Five days in Tottori: continue west or split the east and centre?
For yokai sculptures and Yonago Castle Ruins, stay two nights in Tottori, one in Kurayoshi and one in Yonago. For more time at Tottori Castle Ruins and Utsubuki Park, stay three in Tottori and one in Kurayoshi. East/central route costs exclude a Yonago return trip.
Choose an itinerary for 5 days / 4 nights
Move west through Tottori, Kurayoshi and Yonago
Stay two nights in Tottori, one in Kurayoshi and one in Yonago. Visit dunes and exhibition, Tottori Castle Ruins, warehouse streets and the yokai museum in sequence, leaving Yonago Castle Ruins for the final day.
Move west through Tottori, Kurayoshi and Yonago →5 days / 4 nights BCastle ruins and parks in the east and centre
Stay three nights in Tottori followed by one in Kurayoshi. Give the dunes walk and sand exhibition a day each, followed by a castle-ruins day, then move to Kurayoshi for the warehouse streets and park.
Castle ruins and parks in the east and centre →Move west through Tottori, Kurayoshi and Yonago
Stay two nights in Tottori, one in Kurayoshi and one in Yonago. Visit dunes and exhibition, Tottori Castle Ruins, warehouse streets and the yokai museum in sequence, leaving Yonago Castle Ruins for the final day.
Day 1: begin in Tottori with dunes and museum
Begin in Tottori with the dunes and museum.
- 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 castle gates, then Tottori
Visit Tottori Castle Ruins and Kyusho Park on a separate day from the dunes.
- 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
Return to Tottori Station on the same loop bus from the park-front stop. Stay in Tottori again tonight.
Day 3: warehouse streets and a central Tottori night
Walk the warehouse streets, then stay in central Tottori.
- 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 4: move to Yonago for Mizuki's work and street sculptures
Move to Yonago for Mizuki's work and street sculptures.
- Kurayoshi accommodation → Yonago Station / new accommodation
From Kurayoshi, take a JR San-in Line train towards Yonago. Make Yonago your new base for a Sakai Line return trip to Sakaiminato. Choose intercity and return Sakai Line services that leave enough museum time.
- 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 5: Yonago Castle Ruins, finishing at the station
Visit Yonago Castle Ruins, then finish at the station.
- 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: The Sand Museum JPY 800 + Mizuki Shigeru Museum JPY 1,000 + Sakyu Line JPY 760 + castle-area Kururi buses JPY 200 + warehouse-street route 11 JPY 620 + Tottori–Kurayoshi JR JPY 680 + Kurayoshi–Yonago JR JPY 990 + 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 Sand Museum guideOfficial Mizuki Shigeru Museum guideOperator's route 39 timetable and faresRoute 41 timetableHinomaru routes and faresRoute 11 Yashiro Line timetables by dayJR trains and fare searchKururi fares and dated servicesCity tourism guide to castle ruins and access
Castle ruins and parks in the east and centre
Stay three nights in Tottori followed by one in Kurayoshi. Give the dunes walk and sand exhibition a day each, followed by a castle-ruins day, then move to Kurayoshi for the warehouse streets and park.
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: time for restored castle gates and Kyusho Park
Explore the restored castle gates and Kyusho Park.
- 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; the mountain summit is excluded. If walking further towards Ninomaru, add about 10 minutes from the park.
- Kyusho Park → Tottori Station / accommodation
Return to Tottori Station on the same loop bus from the park-front stop. Stay in Tottori again tonight.
Day 4: move base for Kurayoshi's warehouse streets
Move your base to visit Kurayoshi's 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 5: finish with Utsubuki Park
Finish with a walk in Utsubuki Park.
- 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 return JPY 760 × 2 days = JPY 1,520 + Kururi buses JPY 200 + 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 41 timetableHinomaru routes and faresKururi fares and dated servicesRoute 11 Yashiro Line timetables by dayJR trains and fare searchCurrent linked Yokota Line fare table
Frequently asked questions
Does a three-day pass cover the whole five-day itinerary?
The Tottori–Matsue Pass is valid for three consecutive days on designated trains and buses. The westward route's intercity JR and Sakai Line travel falls on days three and four, but Sakyu Line, Kururi and Kurayoshi buses are budgeted separately. Accommodation, meals and admission are extra.
JR trains and fare searchJR Tottori–Matsue Pass coverage and eligibility
Is the pass cheaper for Tottori, Kurayoshi, Yonago and Sakaiminato?
The westward route's day-three/four JR base fares total JPY 2,330: Tottori–Kurayoshi JPY 680, Kurayoshi–Yonago JPY 990 and Sakai Line return JPY 660. For these local trains alone, ordinary tickets cost less than the adult three-day JPY 4,000 pass. The route's JPY 5,710 subtotal includes buses and admission, so compare only eligible rail travel with the JR pass. Extra limited expresses, journeys and return connections are separate.
JR trains and fare searchJR Tottori–Matsue Pass coverage and eligibility
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 ·
- Official Mizuki Shigeru Museum guide ·
- City tourism guide to castle ruins and access ·
- Kururi fares and dated services ·
- Tourism guide to the park ·
- City park access guide ·
- 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 ·
- 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 ·
- JR Tottori–Matsue Pass coverage and eligibility ·