Tottori in 4 nights / 5 days: continue west or explore east/central?
For yokai sculptures and Yonago Castle ruins, move west with two Tottori nights, one Kurayoshi night and one Yonago night. For more time at Tottori Castle ruins and Utsubuki Park, stay three Tottori nights and one Kurayoshi night. No Yonago return is added to eastern/central course costs.
Choose a 5 days / 4 nights itinerary
Move west through Tottori, Kurayoshi and Yonago
Stay two Tottori nights, one Kurayoshi night and one Yonago night. Visit dunes/exhibitions, Tottori Castle ruins, warehouses and 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 eastern and central Tottori
Stay three Tottori nights, then one Kurayoshi night. Give dunes, sand art and castle ruins a day each, then move to Kurayoshi for warehouses and park walks.
Castle ruins and parks in eastern and central Tottori →Move west through Tottori, Kurayoshi and Yonago
Stay two Tottori nights, one Kurayoshi night and one Yonago night. Visit dunes/exhibitions, Tottori Castle ruins, warehouses and yokai museum in sequence, leaving Yonago Castle ruins for the final day.
Day 1: dunes and museum, starting in Tottori
Start in Tottori with a visit to the dunes and museum.
- 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: warehouses and a night in central Tottori
Walk the warehouse quarter and spend a night in central Tottori.
- 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: 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 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 5: Yonago Castle ruins, finishing at the station
Visit Yonago Castle ruins, then finish at the station.
- 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 + castle Kururi return 200 + 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 41 timetableHinomaru routes and faresRoute 11 Yashiro Line timetables by dayJR train and fare searchKururi fares and date-specific servicesCity tourism castle/access information
Castle ruins and parks in eastern and central Tottori
Stay three Tottori nights, then one Kurayoshi night. Give dunes, sand art and castle ruins a day each, then move to Kurayoshi for warehouses and park walks.
Day 1: dune hills and beach walks
Walk the dunes and stay 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 dune walks, lunch and walking to the return stop.
Operator route 39 timetable and faresNorth-exit stand 0 and directional stops
- Dunes entrance → Dune walks and lunch
Allow a suggested 60–90 minutes for dune hills and beach walks, with lunch and entrance access separately. Leave time for the dunes today without adding indoor exhibitions.
Official Tottori Sand Dunes informationMore transport and operating information
- Dunes entrance → Tottori hotel
Leave via the same entrance and take Tottori Station-bound route 39 from Sakyu Kaikan (砂丘会館（鳥取砂丘）). Choose a return after your walk and lunch; stay in Tottori.
Operator route 39 timetable and faresNorth-exit stand 0 and directional stops
Day 2: a separate visit to sand art
View indoor exhibitions on a separate day from the outdoor dunes.
- Tottori Station and hotel → Suna-no-Bijutsukan-mae
From Tottori Station north-side bus terminal stand 0, take route 39 to Suna-no-Bijutsukan-mae (砂の美術館前). Follow facility signs to the main entrance. Today is for indoor exhibitions; avoid reclimbing yesterday’s dune hills. Choose your station-bound return too.
Operator route 39 timetable and faresNorth-exit stand 0 and directional stops
- 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 3: a day for restored castle gates and Kyusho Park
Spend the day exploring restored castle 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). 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 excluded. Add about ten minutes from the park if walking further towards Ninomaru.
- 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 4: move bases for Kurayoshi warehouses
Move your base to visit Kurayoshi’s 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 5: finish with Utsubuki Park
Finish with Utsubuki Park
- 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 return 760 × 2 days = 1,520 + Kururi 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 faresKururi fares and date-specific servicesRoute 11 Yashiro Line timetables by dayJR train and fare searchCurrent Yokota Line connecting fares
Frequently asked questions
Does a three-day pass cover all transport on the five-day course?
No. Tottori-Matsue Pass covers three consecutive days and officially specified rail/buses only. Intercity JR and Sakai Line rides in the westward course fall on Days 3/4, but Sakyu Line, Kururi and Kurayoshi buses are not counted as covered. Accommodation, meals and admission are extra.
JR train and fare searchJR Tottori-Matsue Pass coverage and eligibility
Is the pass cheaper for Tottori–Kurayoshi–Yonago–Sakaiminato?
Days 3/4 JR basic fares in the westward course total 2,330 yen: Tottori–Kurayoshi 680, Kurayoshi–Yonago 990 and Sakai Line return 660. For these local-train sections alone, ordinary tickets cost less than the adult three-day 4,000-yen pass. The course’s 5,710-yen partial total also includes buses/admission; do not compare it in full with the JR pass. Extra limited expresses, travel and return journeys are separate.
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 ·