Dunes so remarkable. They’re arguably one of the most unexpected sights you’ll come across in the country.

Stretching along the Sea of Japan, these massive dunes are Tottori’s most famous attraction. Some rise as high as 50 meters (164 feet) and span up to 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) wide. I huffed and I puffed and was completely out of breath when I reached the top.

Shaped over thousands of years, these dunes were formed when sand from nearby rivers was carried out to sea, then pushed back to shore by ocean currents^[3]. It’s a natural wonder you wouldn’t expect to find in Japan, and that’s exactly what makes it so fascinating.

Be Amazed by Giant Sand Sculptures

With all that sand, you’d expect to find a few sand castles nearby. I was really excited to visit the Sand Museum, but unfortunately, it was between exhibits and closed at the time of my visit. Major bummer.

Just a short walk from the sand dunes, the Sand Museum is a museum dedicated entirely to sand sculptures. Exhibits are typically inspired by countries or regions and change every year. They usually run from around mid-April to early January, before shutting down for a couple of months in preparation for the next exhibit.

Feast on Matsuba Crab

Crab is one of my favorite foods in the world. If you enjoy it as much as I do, then you may want to visit Tottori in winter. From around mid-November till early March, you can feast on Matsuba Crab, a prized delicacy from the San’in coastal region of Japan.

Matsuba Crab refers to male snow crabs caught from the Sea of Japan. Famous for their sweet and succulent meat, these crabs are said to owe their rich flavor to the plankton-rich waters they inhabit. They’re best when grilled or boiled and are one of the region’s most prized delicacies^[4].

Enjoy Matcha and Wagashi at Kannon-in

After a long day of sightseeing, I find nothing more relaxing than sipping matcha in a Japanese garden. In Tottori, you can do just that at Kannon-in, a Buddhist temple best known for its landscaped garden.

After a day of frolicking in the sand dunes, you may want to enjoy matcha and wagashi at Kannon-in before heading back to your hotel.

VISIT TOTTORI FAQs

Is Tottori worth visiting?

I hate to say this, since I was so excited to visit Tottori myself, but I don’t think so. The sand dunes are an interesting novelty in Japan, but I don’t think it’s worth a dedicated trip, especially since there isn’t much else to do in Tottori City. To be honest, I found the city to be a little depressing.

If you have a Kansai Wide Area Pass, then visiting Tottori is a great way of maximizing your pass, but I don’t think the sand dunes are worth a lengthy detour on their own.

Can I swim along the coast of the Tottori Sand Dunes?

No, swimming along the sand dunes is prohibited under the “ordinance to protect and rear Japan’s Tottori Sand Dunes initiative”^[5].

Is the Kansai Wide Area Pass worth it?

Yes, as long as you use it to visit some of the more distant destinations within its coverage area, like Tottori, Kinosaki Onsen, Okayama, and Takamatsu. Personally, I saved JPY 18,170 on transportation with the pass.

THE FINAL SAY

As unique a sight as they are in Japan, I don’t think it’s worth making a lengthy side trip just to visit the Tottori Sand Dunes.

However, if you’ve traveled to Japan numerous times and are ready to explore its secondary destinations, then Tottori may be for you, especially if you’re traveling with a Kansai Wide Area Pass.

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References

1. Sand Dunes (Tottori Sakyu). japan-guide.com.
2. Tottori Prefecture. Wikipedia. (2003, February 15).
3. Tottori Sand Dunes. Japan Travel.
4. Harper, Niaya (2018, December 28). Tasting Across the San’in Region, Japan Travel.
5. Tottori Sand Dunes boosts foreign language warnings to curb defacement by tourists. The Mainichi. (2019, May 21).