Five days in Tottori: continue west or split the east and centre?
For yokai sculptures and Yonago Castle Ruins too, move west with two Tottori nights, one Kurayoshi night and one Yonago night. For more time at Tottori Castle Ruins and Utsubuki Park, choose three Tottori nights and one Kurayoshi night. The eastern/central itinerary adds no Yonago return journey to its costs.
Choose a 5 days, 4 nights itinerary
Move west through Tottori, Kurayoshi and Yonago
Spend two nights in Tottori, one in Kurayoshi and one in Yonago. Visit the dunes and exhibition, Tottori Castle Ruins, warehouses and yokai museum in order, 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
Spend three nights in Tottori followed by one in Kurayoshi. Give the dune walk and sand exhibition separate days and another day to the castle ruins, then move to Kurayoshi for the warehouses and park.
Castle ruins and parks in the east and centre →Move west through Tottori, Kurayoshi and Yonago
Spend two nights in Tottori, one in Kurayoshi and one in Yonago. Visit the dunes and exhibition, Tottori Castle Ruins, warehouses and yokai museum in order, leaving Yonago Castle Ruins for the final day.
Day 1: start in Tottori with the dunes and museum
Start in Tottori with the dunes and museum
- 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 castle gates, then Tottori
Tottori Castle Ruins and Kyusho Park separately from the dunes
- 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. Stay in Tottori again tonight.
Day 3: warehouses and a central-area stay
Warehouses and a central-area stay
- 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 4: move to Yonago for Mizuki’s work and street sculptures
Move to Yonago for Mizuki’s work and street sculptures
- Kurayoshi hotel → Yonago Station and new hotel
Take a Yonago-bound JR San-in Line train from Kurayoshi Station. Use Yonago as your new base today for a Sakai Line return trip to Sakaiminato. Choose the intercity train and both Sakai Line services to leave enough museum visiting time.
- 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 5: Yonago Castle Ruins, finishing at the station
Yonago Castle Ruins, finishing at the station
- 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: The Sand Museum JPY 800 + Mizuki Shigeru Museum JPY 1,000 + Sand Dunes Line JPY 760 + castle Kururi return JPY 200 + warehouse route 11 JPY 620 + Tottori–Kurayoshi JR JPY 680 + Kurayoshi–Yonago JR JPY 990 + 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 Sand Museum’s official guideOpen the official Mizuki Shigeru Museum guideOperator’s ordinary route 39 timetable and faresRoute 41 timetableHinomaru routes and faresRoute 11 Yashiro Line timetables by dayJR train and fare searchKururi fares and date-specific servicesCity tourism body’s castle ruins and access guide
Castle ruins and parks in the east and centre
Spend three nights in Tottori followed by one in Kurayoshi. Give the dune walk and sand exhibition separate days and another day to the castle ruins, then move to Kurayoshi for the warehouses and park.
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: time for the restored gates and Kyusho Park
Time for the restored gates and Kyusho Park
- 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. Add about 10 minutes from the park if walking farther towards Ninomaru.
- Kyusho Park → Tottori Station and hotel
Take the same loop bus from the park-front stop back to Tottori Station. Stay in Tottori again tonight.
Day 4: move your base to Kurayoshi’s warehouses
Move your base to Kurayoshi’s warehouses
- 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 5: finish with Utsubuki Park
Finish with Utsubuki Park
- 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 return JPY 760 × 2 days = JPY 1,520 + Kururi JPY 200 + 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 41 timetableHinomaru routes and faresKururi fares and date-specific servicesRoute 11 Yashiro Line timetables by dayJR train and fare searchCurrent Yokota Line connecting fare table
Frequently asked questions
Does a three-day pass cover all five days’ transport?
No. Tottori-Matsue Pass is valid for three consecutive days on officially specified trains and buses only. The westward itinerary concentrates intercity JR and Sakai Line travel on days three and four, but does not count ordinary Sand Dunes Line, Kururi or Kurayoshi buses as covered by the same pass. Accommodation, meals and admission cost extra.
JR train and fare searchJR Tottori-Matsue Pass coverage and eligibility
Is a pass cheaper for Tottori, Kurayoshi, Yonago and Sakaiminato?
The westward itinerary’s days three/four JR base fares are Tottori–Kurayoshi JPY 680, Kurayoshi–Yonago JPY 990 and Sakai Line return JPY 660, totalling JPY 2,330. For only these local trains, ordinary tickets cost less than the JPY 4,000 adult three-day pass. The JPY 5,710 subtotal also contains buses and admission, so do not compare that whole amount with a JR pass. Extra limited expresses, journeys and return travel are separate.
JR train and fare searchJR Tottori-Matsue Pass coverage and eligibility
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 ·
- Open the official Mizuki Shigeru Museum guide ·
- 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 ·
- 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 ·
- 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 ·
- JR Tottori-Matsue Pass coverage and eligibility ·