Two days in Tottori: stay in the dune area or Yonago area?
Stay one night near Tottori Station for the dunes, Sand Museum and Tottori Castle Ruins, or Yonago Station for the yokai street and Yonago Castle Ruins. JR travel between the stations takes time, with further buses or trains to the dunes and Sakaiminato. For two days, choose one side to spend more time sightseeing than travelling.
Choose a 2 days, 1 night itinerary
Dunes, sand exhibitions and city castle ruins
Stay one night near Tottori Station. Visit the dunes and sand exhibition on day one, then the city castle ruins on the final day.
Dunes, sand exhibitions and city castle ruins →2 days, 1 night BThe yokai street and Yonago Castle Ruins
Stay one night near Yonago Station. See Sakaiminato’s yokai street and museum on day one, then climb to Yonago Castle Ruins on the final day.
The yokai street and Yonago Castle Ruins →Dunes, sand exhibitions and city castle ruins
Stay one night near Tottori Station. Visit the dunes and sand exhibition on day one, then the city castle ruins on the final day.
Day 1: dunes and sand exhibition, then a Tottori stay
Dunes and sand exhibition, then a Tottori stay
- Tottori Station and hotel → Dunes entrance
Take route 39, the Sand Dunes Line, from bay 0 at Tottori Station’s north bus terminal to the final stop, Sakyu Kaikan (砂丘会館（鳥取砂丘）). Follow signs to the dunes entrance. Choose both buses in the official timetable so you can return after the dune walk and exhibition.
Operator’s ordinary route 39 timetable and faresNorth exit bay 0 and direction-specific stops
- Dunes entrance → The Sand Museum
Allow 60–90 minutes for the dune hills and beach, with lunch separate. Then follow on-site signs to The Sand Museum’s main entrance. Walking between the two places is outside that visit estimate.
Open the official Tottori Sand Dunes guideAdditional transport and operating guidance
- The Sand Museum entrance → Exhibition visit
Allow 60–90 minutes for the exhibition. The current exhibition runs through January 3, 2027; the museum closes during exhibition changeovers. Check the exhibition period in the attraction guide. The main entrance opens 09:00–18:00, last admission 17:30. Outside the exhibition period, omit the indoor visit and its JPY 800 admission expense.
- The Sand Museum → Tottori hotel
Return on the Tottori Station-bound Sand Dunes Line from Suna no Bijutsukan-mae (砂の美術館前). Choose a bus allowing time to walk to the stop after the exhibition. Stay in Tottori tonight.
Operator’s ordinary route 39 timetable and faresNorth exit bay 0 and direction-specific stops
Day 2: Kyusho Park and restored gates, then the station
Kyusho Park and restored gates, then the station
- Tottori Station and hotel → Kyusho Park entrance
Take the green Kururi loop bus from Tottori Station to Jinpukaku/Kenritsu Hakubutsukan (仁風閣・県立博物館). Walk into the park below Tottori Castle Ruins, in front of the stop.
Kururi fares and date-specific servicesCity tourism body’s castle ruins and access guide
- Kyusho Park entrance → Restored gates and stone walls
Allow 60–90 minutes for the restored gates, bridge, stone walls and lower park. Jinpukaku’s interior is closed for works, and the mountain summit is excluded from this route.
- Kyusho Park → Tottori Station and hotel
Take the same loop bus from the stop in front of the park back to Tottori Station. On the final day, allow departure preparations after station arrival.
Included: The Sand Museum JPY 800 + Sand Dunes Line JPY 760 + Kururi JPY 200.
Extra costs and conditions: Accommodation, meals, airport travel, luggage storage and transport not listed in the table cost extra. Paid experiences and separate facility admission are excluded. Choose return services for your travel date.
Open The Sand Museum’s official guideOperator’s ordinary route 39 timetable and faresKururi fares and date-specific services
The yokai street and Yonago Castle Ruins
Stay one night near Yonago Station. See Sakaiminato’s yokai street and museum on day one, then climb to Yonago Castle Ruins on the final day.
Day 1: from Yonago to Sakaiminato’s yokai street
From Yonago to Sakaiminato’s yokai street
- Yonago Station → Mizuki Shigeru Museum
Take the Sakaiminato-bound JR Sakai Line from Yonago to its terminus. Walk about 10 minutes along Mizuki Shigeru Road to the museum. Choose your return train to Yonago in the official search.
JR train and fare searchOpen the official Mizuki Shigeru Museum guide
- Museum entrance → Exhibitions and street walk
After the 09:30 opening, allow 60–90 minutes for exhibitions, about 60 minutes for street sculptures and another 60 for lunch. Admission ends at 16:30; for a late arrival, shorten the visit or change the visit date.
- Museum and street → Yonago hotel
Walk back along the yokai street to Sakaiminato Station and take the Yonago-bound Sakai Line. The JR base fare is JPY 660 return. Stay in Yonago tonight.
Day 2: Yonago Castle Ruins before departure
Yonago Castle Ruins before departure
- Yonago Station and hotel → Castle ruins Masugata entrance
Walk about 15 minutes from Yonago Station to the castle ruins’ Masugata entrance. There are no coin lockers at the ruins; check station or hotel storage first if you have large luggage.
Official castle ruins accessCity tourism body and luggage storage guidance
- Masugata entrance → Views from the former castle keep site
Add about 20 minutes up the ascent path to the keep site, then 20–30 minutes for views. Omit the summit for a morning flight.
Official castle ruins accessCity tourism body and luggage storage guidance
- Former keep site → Yonago Station and hotel
Descend by the same route through Masugata and return to Yonago Station. Do not treat the roughly 20-minute climb as the descent time or entire return walk. Omit the summit if rain makes the path slippery or time before departure is short. This itinerary ends at Yonago Station; airport travel costs extra.
Official castle ruins accessCity tourism body and luggage storage guidance
Included: Mizuki Shigeru Museum JPY 1,000 + Sakai Line JPY 330 × 2.
Extra costs and conditions: Accommodation, meals, airport travel, luggage storage and transport not listed in the table cost extra. Paid experiences and separate facility admission are excluded. Choose return services for your travel date.
Open the official Mizuki Shigeru Museum guideJR train and fare search
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit Sakaiminato while staying in Yonago?
This route takes the Sakai Line return from Yonago to Sakaiminato. The museum is about 10 minutes on foot from Sakaiminato Station; the subtotal includes JPY 660 JR return base fare and JPY 1,000 museum admission. Choose actual return services again for your date.
Open the official Mizuki Shigeru Museum guideJR train and fare search
Official sources and check dates
- Open the official Tottori Sand Dunes guide ·
- Open The Sand Museum’s official guide ·
- Additional transport and operating guidance ·
- Open the official Mizuki Shigeru Museum guide ·
- City tourism body’s castle ruins and access guide ·
- Kururi fares and date-specific services ·
- Official castle ruins access ·
- City tourism body and luggage storage guidance ·
- Operator’s ordinary route 39 timetable and fares ·
- North exit bay 0 and direction-specific stops ·
- JR train and fare search ·