Your First Tottori Travel Guide: Top Attractions and How to Enjoy Them

Day 1 of the model course starts from JR Tottori Station.
Take the Loop Kirinjishi Bus from Tottori Station and you will arrive at the Tottori Sand Dunes in Approx. 20 minutes.

On the Sea of Japan side of Tottori City lies the Tottori Sand Dunes, one of the largest sand dune areas in Japan, stretching 16 km east to west and 2.4 km north to south.
It is one of Tottori Prefecture’s most iconic attractions and is designated as a Special Protection Area and a National Natural Monument.
In addition to the ever-changing scenery and the natural sculpted beauty created by the dunes, you can also enjoy activities such as paragliding and sandboarding.
Don’t miss local specialties such as sand eggs cooked using the heat of dune sand and rakkyo grown in the area’s fine sand.

After enjoying the scenery and activities at the Tottori Sand Dunes, head on foot to The Sand Museum at the Tottori Sand Dunes, about 3 minutes away.
It is the world’s first museum dedicated to sand sculptures, produced by Katsuhiko Chaen, who was selected as one of the “100 Japanese People the World Respects,” and features world-class sand sculptures created by invited artists from around the world.
The theme changes every year, and when the exhibition period ends, all of the sand sculptures are returned to sand, making them viewable only during that limited time.
Enjoy artwork that you can only encounter at that moment. Another nice point is that photography is allowed.

After visiting The Sand Museum at the Tottori Sand Dunes, head to JR Tottori Station from the nearest bus stop, Sakyu Bijutsukan-mae.
There are many restaurants around Tottori Station, so stop for lunch there.
The recommendation is gyukotsu ramen, one of Tottori’s signature local dishes.
Enjoy the sweet, richly savory soup made from beef bone broth.

After lunch, take the train to JR Kurayoshi Station.
From JR Kurayoshi Station, take a bus and get off at Akagawara, Shirakabe Dozo. From there, it is a 5-minute walk to Kurayoshi Shirakabe Dozogun.
Kurayoshi Shirakabe Dozogun is an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, where old merchant houses and storehouses built from the Edo period (1603–1868) to the Taisho period (1912–1926) line the Tamagawa River.
In the Edo period, this historic area developed around a jinya, an administrative center, with samurai residences built nearby, and its beautiful streetscape has earned it the nickname “Little Kyoto.”
The surrounding area is also home to many breweries and soy sauce makers, and it has been selected as one of Japan’s 100 Soundscapes and one of Japan’s 100 Beautiful Historic Landscapes.
Enjoy strolling through this atmospheric district.

Once you are tired from walking around Kurayoshi Shirakabe Dozogun, return to the Akagawara, Shirakabe Dozo bus stop and head to Misasa Onsen Kanko Shoko Center-mae.
After getting off the bus, you will arrive at Misasa Onsen.
The name Misasa Onsen comes from a legend that says if you stay for three nights and greet three mornings, any illness will be healed.
It is one of the world’s leading radioactive hot springs, containing a high concentration of radon, and is known as an old hot spring area recognized as Japan Heritage No. 1.
Along both banks of the Misasa River, charming hot spring inns stand alongside candy shops, sake breweries, and cafés, giving the area the nostalgic atmosphere of a traditional hot spring cure resort.
After strolling through the hot spring town, head to your accommodation for the first night, Misasakan.
Misasakan is a hot spring inn known for its 1,000-tsubo Japanese garden bath with free-flowing natural spring water.
Relax in the 12 baths inside the inn and enjoy seasonal kaiseki cuisine made with a strong focus on local production for local consumption to restore your energy.

Day 2 starts from JR Kurayoshi Station.
Take the JR Sanin Main Line from JR Kurayoshi Station to Yura Station. From Yura Station, it is Approx. a 20-minute walk to the Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory.

The Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory is a memorial museum dedicated to Gosho Aoyama, the creator of the popular manga Detective Conan, published in 25 countries around the world.
It displays materials related to Detective Conan as well as the history of Aoyama’s life, from his childhood and university days in Hokuei, where his hometown is located, to his success as a manga artist.
Inside the museum, you can enjoy exhibits showing the story behind the birth of Detective Conan, original drawings from the manga, and the manga creation process.
There is also a wide selection of rare original souvenirs available only here, so don’t forget to pick up a gift.

After immersing yourself in the world of Conan at the Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory, walk back to JR Yura Station.
Take the train from JR Yura Station, transfer at JR Yonago Station, and head to JR Sakaiminato Station.
From the station, take a taxi to Sakaiminato Suisanbutsu Chokuba Center.
Facing the Sea of Japan, Sakaiminato is one of Japan’s leading fishing ports, blessed with abundant seafood.
At Sakaiminato Suisanbutsu Chokuba Center, enjoy a luxurious lunch of fresh seafood such as matsuba crab, beni zuwai crab, and bluefin tuna.
There are rows of seafood shops, as well as eat-in spaces where you can enjoy the seafood you buy on the spot.

After filling up at Sakaiminato Suisanbutsu Chokuba Center, head to the Mizuki Shigeru Museum, about 20 minutes away on foot.
The Mizuki Shigeru Museum is a memorial museum in Sakaiminato City, the hometown of Shigeru Mizuki, best known for GeGeGe no Kitaro.
When you arrive, you are first welcomed at the “GeGeGe Entrance” by statues of Shigeru Mizuki and Kitaro.
Once inside and following the route, you will first see an introduction to “Shigeru Mizuki Manga World,” featuring the works of Mizuki.
There are also many exhibits where you can learn not only about Shigeru Mizuki’s life and his thoughts on manga and yokai, but also deepen your knowledge of yokai themselves.
Immerse yourself in the world of yokai and Shigeru Mizuki.

The Approx. 800 m road from the Mizuki Shigeru Museum to Sakaiminato Station is known as Mizuki Shigeru Road.
As you walk along it, you will be greeted by 177 bronze yokai statues, including characters from Shigeru Mizuki’s manga such as Kitaro, Medama Oyaji, and Nezumi Otoko.
Along the way, there are plenty of places to stop, including Yokai Shrine, a popular power spot, Kappa no Izumi where nine yokai relax, souvenir shops, and restaurants, so enjoy it while searching for yokai.
After sunset, you can also enjoy the eerily lit bronze yokai statues.