Three days in Tottori: stay in the east or move to Kurayoshi?
For separate days at the dunes, Sand Museum and city castle ruins, stay two nights in Tottori. Alternatively, combine dunes and exhibition on day one, then move to Kurayoshi for the warehouses and Utsubuki Park. The Tottori stay ends at Tottori Station; the Kurayoshi move ends at Kurayoshi Station.
Choose a 3 days, 2 nights itinerary
From the dunes to Kurayoshi
Spend one night in Tottori, then one in Kurayoshi. After the dunes and sand exhibition, change hotels for the warehouse district walk, then visit Utsubuki Park on the final day.
From the dunes to Kurayoshi →3 days, 2 nights BStay in eastern Tottori
Stay two nights near Tottori Station. Walk the outdoor dunes on day one, visit the indoor sand exhibition on day two and see the city castle ruins on the final day, all from one hotel.
Stay in eastern Tottori →From the dunes to Kurayoshi
Spend one night in Tottori, then one in Kurayoshi. After the dunes and sand exhibition, change hotels for the warehouse district walk, then visit Utsubuki Park on the final day.
Day 1: dunes and museum, then your first Tottori night
Dunes and museum, then your first Tottori night
- 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: move to Kurayoshi and walk the warehouse district
Move to Kurayoshi and walk the warehouse district
- Tottori hotel → Kurayoshi Station and new hotel
Take a Kurayoshi-bound JR San-in Line train from Tottori Station. Kurayoshi becomes your base today for a warehouse district visit and return to the station. Connect the intercity train and local bus using official searches for your date.
- Kurayoshi Station → White-walled warehouse district
From Kurayoshi Station bay 2, take route 11, the Yashiro Line via Park Square, to Akagawara/Shirakabe Dozo (赤瓦・白壁土蔵). Walk about five minutes to the district. The fare differs from the route through the city, so choose the same routing both ways.
Kurayoshi bus bays and return guidanceRoute 11 Yashiro Line timetables by dayOpen the official Kurayoshi White Wall Warehouses guide
- Warehouse district entrance → Tamagawa and street walk
Allow 90–120 minutes for the warehouses and Tamagawa walk, and about 60 minutes for lunch. Beef-bone ramen is a meal option; individual restaurant hours and prices are separate.
- Warehouse district → Kurayoshi hotel
Return to Akagawara/Shirakabe Dozo stop and take a Kurayoshi Station-bound bus. The same Park Square routing costs JPY 620 return per adult. Stay in Kurayoshi tonight.
Kurayoshi bus bays and return guidanceRoute 11 Yashiro Line timetables by day
Day 3: Utsubuki Park, then departure from Kurayoshi
Utsubuki Park, then departure from Kurayoshi
- Kurayoshi Station and hotel → Utsubuki Park entrance
From Kurayoshi Station bay 2, take route 12, the Yokota Line via the art museum, Park Square and city hall, to Shiyakusho/Utsubuki Koen Iriguchi (市役所・打吹公園入口). The tourism body gives a ride of about 17 minutes, then a walk of about five minutes to the park. Adult fares on this routing are JPY 230 one way or JPY 460 return.
Route 12 weekday and weekend/public-holiday timetablesCity’s park access explanationCurrent Yokota Line connecting 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 summit trekking and another visit to yesterday’s warehouse district.
- Utsubuki Park → Kurayoshi Station and hotel
Return to Shiyakusho/Utsubuki Koen Iriguchi and choose a depot-bound bus passing Kurayoshi Station. This itinerary finishes at Kurayoshi Station, excluding JR travel back to Tottori. Check the official timetable for a return service you can catch after the visit and walk to the stop.
Route 12 weekday and weekend/public-holiday timetablesKurayoshi bus bays and return guidanceCurrent Yokota Line connecting fare table
Included: The Sand Museum JPY 800 + Sand Dunes Line JPY 760 + warehouse route 11 JPY 620 + Tottori–Kurayoshi JR JPY 680 + Utsubuki Park route 12 bus JPY 230 × 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 Sand Museum’s official guideOperator’s ordinary route 39 timetable and faresRoute 11 Yashiro Line timetables by dayHinomaru routes and faresJR train and fare searchCurrent Yokota Line connecting fare table
Stay in eastern Tottori
Stay two nights near Tottori Station. Walk the outdoor dunes on day one, visit the indoor sand exhibition on day two and see the city castle ruins on the final day, all from one hotel.
Day 1: walk the dune hills and beach
A dune walk and 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 walk and lunch.
Operator’s ordinary route 39 timetable and faresNorth exit bay 0 and direction-specific stops
- Dunes entrance → Dune walk and lunch
Allow a suggested 60–90 minutes for the dune hills and beach. Lunch and the approach walk take extra time. Today leaves time for the dunes without adding an indoor exhibition.
Open the official Tottori Sand Dunes guideAdditional transport and operating guidance
- Dunes entrance → Tottori hotel
Leave through the same entrance and take the Tottori Station-bound route 39 from Sakyu Kaikan (砂丘会館（鳥取砂丘）). Choose a return service after your walk and lunch, then stay in Tottori.
Operator’s ordinary route 39 timetable and faresNorth exit bay 0 and direction-specific stops
Day 2: a separate Sand Museum visit
Indoor exhibits on a separate day from yesterday’s dune walk
- Tottori Station and hotel → Suna no Bijutsukan-mae
Take route 39 from bay 0 at Tottori Station’s north bus terminal to Suna no Bijutsukan-mae (砂の美術館前). Follow facility signs to the main entrance. Today is for indoor exhibits; do not climb yesterday’s dune hills again. Choose your return service after the visit.
Operator’s ordinary route 39 timetable and faresNorth exit bay 0 and direction-specific stops
- 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 3: a short castle park walk, then Tottori Station
A short castle park walk, then Tottori 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 return JPY 760 × 2 days = JPY 1,520 + 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 faresRoute 41 timetableHinomaru routes and faresKururi fares and date-specific services
Frequently asked questions
Do the warehouses and park use the same bus from Kurayoshi Station?
For the warehouses, take route 11 via Park Square to Akagawara/Shirakabe Dozo; for the park, take route 12 Yokota Line to Shiyakusho/Utsubuki Koen Iriguchi. Return fares are JPY 620 and JPY 460 respectively; do not swap them in calculations.
Route 11 Yashiro Line timetables by dayRoute 12 weekday and weekend/public-holiday timetablesCurrent Yokota Line connecting fare tableHinomaru routes and fares
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 Kurayoshi White Wall Warehouses guide ·
- Kurayoshi bus bays and return guidance ·
- City tourism body’s castle ruins and access guide ·
- Kururi fares and date-specific services ·
- Tourism body’s park introduction ·
- City’s park access explanation ·
- Operator’s ordinary route 39 timetable and fares ·
- North exit bay 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 train and fare search ·
- Current Yokota Line connecting fare table ·