Three days in Tottori: stay east or move to Kurayoshi?
For a day each at the dunes, museum and city castle ruins, stay two nights in Tottori. Alternatively, combine dunes and exhibition on day one, then move to Kurayoshi for warehouses and Utsubuki Park. The first route ends at Tottori Station; the second ends at Kurayoshi Station.
Choose an itinerary for 3 days / 2 nights
Dunes, then Kurayoshi
Stay one night in Tottori followed by one in Kurayoshi. After the dunes and sand sculptures, move accommodation for a warehouse-street walk, then Utsubuki Park on the final day.
Dunes, then Kurayoshi →3 days / 2 nights BStay in eastern Tottori
Stay two nights near Tottori Station. Split the outdoor dunes walk, indoor sand exhibition and city castle ruins across three days from one accommodation base.
Stay in eastern Tottori →Dunes, then Kurayoshi
Stay one night in Tottori followed by one in Kurayoshi. After the dunes and sand sculptures, move accommodation for a warehouse-street walk, then Utsubuki Park on the final day.
Day 1: dunes and museum before a Tottori night
Visit the dunes and museum 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: move to Kurayoshi and walk the warehouse streets
Move to Kurayoshi and walk the warehouse streets.
- Tottori accommodation → Kurayoshi Station / new accommodation
From Tottori Station, take a JR San-in Line train towards Kurayoshi. Make Kurayoshi your base from today, with a warehouse-street visit and return to the station. Match intercity trains and Kurayoshi buses using dated official timetables.
- Kurayoshi Station → White-walled warehouse streets
From stand 2 at Kurayoshi Station, take route 11, the Yashiro Line via Park Square, to Akagawara / White Wall Warehouses (赤瓦・白壁土蔵). Walk about five minutes to the streets. City-centre services have different fares, so choose the same route for both directions.
Kurayoshi boarding points and return guideRoute 11 Yashiro Line timetables by dayOfficial Kurayoshi White Wall Warehouses guide
- Warehouse-street entrance → Tamagawa and street walk
Allow 90–120 minutes for the warehouse streets and Tamagawa, and roughly 60 minutes for lunch. Beef-bone broth ramen is a meal option; check actual restaurant opening and prices separately.
- Warehouse streets → Kurayoshi accommodation
Return to the Akagawara / White Wall Warehouses stop for a Kurayoshi Station-bound bus. Using the same Park Square route both ways costs JPY 620 for adults. Stay in Kurayoshi tonight.
Kurayoshi boarding points and return guideRoute 11 Yashiro Line timetables by day
Day 3: Utsubuki Park before leaving Kurayoshi
Visit Utsubuki Park before leaving Kurayoshi.
- Kurayoshi Station / accommodation → Utsubuki Park entrance
From Kurayoshi Station stand 2, take route 12, the Yokota Line via the museum, Park Square and city hall, to City Hall / Utsubuki Park Entrance (市役所・打吹公園入口). The tourism guide lists about 17 minutes on the bus, then roughly five minutes on foot. Adult fares are JPY 230 one way, JPY 460 return.
Route 12 weekday and weekend/public holiday timetablesCity park access guideCurrent linked Yokota Line fare tableHinomaru routes and fares
- Utsubuki Park entrance → Pond and lower park walk
Allow 45–60 minutes for the pond and lower park. This excludes a summit hike and does not repeat yesterday's warehouse-street visit.
- Utsubuki Park → Kurayoshi Station / accommodation
Return to the City Hall / Utsubuki Park Entrance stop and choose a depot-bound bus via Kurayoshi Station. This route ends at Kurayoshi; JR back to Tottori is excluded. Choose an official return service with time for the visit and walk to the stop.
Route 12 weekday and weekend/public holiday timetablesKurayoshi boarding points and return guideCurrent linked Yokota Line fare table
Included: The Sand Museum JPY 800 + Sakyu Line JPY 760 + warehouse-street route 11 JPY 620 + Tottori–Kurayoshi JR JPY 680 + park route 12 JPY 230 × 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 Sand Museum guideOperator's route 39 timetable and faresRoute 11 Yashiro Line timetables by dayHinomaru routes and faresJR trains and fare searchCurrent linked Yokota Line fare table
Stay in eastern Tottori
Stay two nights near Tottori Station. Split the outdoor dunes walk, indoor sand exhibition and city castle ruins across three days from one accommodation base.
Day 1: dunes and shore walk
Walk the dunes and stay in Tottori.
- Tottori Station / accommodation → Dunes entrance
From Tottori Station's north bus terminal stand 0, take route 39, the Sakyu Line, to Sakyu Kaikan (砂丘会館（鳥取砂丘）). Follow signs to the dunes entrance. Choose official outbound and return services that allow time for the walk and lunch.
Operator's route 39 timetable and faresNorth exit stand 0 and direction-specific stops
- Dunes entrance → Dunes walk and lunch
Allow a suggested 60–90 minutes for the dunes and shore, with lunch and entrance access separately. Leave the indoor exhibition for tomorrow and take your time walking today.
Official Tottori Sand Dunes guideAdditional transport and opening information
- Dunes entrance → Tottori accommodation
Return through the same entrance to Sakyu Kaikan (砂丘会館（鳥取砂丘）) and take a Tottori Station-bound route 39 bus. Choose a service after your walk and lunch, then stay in Tottori.
Operator's route 39 timetable and faresNorth exit stand 0 and direction-specific stops
Day 2: a separate visit to The Sand Museum
Visit the indoor exhibition on a separate day from your dunes walk.
- Tottori Station / accommodation → Suna-no-Bijutsukan-mae
From Tottori Station's north bus terminal stand 0, take route 39 to Suna-no-Bijutsukan-mae (砂の美術館前). Follow signs to the main entrance. Today is for the indoor exhibition without repeating yesterday's dunes climb. Choose a return bus to the station.
Operator's route 39 timetable and faresNorth exit stand 0 and direction-specific stops
- 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 3: a short castle-park walk and return to Tottori Station
Take a short castle-park walk, then return to Tottori 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 return JPY 760 × 2 days = JPY 1,520 + 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 faresRoute 41 timetableHinomaru routes and faresKururi fares and dated services
Frequently asked questions
Do I use the same Kurayoshi bus for warehouses and park?
For warehouses, take route 11 via Park Square to Akagawara / White Wall Warehouses. For the park, take route 12 Yokota Line to City Hall / Utsubuki Park Entrance. Return fares differ: JPY 620 and JPY 460 respectively.
Route 11 Yashiro Line timetables by dayRoute 12 weekday and weekend/public holiday timetablesCurrent linked Yokota Line fare tableHinomaru routes and fares
Official sources and dates checked
- Official Tottori Sand Dunes guide ·
- Official Sand Museum guide ·
- Additional transport and opening information ·
- Official Kurayoshi White Wall Warehouses guide ·
- Kurayoshi boarding points and return guide ·
- City tourism guide to castle ruins and access ·
- Kururi fares and dated services ·
- Tourism guide to the park ·
- City park access guide ·
- Operator's route 39 timetable and fares ·
- North exit stand 0 and direction-specific stops ·
- Route 41 timetable ·
- Hinomaru routes and fares ·
- Route 11 Yashiro Line timetables by day ·
- Route 12 weekday and weekend/public holiday timetables ·
- JR trains and fare search ·
- Current linked Yokota Line fare table ·