Tottori in 5 days / 4 nights: continue west or divide east/centre visits?
For yokai sculptures and Yonago Castle Ruins, move west with 2 Tottori nights, 1 Kurayoshi and 1 Yonago. For more time at Tottori Castle Ruins and Utsubuki Park, choose 3 Tottori nights and 1 Kurayoshi. East/centre route costs do not add a Yonago return trip.
Choose a 4 nights, 5 days itinerary
Move west through Tottori, Kurayoshi and Yonago
Spend 2 nights in Tottori, 1 in Kurayoshi and 1 in Yonago. Visit dunes/exhibitions, Tottori Castle Ruins, the storehouse district and yokai museum in sequence, leaving Yonago Castle Ruins for the final day.
Move west through Tottori, Kurayoshi and Yonago →4 nights, 5 days BCastle ruins and parks in the east and centre
Spend 3 nights in Tottori, then 1 in Kurayoshi. Give the dunes walk, sand exhibition and castle ruins a day each, then move to Kurayoshi for the storehouse district and park.
Castle ruins and parks in the east and centre →Move west through Tottori, Kurayoshi and Yonago
Spend 2 nights in Tottori, 1 in Kurayoshi and 1 in Yonago. Visit dunes/exhibitions, Tottori Castle Ruins, the storehouse district and yokai museum in sequence, leaving Yonago Castle Ruins for the final day.
Day 1 · Start in Tottori with dunes and museum
Dunes and museum to start in Tottori
- 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 · Kyusho Park, restored castle gates and Tottori stay
Tottori Castle Ruins and Kyusho Park, separate 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 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. Stay in Tottori again tonight.
Day 3 · Storehouse district and central stay
Storehouse district before staying in central Tottori
- 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 4 · Move to Yonago for Mizuki’s work and street sculptures
Move to Yonago, then Mizuki’s work and street sculptures
- Kurayoshi hotel → Yonago Station and new hotel
Take a JR Sanin Line train from Kurayoshi towards Yonago. Use Yonago as your new base and the Sakai Line for a return Sakaiminato visit. Choose intercity trains and return Sakai Line services that leave time for the museum.
- Yonago Station → Mizuki Shigeru Museum
Take the JR Sakai Line from Yonago towards Sakaiminato and get off at the terminus. Walk about 10 minutes along Mizuki Shigeru Road to the museum. Select return trains to Yonago in the official planner too.
JR train and fare searchOpen official Mizuki Shigeru Museum information
- Museum entrance → Exhibitions and street walk
After the 09:30 opening, allow 60–90 minutes for exhibitions, about 60 for street sculptures and another 60 for lunch. Admission ends at 16:30; shorten the visit or change your visit day if arriving late.
- Museum and street → Yonago hotel
Walk back along the yokai street to Sakaiminato Station and take a Yonago-bound Sakai Line train. JR base fares total JPY 660 return. Stay in Yonago tonight.
Day 5 · Yonago Castle Ruins, then finish at the station
Yonago Castle Ruins before finishing at the station
- Yonago Station and hotel → Castle ruins’ Masugata entrance
Walk about 15 minutes from Yonago Station to the Masugata entrance. The ruins have no coin lockers; check luggage storage at your station or hotel first if carrying large bags.
Castle ruins’ official accessCity tourism and luggage information
- Masugata entrance → Views from the keep site
Add about 20 minutes uphill to the keep site, then 20–30 minutes for the view. Skip the summit for a morning flight.
Castle ruins’ official accessCity tourism and luggage information
- Keep site → Yonago Station and hotel
Descend along the same route through the Masugata entrance to Yonago Station. The roughly 20-minute ascent is neither a descent estimate nor a whole return-trip time. Skip the summit if rain makes the route slippery or departure time is close. This route ends at Yonago Station; airport transport is extra.
Castle ruins’ official accessCity tourism and luggage information
Included: The subtotal includes JPY 800 for the Sand Museum, JPY 1,000 for the Mizuki museum, JPY 760 for dunes buses, JPY 200 for return castle Kururi buses, JPY 620 for storehouse route 11 buses, JPY 680 for JR travel from Tottori to Kurayoshi, JPY 990 for JR travel from Kurayoshi to Yonago and Sakai Line trains at JPY 330 each way (JPY 330 × 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 informationOpen official Mizuki Shigeru Museum informationOperator’s route 39 ordinary 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 ruins and access information
Castle ruins and parks in the east and centre
Spend 3 nights in Tottori, then 1 in Kurayoshi. Give the dunes walk, sand exhibition and castle ruins a day each, then move to Kurayoshi for the storehouse district and park.
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 · Time for restored castle gates and Kyusho Park
A relaxed day for 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 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 summit is excluded. Add about 10 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 stop in front of the park. Stay in Tottori again tonight.
Day 4 · Move your base to Kurayoshi’s storehouse district
Move your base for Kurayoshi’s 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 5 · Finish at Utsubuki Park
Finish with Utsubuki Park
- 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, return dunes buses at JPY 760 × 2 days = JPY 1,520, JPY 200 for Kururi 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 41 timetableHinomaru routes and faresKururi fares and date-specific servicesRoute 11 Yashiro Line timetables by dayJR train and fare searchYokota Line current linked fare table
Frequently asked questions
Does a 3-day pass cover all transport in a 5-day itinerary?
No. The Tottori–Matsue Pass lasts 3 consecutive days and covers only officially designated rail and buses. The westward route concentrates intercity JR and Sakai Line journeys on days 3 and 4, but dunes, Kururi and Kurayoshi local buses are not counted as covered. Accommodation, meals and admission are extra.
JR train and fare searchJR Tottori–Matsue Pass coverage and eligibility
Is a pass cheaper for Tottori, Kurayoshi, Yonago and Sakaiminato?
Days 3–4 of the westward route use JR base fares of Tottori–Kurayoshi JPY 680, Kurayoshi–Yonago JPY 990 and Sakai Line return JPY 660: JPY 2,330 total. Ordinary tickets for those local trains cost less than the adult JPY 4,000 three-day pass. The route’s JPY 5,710 subtotal also includes buses and admission; do not compare that whole amount with a JR pass. Added limited express travel and return journeys are extra.
JR train and fare searchJR Tottori–Matsue Pass coverage and eligibility
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 ·
- Open official Mizuki Shigeru Museum information ·
- City tourism castle ruins and access information ·
- Kururi fares and date-specific services ·
- Tourism organisation’s park introduction ·
- City’s park access description ·
- Castle ruins’ official access ·
- City tourism and luggage information ·
- 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 ·
- JR Tottori–Matsue Pass coverage and eligibility ·