They can be your friends even you finish this trip. 2.You can rent long boots for free at the souvenir shops. Daisen. For your convenience, here is a list of some hotels in Tottori prefecture. So. Both were so amazing. Walk on fire at a festival at Sanbutsuji Temple. Stretching along the Sea of Japan, in the Chugoku region of Western Honshu, is a coastal prefecture that’s largely untouched by foreign visitors, at least for now. Share your travel photos with us by hashtagging your images with #visitjapanjp. 1 hour to Sand Dune by car. If you have any updates, suggestions, corrections or opinions, please let us know: Copyright © 1996-2020 japan-guide.com All Rights Reserved. I recommend spending the day exploring parts of the San’in Kaigan Geopark, to experience some incredible natural beauty! Almost at the end of the line, rabbit announces that he tricked the sharks so he could use them as a bridge. It tells the story of how a white rabbit, wanting to cross from Okinoshima Island, tricks some sharks into forming a bridge for it to cross. Yes Please! It was so interesting to see many of the places I’m planning on visiting carved with such detail in sand. Other local delicacies I recommend are Matsuba Crab and Tottori’s Japanese Beef. After 3 days in Tottori, I did not want to leave. … 1.If you want to see nice wind ripple, Please go there early. This page was last edited on 15 September 2020, at 19:56. Purchases made through links may earn us a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Hotel Monarque Tottori. From Yonago, I drove 25 minutes to the Tottori Hanakairo Flower Park, then about 30 minutes to the Mount Daisen area. This is the second time I went to Tottori Sand Dune. Make sure you check with the company that it will work everywhere in Tottori you will be traveling to, especially if you are going to Misasa. The name first appears in the Nihon shoki in the 23rd year of the Emperor Suinin (213 AD) when Yukuha Tana, an elder from the Izumo, visits the emperor. Along the way we stopped at Hakuto Shrine, a small place but home to an interesting legend. Tottori City (鳥取), the capital of Tottori Prefecture, is located in western Japan along the coast of the Sea of Japan. I couldn't believe the first time I heard that there is a desert in Tottori! I will try to go there again if there is a chance. Although on first glance Tottori didn’t look like what I associate with Japan, it definitely felt like Japan. Mitoku, I refreshed at a nearby onsen, then drove 20 mins to Kurayoshi for lunch. Fresh mountain air and alpine flowers await hikers atop Mt. As always, I speak only the truth and hosts have no editorial influence on articles. Inside, you can learn about Mizuki’s life and the Yokai (monsters and spirits in Japanese folklore) he drew. I couldn't believe the first time I heard that there is a desert in Tottori! (2005). So crisp and very juicy! I always love those little details! If you need to be connected, consider renting a pocket wi-fi device upon arrival in Japan. And I also recommend the company huberjapan. And getting on the plane. Simply breathtaking, My main attraction to come to Tottori was the sand dune! Airport Shuttles: From Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport, there is a shuttle bus to/from Tottori Station, where the tourist information office is. Plus, it was fun to laugh at my black lips and tongue afterwards! Situated on the Sea of Japan coast, Tottori is a delightfully unspoiled prefecture where traditional crafts and customs continue to be practiced in their original form. before I got there, it's really hard for me to imagine both the Sand Dune and the sea will be so close. A craft thought to date back to the 8th century, these speciality handmade papers are popular with calligraphers and washi fans alike. From Yonago Kitaro Airport, the shuttle bus goes to/from Yonago Station for ¥590. Tottori is a place where you can experience the diversity of Japan’s landscapes, often seeing scenery that you wouldn’t typically associate with Japan. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Those surprises were part of what made my trip to Tottori so much fun! The sky is blue , almost the same color as the sea. With a population of approximately 600,000 people, Tottori is the least populous prefecture in Japan. Shrines and temples, tucked away in the dense forest, connect visitors to the spirituality and traditions of Japan. Tottori Prefecture is heavily agricultural and its products are shipped to the major cities of Japan. #2 Best Value of 88 places to stay in Tottori. Daisen and its circular design made it easy to get around to the different gardens in the park. Daisen and Mt. So I want to visit again! It’s a popular place for those looking to get married. Unfortunately, sand dunes are not rare where I live, but I completely understand that this place is a bit special considering where it is. My Tottori itinerary gave me a good sense of the area, but there were a few places I could see myself returning to explore further, linger longer. I’d like to thank the Tottori Prefectural Government Tourism and Exchange Bureau for hosting me in order to bring you this story. Stretching along the Sea of Japan, in the Chugoku region of Western Honshu, is a coastal prefecture that’s largely untouched by foreign visitors, at least for now. Daisen is Tottori’s other major symbol and an excellent hike, as well as the site of the holy Daisen-ji. Tottori Prefecture (鳥取県, Tottori-ken) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu. Meet locals all over Japan in their own home to eat and cook. The first thing I did in Tottori was go on a sightseeing boat cruise of the Uradome Coast, in the San’in Kaigan Geopark. Read my full post about Mount Mitoku and Sanbutsuji Temple. Book your tickets online for the top things to do in Tottori, Japan on Tripadvisor: See 4,436 traveler reviews and photos of Tottori tourist attractions. The sports teams listed below are based in Tottori. Show Prices. Hakuto Beach Tottori prefecture is an ideal area of Japan to visit for people, like myself, who prefer smaller cities and towns without the big crowds. All Rights Reserved. Do you need to book in advance to visit Tottori Sand Dunes? Flights from Tokyo are about 1 hr 15 mins. APA Hotel Tottori Ekimae. Read my full post about the Tottori Sand Museum. Once you do it, you’ll know what I mean! Trains: Tottori prefecture is served by the West Japan Rail Company. Seeing how I love gardens, I had no doubt that I was going to enjoy Tottori Hanakairo Flower Park. Early residents in the area made their living catching the region's plentiful waterfowl. more, Points of Interest & Landmarks, Art Museums, Historic Sites, Points of Interest & Landmarks. What is your preferred length for a travel report video on YouTube? The #1 Best Value of 88 places to stay in Tottori. By the beginning of the Kamakura period (1185–1333) shōen estates were established to directly support the Imperial court and various temples. Daisen. The dunes are an impressive site, and a good starting point for exploring this underrated prefecture. Beyond the Tottori City area, the best way to explore the prefecture is to rent a car. Mt. There was beautiful scenery (both mountains and the sea), activities in nature, beaches, temples and shrines, hot springs to relax in, unique museums, traditional inns and good restaurants to enjoy the local food. It was enacted in 1968 to celebrate the 100th year from the first year of the Meiji Era. The top attractions to visit in Tottori are: What are the best outdoor activities in Tottori? I briefly visited the main temple of Daisen-ji before continuing up the path to Ogamiyama Shrine. After a morning climb up Mt. I had no idea that there were sand dunes in Japan, never mind such a big area of them! Hotels near Mythology Village Shirousagi Michi-no-Eki, Points of Interest & Landmarks in Tottori, Mythology Village Shirousagi Michi-no-Eki, See all 4 Tottori Sand Dunes tours on Tripadvisor, View all hotels near Tottori Sand Dunes on Tripadvisor, Murakami Seafoodtorttori Great Sand Dunes, View all restaurants near Tottori Sand Dunes on Tripadvisor, View all attractions near Tottori Sand Dunes on Tripadvisor. Legend has it that a paintbrush used on the fine, ultrasmooth Japanese handmade paper known as inshu washi will never wear out. This steep climb is a traditional training route for Buddhist monks because it requires a lot of concentration. Sweeping vistas of nature in all its glory, treasures of historical and cultural significance, and unforgettable delicacies found only here in Tottori. We passed by cliffs, sea caves and large, uniquely shaped rocks jutting out of the clear, blue sea. Mount Daisen was a great place to go on my last day in Tottori because it allowed me to experience the spirituality and nature so closely associated with Japan. My main attraction to come to Tottori was the sand dune! Highway buses connect Tottori and Yonago to Osaka and Hiroshima in three to four hours. Before leaving Tottori, I had to satisfy my ice cream craving so I stopped in at a small farm at the foot of Mt. The clan retained control of the area until throughout the Edo period (1603–1868) and the resources of the area financially and materially supported the shogunate. The sand, the sea and the vast sky, unbelievably beautiful combination! After lunch I headed to Sakaiminato City, hometown of Japanese manga author Shigeru Mizuki, famous for his comic and animation series “GeGeGe no Kitaro”. Perfect!!! Once in a row, the rabbit hops across their backs, counting them as he crosses the sea. What are the top attractions to visit in Tottori? This time is winter. You can tell which characters are the most famous because people will crowd around to have their picture taken with them! Mizuki Shigeru Road is lined on both sides with 153 bronze statues of Yokai characters. Daisen becomes a snow-covered playground. He could not speak English, and my Japanese is poor. Located a short distance from the center of Tottori City on the Sea of Japan coast, the massive Tottori Sand Dunes attract more than two million visitors every year. After the boat cruise, make sure you try the squid ink ice cream. I liked that Tottori wasn’t crowded like Tokyo and Kyoto. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Singapore. I was so happy to see it finally. The mountain backdrop wasn’t too bad either! Express trains and highway buses connect Tottori with many of western Japan's major cities such as Kyoto, Osaka, Himeji and Okayama. [9], The two provinces remained in place until the Meiji Restoration in 1868, and the boundaries of Tottori Prefecture were established in 1888. I couldn't see any camel this time. Of all the places I visited in Tottori, the Tottori Sand Dunes surprised me the most. We are Rhonda and Mike, a Canadian couple who make it a priority to travel every chance we get! As of 1 April 2012, 14% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks, namely the Daisen-Oki and Sanin Kaigan National Parks; Hiba-Dōgo-Taishaku and Hyōnosen-Ushiroyama-Nagisan Quasi-National Parks; and Misasa-Tōgōko, Nishi Inaba, and Okuhino Prefectural Natural Parks.[10].