Two days in Tottori: dunes base or Yonago base?
Stay near Tottori Station for dunes, museum and Tottori Castle Ruins, or near Yonago for yokai street and Yonago Castle Ruins. JR between the cities takes time, with extra bus or train travel to the attractions. For two days, choose one side to leave more time for sightseeing.
Choose an itinerary for 2 days / 1 night
Dunes, sand sculptures and city castle ruins
Stay one night near Tottori Station. Visit the dunes and sand sculptures on day one, then the city castle ruins on the final day.
Dunes, sand sculptures and city castle ruins →2 days / 1 night BYokai street and Yonago Castle Ruins
Stay one night near Yonago Station. Visit Sakaiminato's yokai street and museum on day one, then climb Yonago Castle Ruins on the final day.
Yokai street and Yonago Castle Ruins →Dunes, sand sculptures and city castle ruins
Stay one night near Tottori Station. Visit the dunes and sand sculptures on day one, then the city castle ruins on the final day.
Day 1: dunes and sand sculptures, then a Tottori night
Visit the dunes and sand sculptures before staying in Tottori.
- Tottori Station / accommodation → Dunes entrance
From stand 0 at Tottori Station's north bus terminal, take route 39, the Sakyu Line, to its terminus at Sakyu Kaikan (砂丘会館（鳥取砂丘）). Follow signs to the dunes entrance. Choose outbound and return buses together in the official timetable, allowing time for the dunes and exhibition.
Operator's route 39 timetable and faresNorth exit stand 0 and direction-specific stops
- Dunes entrance → The Sand Museum
Allow 60–90 minutes for the dunes and shore, with lunch separately. Then follow signs to The Sand Museum's main entrance. Walking between the two is extra to this visiting time.
Official Tottori Sand Dunes guideAdditional transport and opening information
- Museum entrance → Exhibition visit
Allow 60–90 minutes for the exhibition. The current exhibition runs until 3 January 2027, with closure during exhibition changes. Check dates in the attraction guide. The main entrance opens 09:00–18:00, last admission 17:30. Outside the exhibition period, omit the interior visit and its JPY 800 admission.
- The Sand Museum → Tottori accommodation
Return on a Tottori Station-bound Sakyu Line bus from Suna-no-Bijutsukan-mae (砂の美術館前). Choose a service with enough time to walk to the stop after the exhibition. Stay in Tottori tonight.
Operator's route 39 timetable and faresNorth exit stand 0 and direction-specific stops
Day 2: Kyusho Park and restored gates, then the station
Walk through Kyusho Park and past the restored gates before returning to the station.
- Tottori Station / accommodation → Kyusho Park entrance
From Tottori Station, take the green Kururi loop bus to Jinpukaku / Prefectural Museum (仁風閣・県立博物館). The lower park at Tottori Castle Ruins is just in front of the stop.
Kururi fares and dated servicesCity tourism guide to castle ruins and access
- Kyusho Park entrance → Restored gates and stone walls
Allow 60–90 minutes for restored gates, bridges, stone walls and the lower park. Jinpukaku's interior is closed for works. This route excludes the mountain summit.
- Kyusho Park → Tottori Station / accommodation
Take the same loop bus from the stop in front of the park back to Tottori Station. On departure day, allow preparation time after reaching the station.
Included: The Sand Museum JPY 800 + Sakyu Line JPY 760 + Kururi buses JPY 200.
Extra costs and conditions: Accommodation, meals, airport travel, luggage storage and unlisted transport are extra. Paid activities and separate attractions are excluded. Choose return services for your actual dates.
Official Sand Museum guideOperator's route 39 timetable and faresKururi fares and dated services
Yokai street and Yonago Castle Ruins
Stay one night near Yonago Station. Visit Sakaiminato's yokai street and museum on day one, then climb Yonago Castle Ruins on the final day.
Day 1: Yonago to Sakaiminato's yokai street
Travel from Yonago to walk Sakaiminato's yokai street.
- Yonago Station → Mizuki Shigeru Museum
At Yonago, take the JR Sakai Line to its Sakaiminato terminus. Walk roughly 10 minutes along Mizuki Shigeru Road to the museum. Use the official search to choose a return train to Yonago.
JR trains and fare searchOfficial Mizuki Shigeru Museum guide
- Museum entrance → Exhibition and street walk
After the 09:30 opening, allow 60–90 minutes for the exhibition, plus roughly 60 minutes each for street sculptures and lunch. Admission ends at 16:30; if arriving late, shorten the visit or change the day.
- Museum / street → Yonago accommodation
Walk back along the yokai street to Sakaiminato Station and take the Sakai Line towards Yonago. The JR base fare is JPY 660 return. Stay in Yonago tonight.
Day 2: Yonago Castle Ruins before departure
Visit Yonago Castle Ruins before departure.
- Yonago Station / accommodation → Masugata entrance to the ruins
Walk about 15 minutes from Yonago Station to the castle ruins' Masugata entrance. There are no lockers at the ruins; check storage at the station or accommodation first if carrying large bags.
Official castle-ruins accessCity tourism and luggage-storage guide
- Masugata entrance → View from the former keep site
Add about 20 minutes for the uphill path to the keep site, then 20–30 minutes for the view. Skip the summit for a morning flight.
Official castle-ruins accessCity tourism and luggage-storage guide
- Former keep site → Yonago Station / accommodation
Descend by the same path, through the Masugata entrance, and return to Yonago Station. The roughly 20-minute ascent excludes descent and the complete return trip. Skip the summit if rain makes paths slippery or departure time is too close. This route ends at Yonago Station; airport transport is separate.
Official castle-ruins accessCity tourism and luggage-storage guide
Included: Mizuki Shigeru Museum JPY 1,000 + Sakai Line JPY 330 × 2 rides.
Extra costs and conditions: Accommodation, meals, airport travel, luggage storage and unlisted transport are extra. Paid activities and separate attractions are excluded. Choose return services for your actual dates.
Official Mizuki Shigeru Museum guideJR trains and fare search
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit Sakaiminato while staying in Yonago?
This route uses a Sakai Line return trip from Yonago to Sakaiminato. The museum is about 10 minutes on foot from Sakaiminato Station; the subtotal includes JR base fares of JPY 660 return and museum admission of JPY 1,000. Choose actual dated trains again before travel.
Official Mizuki Shigeru Museum guideJR trains and fare search
Official sources and dates checked
- Official Tottori Sand Dunes guide ·
- Official Sand Museum guide ·
- Additional transport and opening information ·
- Official Mizuki Shigeru Museum guide ·
- City tourism guide to castle ruins and access ·
- Kururi fares and dated services ·
- Official castle-ruins access ·
- City tourism and luggage-storage guide ·
- Operator's route 39 timetable and fares ·
- North exit stand 0 and direction-specific stops ·
- JR trains and fare search ·