Tottori in 3 nights / 4 days: move to Yonago or stay east/central?
Stay one night each in Tottori, Kurayoshi and Yonago as you move west, or two Tottori nights and one Kurayoshi night for eastern dunes/castle and central walks. Sakaiminato is a day trip from your Yonago hotel. On hotel-move days, choose JR to your next city first, then attraction travel and the return to that day’s hotel.
Choose a 4 days / 3 nights itinerary
East, centre and west, moving westwards
Stay one night each in Tottori, Kurayoshi and Yonago. Start with dunes, then the warehouse quarter and yokai museum, finishing in Yonago.
East, centre and west, moving westwards →4 days / 3 nights BFrom Tottori dunes and castle ruins to Kurayoshi
Stay two Tottori nights, then one Kurayoshi night. Give dunes/sand art and city castle ruins separate days before moving to central Tottori. Finish with Utsubuki Park and Kurayoshi Station.
From Tottori dunes and castle ruins to Kurayoshi →East, centre and west, moving westwards
Stay one night each in Tottori, Kurayoshi and Yonago. Start with dunes, then the warehouse quarter and yokai museum, finishing in Yonago.
Day 1: dunes area and the first Tottori night
Visit the dunes area and spend your first night in Tottori.
- Tottori Station and hotel → Dunes entrance
From Tottori Station north-side bus terminal stand 0, 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. Use the official timetable to choose outward and return buses, leaving time for the dunes, exhibitions and walking to the return stop.
Operator route 39 timetable and faresNorth-exit stand 0 and directional stops
- Dunes entrance → The Sand Museum
Allow 60–90 minutes for dune hills and beach walks, with lunch separately. Then follow on-site signs to the museum’s main entrance. Walking between the two is outside this viewing allowance.
Official Tottori Sand Dunes informationMore transport and operating information
- Sand Museum entrance → Exhibitions
Allow 60–90 minutes for exhibitions. The current exhibition ends on 3 January 2027; the museum closes during display changes. See the attraction guide for exhibition dates. Main-entrance hours are 09:00–18:00, last admission 17:30. Outside the exhibition dates, omit the indoor visit and its 800-yen admission.
- The Sand Museum → Tottori hotel
Return on the Tottori Station-bound Sakyu Line from Suna-no-Bijutsukan-mae (砂の美術館前). Choose a departure allowing time to walk to the stop after viewing. Stay in Tottori tonight.
Operator route 39 timetable and faresNorth-exit stand 0 and directional stops
Day 2: move to central Tottori for warehouse walks
Move to central Tottori for warehouse walks.
- Tottori hotel → Kurayoshi Station and new hotel
Take JR Sanin Line from Tottori towards Kurayoshi. Use Kurayoshi as your new base today, visiting the warehouse quarter and returning to the station. Connect intercity trains and Kurayoshi buses using official date-specific searches.
- Kurayoshi Station → White-wall warehouse quarter
From Kurayoshi stand 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 quarter. Fares differ from city-centre services; choose return services by the same route.
Kurayoshi bus stands and return guidanceRoute 11 Yashiro Line timetables by dayOfficial Kurayoshi warehouse-quarter information
- Warehouse-quarter entrance → Tamagawa and quarter walks
Allow 90–120 minutes for the warehouse quarter and Tamagawa walks, plus about 60 minutes for lunch. Consider beef-bone broth ramen; restaurant opening and prices are separate.
- Warehouse quarter → Kurayoshi hotel
Return to Akagawara/Shirakabe-Dozo for a Kurayoshi Station-bound bus. A return via the same Park Square route costs adults 620 yen. Stay in Kurayoshi tonight.
Kurayoshi bus stands and return guidanceRoute 11 Yashiro Line timetables by day
Day 3: move to Yonago for yokai street and museum
Move to Yonago to visit the yokai street and museum.
- Kurayoshi hotel → Yonago Station and new hotel
Take JR Sanin Line from Kurayoshi towards Yonago. Make Yonago your new base and visit Sakaiminato on the Sakai Line. Choose intercity trains and Sakai Line returns that leave time for the museum.
- Yonago Station → Mizuki Shigeru Museum
Take JR Sakai Line from Yonago towards Sakaiminato and alight at the terminus. Walk about ten minutes along Mizuki Shigeru Road to the museum. Use the official search to choose your Sakaiminato–Yonago return too.
JR train and fare searchOfficial Mizuki Shigeru Museum information
- Museum entrance → Exhibitions and street walks
After the 09:30 opening, allow 60–90 minutes for exhibitions and about 60 minutes each for street sculptures and lunch. Reception closes at 16:30; for a late arrival, shorten the visit or choose another day.
- Museum and street → Yonago hotel
Walk back along the yokai street to Sakaiminato Station, then take Yonago-bound Sakai Line. Basic JR fares total 660 yen return. Stay in Yonago tonight.
Day 4: Yonago Castle views, then departure from the west
Enjoy Yonago Castle views, then depart from western Tottori.
- Yonago Station and hotel → Castle ruins Masugata entrance
Walk about 15 minutes from Yonago Station to the ruins’ Masugata entrance. There are no coin lockers at the ruins; check station/hotel storage before bringing large luggage.
Official castle-ruins accessCity tourism and luggage guidance
- Masugata entrance → Keep-site views
Add about 20 minutes to climb from the trail entrance to the keep site, then allow 20–30 minutes for views. Omit the summit for a morning flight.
Official castle-ruins accessCity tourism and luggage guidance
- Keep site → Yonago Station and hotel
Descend by the same path via Masugata to Yonago Station. The roughly 20-minute climb is neither a descent allowance nor the full return time. Omit the summit for paths made slippery by rain or insufficient departure time. This course ends at Yonago Station; airport transport is extra.
Official castle-ruins accessCity tourism and luggage guidance
Included: Sand Museum 800 yen + Mizuki 1,000 + Sakyu Line 760 + warehouse route 11 return 620 + Tottori–Kurayoshi JR 680 + Kurayoshi–Yonago JR 990 + Sakai Line 330 × 2.
Extra costs and conditions: Accommodation, meals, airport travel, luggage storage and unlisted transport are extra. Paid activities and separate facility admission are excluded. Choose return services for your travel date.
Official Sand Museum informationOfficial Mizuki Shigeru Museum informationOperator route 39 timetable and faresRoute 11 Yashiro Line timetables by dayHinomaru routes and faresJR train and fare search
From Tottori dunes and castle ruins to Kurayoshi
Stay two Tottori nights, then one Kurayoshi night. Give dunes/sand art and city castle ruins separate days before moving to central Tottori. Finish with Utsubuki Park and Kurayoshi Station.
Day 1: dunes and exhibitions in the east
Visit the dunes and exhibitions in eastern Tottori.
- Tottori Station and hotel → Dunes entrance
From Tottori Station north-side bus terminal stand 0, 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. Use the official timetable to choose outward and return buses, leaving time for the dunes, exhibitions and walking to the return stop.
Operator route 39 timetable and faresNorth-exit stand 0 and directional stops
- Dunes entrance → The Sand Museum
Allow 60–90 minutes for dune hills and beach walks, with lunch separately. Then follow on-site signs to the museum’s main entrance. Walking between the two is outside this viewing allowance.
Official Tottori Sand Dunes informationMore transport and operating information
- Sand Museum entrance → Exhibitions
Allow 60–90 minutes for exhibitions. The current exhibition ends on 3 January 2027; the museum closes during display changes. See the attraction guide for exhibition dates. Main-entrance hours are 09:00–18:00, last admission 17:30. Outside the exhibition dates, omit the indoor visit and its 800-yen admission.
- The Sand Museum → Tottori hotel
Return on the Tottori Station-bound Sakyu Line from Suna-no-Bijutsukan-mae (砂の美術館前). Choose a departure allowing time to walk to the stop after viewing. Stay in Tottori tonight.
Operator route 39 timetable and faresNorth-exit stand 0 and directional stops
Day 2: Kyusho Park and restored castle gates, then Tottori night
Explore Tottori Castle ruins and Kyusho Park on a separate day 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). Go to the park below Tottori Castle ruins in front of the stop.
Kururi fares and date-specific servicesCity tourism castle/access information
- 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 summit is outside this itinerary.
- Kyusho Park → Tottori Station and hotel
Return to Tottori Station on the same loop bus from the park-front stop. Stay in Tottori again tonight.
Day 3: move to Kurayoshi for Tamagawa and warehouses
Move to Kurayoshi to walk along the Tamagawa and see the warehouses.
- Tottori hotel → Kurayoshi Station and new hotel
Take JR Sanin Line from Tottori towards Kurayoshi. Use Kurayoshi as your new base today, visiting the warehouse quarter and returning to the station. Connect intercity trains and Kurayoshi buses using official date-specific searches.
- Kurayoshi Station → White-wall warehouse quarter
From Kurayoshi stand 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 quarter. Fares differ from city-centre services; choose return services by the same route.
Kurayoshi bus stands and return guidanceRoute 11 Yashiro Line timetables by dayOfficial Kurayoshi warehouse-quarter information
- Warehouse-quarter entrance → Tamagawa and quarter walks
Allow 90–120 minutes for the warehouse quarter and Tamagawa walks, plus about 60 minutes for lunch. Consider beef-bone broth ramen; restaurant opening and prices are separate.
- Warehouse quarter → Kurayoshi hotel
Return to Akagawara/Shirakabe-Dozo for a Kurayoshi Station-bound bus. A return via the same Park Square route costs adults 620 yen. Stay in Kurayoshi tonight.
Kurayoshi bus stands and return guidanceRoute 11 Yashiro Line timetables by day
Day 4: park walks, then Kurayoshi Station
Walk the park, then return to Kurayoshi Station.
- Kurayoshi Station and hotel → Utsubuki Park entrance
From Kurayoshi stand 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). Tourism guidance gives about 17 minutes by bus, then about five on foot to the park. Adults pay 230 yen one way, 460 return on this route.
Route 12 weekday/weekend/public-holiday timetablesCity park access guidanceCurrent Yokota Line connecting faresHinomaru routes and fares
- Utsubuki Park entrance → Pond and lower park walks
Allow 45–60 minutes for the pond and lower park. Summit hiking and a repeat warehouse visit are excluded.
- Utsubuki Park → Kurayoshi Station and hotel
Return to Shiyakusho/Utsubuki-Koen-Iriguchi and choose a depot-bound bus passing Kurayoshi Station. This course ends at Kurayoshi; JR back to Tottori is excluded. Check official return times allowing for sightseeing and stop access first.
Route 12 weekday/weekend/public-holiday timetablesKurayoshi bus stands and return guidanceCurrent Yokota Line connecting fares
Included: Sand Museum 800 yen + Sakyu Line 760 + castle Kururi return 200 + warehouse route 11 return 620 + Tottori–Kurayoshi JR 680 + Utsubuki route 12 bus 230 × 2.
Extra costs and conditions: Accommodation, meals, airport travel, luggage storage and unlisted transport are extra. Paid activities and separate facility admission are excluded. Choose return services for your travel date.
Official Sand Museum informationOperator route 39 timetable and faresRoute 41 timetableHinomaru routes and faresRoute 11 Yashiro Line timetables by dayJR train and fare searchCurrent Yokota Line connecting faresKururi fares and date-specific servicesCity tourism castle/access information
Frequently asked questions
Does the three-night course return to Tottori Station?
The westward course ends at Yonago; the eastern/central course at Kurayoshi. If your booked departure is from Tottori, add separate eastbound JR travel. The partial totals exclude this return; check connections and fares separately.
Is a pass cheaper when moving west?
Westward JR basic fares total 2,330 yen: Tottori–Kurayoshi 680, Kurayoshi–Yonago 990 and Sakai Line return 660. For local trains on these sections alone, ordinary tickets cost less than the three-day 4,000-yen Tottori-Matsue Pass. Compare actual sections and extra charges again for limited expresses or additional travel.
JR train and fare searchJR Tottori-Matsue Pass coverage and eligibility
Official sources and check dates
- Official Tottori Sand Dunes information ·
- Official Sand Museum information ·
- More transport and operating information ·
- Official Kurayoshi warehouse-quarter information ·
- Kurayoshi bus stands and return guidance ·
- Official Mizuki Shigeru Museum information ·
- City tourism castle/access information ·
- Kururi fares and date-specific services ·
- Park tourism information ·
- City park access guidance ·
- Official castle-ruins access ·
- City tourism and luggage guidance ·
- Operator route 39 timetable and fares ·
- North-exit stand 0 and directional stops ·
- Route 41 timetable ·
- Hinomaru routes and fares ·
- Route 11 Yashiro Line timetables by day ·
- Route 12 weekday/weekend/public-holiday timetables ·
- JR train and fare search ·
- Current Yokota Line connecting fares ·
- JR Tottori-Matsue Pass coverage and eligibility ·