Tottori in 3 days / 2 nights: stay east or move to Kurayoshi?
Stay 2 nights in Tottori for a day each at the dunes, museum and castle ruins. Alternatively, combine dunes and exhibition on day 1, then move to Kurayoshi for storehouses and Utsubuki Park. The same-base route ends at Tottori Station; the hotel-move route at Kurayoshi.
Choose a 2 nights, 3 days itinerary
Dunes, then Kurayoshi
Spend 1 night in Tottori, then 1 in Kurayoshi. Visit the dunes and sand exhibition, move hotels for the storehouse district, then visit Utsubuki Park on the final day.
Dunes, then Kurayoshi →2 nights, 3 days BStay in eastern Tottori
Spend 2 nights near Tottori Station. Walk the dunes outside on day 1, see the Sand Museum inside on day 2, then visit city castle ruins on the final day, using one hotel base.
Stay in eastern Tottori →Dunes, then Kurayoshi
Spend 1 night in Tottori, then 1 in Kurayoshi. Visit the dunes and sand exhibition, move hotels for the storehouse district, then visit Utsubuki Park on the final day.
Day 1 · Dunes, museum and first night in Tottori
Dunes and museum before your first Tottori night
- Tottori Station and hotel → Dunes entrance
From stand 0 at Tottori Station’s north bus terminal, take route 39, the dunes line, to its Sakyu Kaikan (砂丘会館（鳥取砂丘）) terminus. Follow signs to the dunes entrance. Choose outward and return services together from the official timetable, allowing for the dunes walk and exhibition.
Operator’s route 39 ordinary timetable and faresNorth exit stand 0 and directional stop information
- Dunes entrance → The Sand Museum
Allow 60–90 minutes for walking the dunes and beach, with lunch separately. Follow local signs to the Sand Museum’s main entrance afterwards. Walking between the two places is excluded from these visit estimates.
Open official Tottori Sand Dunes informationAdditional transport and operation information
- Sand Museum entrance → Visit the exhibition
Allow 60–90 minutes for the exhibition. The current exhibition runs until 3 January 2027; the museum closes between exhibitions. Check the exhibition period in the attraction guide. The main entrance opens 09:00–18:00, last entry 17:30. Outside the exhibition period, omit the indoor visit and its JPY 800 admission.
- The Sand Museum → Tottori hotel
Return on a Tottori Station-bound dunes-line bus from Suna-no-Bijutsukan-mae (砂の美術館前). Choose a service allowing time to walk to the stop after the exhibition. Stay in Tottori tonight.
Operator’s route 39 ordinary timetable and faresNorth exit stand 0 and directional stop information
Day 2 · Move to Kurayoshi and walk the storehouse district
Move your hotel to Kurayoshi and walk the storehouse district
- Tottori hotel → Kurayoshi Station and new hotel
Take a JR Sanin Line train from Tottori towards Kurayoshi. From today, use Kurayoshi as your base for the storehouse district and return to its station. Match the intercity train and local bus in official travel-date searches.
- Kurayoshi Station → White-walled storehouse district
From stand 2 at Kurayoshi Station, take route 11, the Yashiro Line via Park Square, to Akagawara/Shirakabe Dozo (赤瓦・白壁土蔵). Walk about 5 minutes to the district. The city-centre route has different fares, so choose the same routing for both journeys.
Kurayoshi bus stands and return informationRoute 11 Yashiro Line timetables by dayOpen official Kurayoshi storehouse district information
- Storehouse district entrance → Tamagawa and street walk
Allow 90–120 minutes for the storehouse district and Tamagawa, and about 60 for lunch. Gyukotsu beef-bone ramen is a meal option; check actual restaurant hours and prices separately.
- Storehouse district → Kurayoshi hotel
Return to Akagawara/Shirakabe Dozo stop and take a Kurayoshi Station-bound bus. Adult return fares via the same Park Square route total JPY 620. Stay in Kurayoshi tonight.
Kurayoshi bus stands and return informationRoute 11 Yashiro Line timetables by day
Day 3 · Utsubuki Park, then depart from Kurayoshi
Utsubuki Park before departure from Kurayoshi
- Kurayoshi Station and hotel → Utsubuki Park entrance
From stand 2 at Kurayoshi Station, take route 12, the Yokota Line via the museum, Park Square and city hall, to Shiyakusho/Utsubuki Koen Iriguchi (市役所・打吹公園入口). Tourism information gives about a 17-minute ride and 5-minute walk to the park. Adult fares on this route are JPY 230 each way, JPY 460 return.
Route 12 weekday and weekend/public holiday timetablesCity’s park access descriptionYokota Line current linked fare tableHinomaru routes and fares
- Utsubuki Park entrance → Pond and lower park walk
Allow 45–60 minutes for the pond and lower park. This does not add a summit trek or repeat yesterday’s storehouse sightseeing.
- Utsubuki Park → Kurayoshi Station and hotel
Walk back to Shiyakusho/Utsubuki Koen Iriguchi and choose a depot-bound bus via Kurayoshi Station. The route ends at Kurayoshi; JR back to Tottori is excluded. Use the official timetable to choose a return bus allowing time for sightseeing and reaching the stop.
Route 12 weekday and weekend/public holiday timetablesKurayoshi bus stands and return informationYokota Line current linked fare table
Included: The subtotal includes JPY 800 for the Sand Museum, JPY 760 for dunes-line buses, JPY 620 for storehouse route 11 buses, JPY 680 for JR travel from Tottori to Kurayoshi and Utsubuki route 12 buses at JPY 230 each way (JPY 230 × 2).
Extra costs and conditions: Accommodation, meals, airport transfers, luggage storage and unlisted transport are extra. Paid activities and other facility admission are excluded. Choose return services for your travel date.
Open official Sand Museum informationOperator’s route 39 ordinary timetable and faresRoute 11 Yashiro Line timetables by dayHinomaru routes and faresJR train and fare searchYokota Line current linked fare table
Stay in eastern Tottori
Spend 2 nights near Tottori Station. Walk the dunes outside on day 1, see the Sand Museum inside on day 2, then visit city castle ruins on the final day, using one hotel base.
Day 1 · Dunes and beach walk
Walk the dunes and stay in Tottori
- Tottori Station and hotel → Dunes entrance
From stand 0 at Tottori Station’s north bus terminal, take dunes-line route 39 to Sakyu Kaikan (砂丘会館（鳥取砂丘）). Follow signs to the dunes entrance. Choose return services from the official timetable to allow for your walk and lunch.
Operator’s route 39 ordinary timetable and faresNorth exit stand 0 and directional stop information
- Dunes entrance → Dunes walk and lunch
Allow a suggested 60–90 minutes for the dunes and beach. Lunch and the walk to the entrance are extra. Keep this day for an unhurried outdoor walk, without the indoor exhibition.
Open official Tottori Sand Dunes informationAdditional transport and operation information
- Dunes entrance → Tottori hotel
Leave through the same entrance and take a Tottori Station-bound route 39 bus 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 route 39 ordinary timetable and faresNorth exit stand 0 and directional stop information
Day 2 · A separate Sand Museum exhibition visit
Indoor exhibition separate from yesterday’s dunes walk
- Tottori Station and hotel → Suna-no-Bijutsukan-mae
From stand 0 at Tottori Station’s north bus terminal, take dunes-line route 39 to Suna-no-Bijutsukan-mae (砂の美術館前). Follow facility signs to the main entrance. Today is for the indoor exhibition, without climbing yesterday’s dunes again. Choose a return service to the station too.
Operator’s route 39 ordinary timetable and faresNorth exit stand 0 and directional stop information
- Sand Museum entrance → Visit the exhibition
Allow 60–90 minutes for the exhibition. The current exhibition runs until 3 January 2027; the museum closes between exhibitions. Check the exhibition period in the attraction guide. The main entrance opens 09:00–18:00, last entry 17:30. Outside the exhibition period, omit the indoor visit and its JPY 800 admission.
- The Sand Museum → Tottori hotel
Return on a Tottori Station-bound dunes-line bus from Suna-no-Bijutsukan-mae (砂の美術館前). Choose a service allowing time to walk to the stop after the exhibition. Stay in Tottori tonight.
Operator’s route 39 ordinary timetable and faresNorth exit stand 0 and directional stop information
Day 3 · Short castle-park walk and return to Tottori Station
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). Go to the lower park at Tottori Castle Ruins in front of the stop.
Kururi fares and date-specific servicesCity tourism castle ruins and access information
- Kyusho Park entrance → Restored gates and stone walls
Allow 60–90 minutes for restored gates, bridge, stone walls and the lower park. Jinpukaku’s interior is closed for works; the mountain summit is outside this itinerary.
- Kyusho Park → Tottori Station and hotel
Return to Tottori Station on the same loop bus from the stop in front of the park. On departure day, leave time at the station to prepare for your onward journey.
Included: The subtotal includes JPY 800 for the Sand Museum, return dunes buses at JPY 760 × 2 days = JPY 1,520 and JPY 200 for Kururi buses.
Extra costs and conditions: Accommodation, meals, airport transfers, luggage storage and unlisted transport are extra. Paid activities and other facility admission are excluded. Choose return services for your travel date.
Open official Sand Museum informationOperator’s route 39 ordinary timetable and faresRoute 41 timetableHinomaru routes and faresKururi fares and date-specific services
Frequently asked questions
Do I use the same bus from Kurayoshi for the storehouses and park?
Use route 11 via Park Square to Akagawara/Shirakabe Dozo for the storehouses, and Yokota Line route 12 to Shiyakusho/Utsubuki Koen Iriguchi for the park. Return fares are JPY 620 and JPY 460 respectively; do not interchange them.
Route 11 Yashiro Line timetables by dayRoute 12 weekday and weekend/public holiday timetablesYokota Line current linked fare tableHinomaru routes and fares
Official sources and confirmation dates
- Open official Tottori Sand Dunes information ·
- Open official Sand Museum information ·
- Additional transport and operation information ·
- Open official Kurayoshi storehouse district information ·
- Kurayoshi bus stands and return information ·
- City tourism castle ruins and access information ·
- Kururi fares and date-specific services ·
- Tourism organisation’s park introduction ·
- City’s park access description ·
- Operator’s route 39 ordinary timetable and fares ·
- North exit stand 0 and directional stop information ·
- 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 ·
- Yokota Line current linked fare table ·