Enjoy Sand Dunes and Character Worlds! 11 Recommended Tottori Sightseeing Spots for Family Trips

The Tottori Sand Dunes are a highly satisfying place to spend time and often become the centerpiece of a family trip.
Set aside plenty of time for playing in the sand and taking in the views, then build your day by adding nearby museums or hands-on facilities.

Tottori has several areas where character worlds come to life, including Mizuki Shigeru Road and the Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory.
Rather than visiting them as standalone stops, pair them with nearby town walks and facilities for an experience that feels like stepping into the story.

Eastern, central, and western Tottori Prefecture each offer very different types of attractions.
By giving each area a theme—the east with the sand dunes and airport, the center with its cultural facilities, and the west with its port towns and character-themed streets—you can reduce travel fatigue and keep your trip flowing smoothly.

Stretching along the Sea of Japan, these large-scale sand dunes cover Approx. 16 km east to west and Approx. 2.4 km north to south, with rolling terrain throughout. Designated as a Special Protection Zone and a National Natural Monument, they are one of Tottori Prefecture’s signature sightseeing spots.
As you walk over wind-carved sand ripples and steep sandy hills, you can experience scenery that changes with the time of day. Activities such as commemorative photos with camels and sandboarding are also available, making it a fun place to get active.

Located next to the dunes, this unique museum specializes in sand sculptures. The theme changes every year, and once the exhibition period ends, all of the sculptures return to sand, so they can only be seen for a limited time.
Created by sculptors from around the world using only sand and water, the works show incredible detail and seem almost ready to move. Each theme creates a different world, and walking through the exhibits feels like taking a journey.

This large play facility sits next to the Tottori Sand Dunes. Its Approx. 190,000-square-meter grounds feature a wide variety of playground equipment, including large athletic structures, a cycle monorail, a rail train, and unusual bicycles.
There are also hands-on workshops for woodworking, sand crafts, and pottery, so children can enjoy both active play and making things. With an all-weather aerial corridor-style playground and a book corner, it is a valuable spot for rainy days as well.

This hands-on mini aquarium introduces marine life with a focus on crabs. Located close to Tottori Port (Karo Port), it has been popular since opening in 2003 as a place where visitors can enjoy learning through crabs.
Inside, a wide variety of crabs are displayed, including Matsuba snow crabs and Japanese spider crabs, with tanks designed at children’s eye level. Through touch tanks, feeding experiences, and exhibits that recreate deep-sea environments, visitors can experience the world of living creatures up close.

This hands-on museum is themed around children’s songs and toys. Exhibits introduce everything from traditional nursery rhymes to modern songs, while shadow puppetry and recreated classrooms offer a way to experience Japan’s sound culture.
In addition to children’s songs and school songs, the museum highlights toys as well. It is a cultural facility that both young children and adults can truly enjoy, offering the chance to see, touch, play, and discover nostalgic scenes of Japan.

Japan’s only museum dedicated to pears offers a full range of pear-themed exhibits and experiences. Its more than 70-year-old pear tree, said to have produced Approx. 4,000 pears each year, is an impressive sight.
Inside, the museum introduces the history of pears and how they are grown, with plenty of hands-on exhibits such as the Wonder Garden. There are also corners where you can enjoy pear tastings and sweets, creating an experience that combines seeing, learning, and tasting.

This museum lets visitors trace the world of Detective Conan. Inside, exhibits introduce the story behind the creation of the famous Detective Conan series, original Detective Conan artwork, the manga production process, and behind-the-scenes stories of its creation.
Along with exhibits about the creator’s career and the background of his works, the museum also has a shop filled with original goods. There is even more to enjoy when you combine your visit with Conan Street and nearby spots.

This Approx. 800-meter sightseeing street is filled with the world of yokai, Japan’s folklore spirits. Along the way are 177 bronze yokai statues, including characters such as Kitaro and Medama Oyaji.
The route also features Yokai Shrine, popular as a power spot, Kappa Spring, where nine yokai relax, plus many souvenir shops and restaurants, making it fun to visit while searching for yokai. As you walk through streets that change character from day to night, you can step into the world of the story.

This Approx. 50-minute cruise takes you through Yonago’s old downtown and waterfront scenery. Enjoy the atmosphere of the historic townscape as you travel down the Kamo River, then take in views of Minatoyama Park and the Yonago Castle ruins from Lake Nakaumi.
The changing feel of the calm river current and the openness when the boat reaches the lake are part of the appeal, along with thrilling moments as the boat passes under bridges. Listening to the boatman’s commentary, you can leisurely enjoy the town’s history and scenery.

Located at the foot of Mount Daisen, this sightseeing farm offers animal encounters. Visitors can directly interact with goats, sheep, capybaras, rabbits, guinea pigs, and other small animals, and feeding experiences are also available.
There is a wide range of activities, including pony rides and milking experiences. The grounds also include athletic play equipment and a barbecue area, offering both active fun and food-related enjoyment.

One of Japan’s largest flower parks, this vast site overlooking Mount Daisen is filled with flowers. Visitors can enjoy a wide variety of plants year-round, and more than 100 kinds of flowers are cultivated and displayed, with lilies as the centerpiece.
In the Flower Dome, tropical and subtropical plants such as palm trees, along with more than Approx. 500 magnificent orchid plants, bloom beautifully. Covered corridors and scenic routes are also in place, so you can enjoy a variety of landscapes as you explore the park.

This hot spring inn stands in Kaike Onsen along the Sea of Japan and has a history dating back to 1927. It is known for attentive hospitality made possible by keeping the number of rooms at 19, the same as when it was founded.
From the large public bath and open-air baths, guests can look out over the Sea of Japan and Mount Daisen, and some guest rooms also come with private open-air baths. Private open-air baths are available as well, allowing families to relax comfortably together.

Approx. 3 minutes on foot from JR Tottori Station and Approx. 15 minutes by car from the Tottori Sand Dunes, this city hotel is a convenient base for sightseeing.
The hotel offers 135 rooms in a wide variety of styles, from single rooms ideal for business travelers to elegant Royal Suites and Japanese-style rooms that are reassuring for families with small children.
Inside, there are several dining options, including teppanyaki, Japanese cuisine, Chinese cuisine, and a buffet restaurant, making it easy to choose according to your stay style.

This wooden hot spring ryokan has been in operation since the Taisho period. The interior is a quiet, purely Japanese-style space, and the building, which preserves the atmosphere of the early Showa period, leaves a strong impression.
With only 13 rooms, this small inn lets guests leisurely enjoy kaiseki cuisine made with seafood landed in Sakaiminato in private dining rooms. It also features free-flowing natural hot spring baths and open-air baths, offering a peaceful setting to recover from your travels.