Tottori attractions: dunes, sand art or yokai street?
Choose Tottori Sand Dunes for hill walks and sea views, or nearby The Sand Museum for indoor sand sculptures. For old streets and park walks, choose central Kurayoshi. Give western Sakaiminato a day for Mizuki’s work and yokai sculptures; visit Yonago Castle ruins on a separate day from your Yonago base. Allow separately for JR and city buses between these areas.
Choose attractions beyond the itineraries
Tottori Sand Dunes
鳥取砂丘
Walk outdoors for dune hills and sea views. There is little shade; bring water and reduce walking at midday. In strong winds, consider staying near the entrance instead of climbing the hills. See related images through the camera link. Its view covers Umanose, the oasis area and the sea at Tottori Sand Dunes. Images cannot establish the entire interior of facilities or whether visiting is possible.
- AdmissionTourism guidance specifies no separate dune-walking admission fee. Activities, lifts and parking are extra; follow each activity’s guidance.
- Hours and closuresThis is an outdoor site. Safe round-the-clock visiting is not guaranteed; follow on-site guidance in darkness or strong winds.
- Getting thereFrom Tottori Station north-side bus terminal stand 0, take route 39 to Sakyu Kaikan (砂丘会館（鳥取砂丘）), the terminus. Adults pay 380 yen one way. Walk a few minutes to the dunes; allow dune-hill walking separately. If visiting the museum too, choose a Tottori Station-bound return from Suna-no-Bijutsukan-mae.
Official Tottori Sand Dunes informationOperator route 39 timetable and faresNorth-exit stand 0 and directional stops
The Sand Museum
砂の美術館
View sculptures made from sand. Pair the museum with dune walks if you want to see the artwork too. Indoor exhibitions require paid admission, and the museum closes for display changes. Gallery temperatures are affected by outdoor weather; do not rely on it solely as a place to escape heat or cold.
- AdmissionAdults pay 800 yen; elementary/junior-/high-school students pay 400; preschool children enter free.
- Hours and closures2026 exhibition: 24 April 2026–3 January 2027, open throughout. The main entrance opens 09:00–18:00, last admission 17:30. Closed during display changes. The secondary entrance has shorter hours and accepts no cash.
- Getting thereTake a local bus from Tottori Station terminal for about 21 minutes, then walk about one minute from 砂の美術館前, or about five minutes from 砂丘東口.
Official Sand Museum informationMore transport and operating information
Kurayoshi white-wall warehouse quarter
Kurayoshi White Wall Warehouses倉吉白壁土蔵群
White walls and red-tiled warehouse roofs line the Tamagawa area. Walk the lanes for historic streetscapes and stop at shops or exhibition spaces that interest you. From Tottori, allow separately for the train and Kurayoshi bus.
- AdmissionOfficial guidance lists no shared admission ticket for the whole quarter. Check separate charges for paid activities and individual facilities.
- Hours and closuresThe quarter has no common business hours. Shops, exhibitions and activities each have their own opening days.
- Getting thereFrom Kurayoshi stand 2, take route 11, Yashiro Line via Park Square, to Akagawara/Shirakabe-Dozo (赤瓦・白壁土蔵), then walk about five minutes. Adults pay 310 yen one way, 620 return by the same route. Distinguish city-centre services. Facility guidance gives Tottori–Kurayoshi travel as about 30–40 minutes by limited express or one hour by local train, excluding waits.
Official Kurayoshi warehouse-quarter informationKurayoshi bus stands and return guidanceRoute 11 Yashiro Line timetables by dayHinomaru routes and fares
Mizuki Shigeru Museum
水木しげる記念館
Explore Mizuki Shigeru’s work and life at the museum. Yokai sculptures line the walk from Sakaiminato Station, letting you combine exhibitions with street sightseeing. Travel from Tottori’s dunes is lengthy; give Sakaiminato its own day.
- AdmissionGeneral admission is 1,000 yen; junior-/high-school students 500; elementary students 300; preschool children free.
- Hours and closures09:30–17:00, last admission 16:30. Open year-round; queues may occur when busy.
- Getting thereTake JR Sakai Line from Yonago to its Sakaiminato terminus, then walk about ten minutes. Adult basic JR fares total 660 yen return; look up departures for your date separately.
Official Mizuki Shigeru Museum informationOfficial JR searchJR train and fare search
Hakuto Shrine
白兎神社
For worship at a shrine associated with the white-rabbit myth and coastal views, consider Hakuto Shrine. West of Tottori City, it cannot be reached on foot from the dunes. Plan buses via Tottori Station and a return service.
- Scope of visitAllow a suggested 30–45 minutes for grounds walks and ordinary worship. Prayer reservations and amulet purchases are separate options outside this course.
- Hours and closuresThe shrine office (社務所) opens 09:00–16:00. Arrive during office hours for amulets or enquiries.
- Getting thereTake route 41, Hakuto Kaigan Line towards Shikano, from Tottori Station to Hakuto-Jinja-mae (白兎神社前). Allow a reference 40-minute ride and about five minutes on foot to the shrine. Adults pay 610 yen one way, 1,220 return; return towards Tottori Station. Choose outward and return services in the official date-specific timetable.
Tottori tourism and accessShrine worship FAQShrine office and accessRoute 41 timetableHinomaru routes and fares
Tottori Castle ruins and Kyusho Park
Tottori Castle Ruins/Kyusho Park鳥取城跡・久松公園
For scenery different from the dunes, walk among restored bridges, gates and stone walls at the city’s castle ruins. This guide does not include a summit hike.
- Fees and hoursThe city park list records Kyusho Park as free and open all day. Nearby museums and activities are extra. Plan walks in daylight.
- Getting thereTake the green Kururi loop bus from Tottori Station to 仁風閣・県立博物館, immediately in front of the park. Adults pay 100 yen per ride, 200 for two rides.
- Walking scopeThe itinerary allows 60–90 minutes for restored gates and the lower park. Distinguish official estimates of about ten minutes from the park to Ninomaru and 40 minutes to the summit.
- WorksJinpukaku has been closed long-term since 2023-12-29, with the exterior also covered for works. Interior viewing is excluded.
City tourism castle/access informationCity park fee listKururi fares and date-specific services
Utsubuki Park
打吹公園
Walk Utsubuki Park’s paths for cherry blossoms and azaleas in spring. Allow 45–60 minutes for park walks without climbing to the summit. Check flowering conditions before travelling.
- Fees and hoursTourism guidance specifies no common fee or opening hours for ordinary walks. The 400-yen wish-paper activity is separate from walking fees and excluded from the itinerary.
- Getting thereFrom Kurayoshi stand 2, take route 12, 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). Allow a reference 17-minute ride and about five minutes on foot separately. Adults pay 230 yen one way, 460 return. Return on a depot-bound service passing Kurayoshi Station.
- Suggested stayAllow a suggested 45–60 minutes for the pond and lower park. Allow return-stop walking and bus waits separately, and check official outward/return services for your date.
Park tourism informationKurayoshi bus stands and return guidanceCity park access guidanceCurrent Yokota Line connecting faresHinomaru routes and fares
Yonago Castle ruins
Yonago Castle Ruins米子城跡
Stone walls and the keep site remain at Yonago Castle ruins, without a keep building. Explore the old castle remains; the summit path climbs uphill.
- Getting thereWalk about 15 minutes from Yonago Station to Masugata entrance (枡形入口), then about 20 minutes via the trail to the keep site. Do not treat 15 minutes as station-to-summit time.
- Visiting timeThis course walks to the keep site and back in daylight. The official FAQ permits night access but notes that there are no streetlights and lighting is needed. An after-dark summit visit is excluded.
- Stay and returnAllow a suggested 20–30 minutes for summit views, with descent and station return separately. The roughly 20-minute climb is not the whole return time. There are no toilets on the hill; use those near Sannomaru car park first. Shorten walks if rain makes paths poor.
- LuggageTourism guidance says there are no coin lockers on site. Arrange storage at your station or hotel before setting out.
Official castle-ruins accessCity tourism and luggage guidanceOfficial Yonago Castle FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit The Sand Museum throughout winter?
The current exhibition runs 24 April 2026–3 January 2027. The museum closes for display changes; for visits from 4 January 2027, check the next opening date and operating days in official guidance.
Is Yonago Station only 15 minutes from the castle summit?
The 15 minutes cover station–Masugata entrance. Allow about another 20 minutes from the entrance to the keep site, with descent and station return separately.
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 ·
- Tottori tourism and access ·
- City tourism castle/access information ·
- City park fee list ·
- 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 ·
- Official JR search ·
- JR train and fare search ·
- Current Yokota Line connecting fares ·
- Official Yonago Castle FAQ ·
- Shrine office and access ·
- Shrine worship FAQ ·
- JR Tottori-Matsue Pass coverage and eligibility ·