Tottori attractions: dunes, Sand Museum or yokai street?
Choose Tottori Sand Dunes for sand-hill walks and sea views, or the nearby museum for indoor sand sculptures. Kurayoshi suits old streets and park walks. Give western Sakaiminato a day for Mizuki’s work and yokai sculptures, with Yonago Castle Ruins views separately from Yonago. Allow distinct JR and local-bus travel time between areas.
Choose attractions separately from the routes
Tottori Sand Dunes
鳥取砂丘
An outdoor walk with sand hills and sea views. There is little shade: reduce walking at midday and bring water. In strong wind, you can stay near the entrance rather than climbing the dunes. View the related feed under cameras. It shows the Umanose and oasis area of the dunes and the sea. Video alone does not establish full interior views or access availability.
- AdmissionThe tourism organisation’s dunes introduction does not separately list a walking admission fee. Activities, lift rides and parking cost extra; follow each activity’s information.
- Hours and closuresThe dunes are outdoors. Safe access at all hours is not guaranteed; follow local guidance after dark or in strong wind.
- Getting thereTake dunes-line route 39 from stand 0 at Tottori Station’s north bus terminal to Sakyu Kaikan (砂丘会館（鳥取砂丘）). Adult one-way fare is JPY 380. The dunes are a few minutes on foot away; walking the sand hills takes extra time. For the museum too, select a return Tottori Station-bound bus from Suna-no-Bijutsukan-mae.
Open official Tottori Sand Dunes informationOperator’s route 39 ordinary timetable and faresNorth exit stand 0 and directional stop information
The Sand Museum
砂の美術館
A museum of sand sculptures, suitable for seeing artworks after a dunes walk. This is a paid indoor exhibition, closed between exhibitions. Outdoor weather also affects gallery temperatures, so do not treat it solely as a refuge from heat or cold.
- AdmissionAdmission costs JPY 800 for adults or JPY 400 for primary, junior high and senior high school pupils. Preschool children enter free.
- Hours and closuresThe 2026 exhibition runs from 24 April 2026 to 3 January 2027 and opens daily during that period. The main entrance opens from 09:00 to 18:00, with last entry at 17:30. The museum closes between exhibitions. The secondary entrance has shorter hours and does not accept cash.
- Getting thereAbout 21 minutes by local bus from Tottori Station’s bus terminal, then about 1 minute on foot from Suna-no-Bijutsukan-mae (砂の美術館前), or about 5 minutes from Sakyu Higashiguchi (砂丘東口).
Open official Sand Museum informationAdditional transport and operation information
Kurayoshi White-Walled Storehouses
Kurayoshi White Wall Warehouses倉吉白壁土蔵群
White-walled storehouses with red tiled roofs line the Tamagawa area. Walk the lanes for old streetscapes and stop at shops or exhibition spaces that interest you. From Tottori, allow separately for trains and Kurayoshi local buses.
- AdmissionThe official introduction does not list a district-wide admission ticket. Check charges separately for paid activities and individual facilities.
- Hours and closuresThe district has no shared opening hours. Shops, exhibitions and activities follow their own operating days.
- Getting thereFrom stand 2 at Kurayoshi Station, take Yashiro Line route 11 via Park Square to Akagawara/Shirakabe Dozo (赤瓦・白壁土蔵), then walk about 5 minutes. Adult fare JPY 310 one way, JPY 620 return by the same route. Distinguish the city-centre routing. Facility guidance gives about 30–40 minutes by limited express or 1 hour by local train between Tottori and Kurayoshi, excluding waits.
Open official Kurayoshi storehouse district informationKurayoshi bus stands and return informationRoute 11 Yashiro Line timetables by dayHinomaru routes and fares
Mizuki Shigeru Museum
水木しげる記念館
The museum covers Shigeru Mizuki’s work and life. Yokai sculptures line the walk from Sakaiminato Station, combining artworks and street sightseeing. Journeys from Tottori’s dunes are long, so give Sakaiminato its own day.
- AdmissionOrdinary admission costs JPY 1,000 for adults, JPY 500 for junior and senior high school pupils or JPY 300 for primary school children. Preschool children enter free.
- Hours and closuresThe museum opens from 09:30 to 17:00 year-round, with last entry at 16:30. Queues are possible when busy.
- Getting thereTake a Sakaiminato-bound JR Sakai Line train from Yonago to the terminus, then walk about 10 minutes. Adult JR return base fares total JPY 660; look up exact departures separately for your date.
Open official Mizuki Shigeru Museum informationJR official search entry pointJR train and fare search
Hakuto Shrine
白兎神社
Consider Hakuto Shrine for worship at the shrine associated with the white-rabbit myth and coastal views. It lies west of Tottori city, beyond a walk from the dunes. Plan buses via Tottori Station and return services together.
- Visit scopeAllow a suggested 30–45 minutes for grounds walking and ordinary worship. Prayer reservations and shrine items are optional and excluded from this route.
- Hours and closuresThe shrine office (社務所) opens 09:00–16:00. Arrive during office hours for enquiries or shrine items.
- Getting thereFrom Tottori Station, take Hakuto Coast Line route 41 towards Shikano to Hakuto Jinja-mae (白兎神社前). Allow a reference 40-minute ride and about 5 minutes on foot to the shrine. Adults JPY 610 each way, JPY 1,220 return; return towards Tottori Station. Choose both journeys from the official timetable for your date.
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
Walk the city castle ruins’ restored bridge, gates and stone walls for scenery different from the dunes. This guide is not a hike to the mountain summit.
- Admission and hoursThe city park list gives Kyusho Park as free and open throughout the day. Nearby museums and activities are separate. Plan walks in daylight.
- Getting thereTake the green Kururi loop bus from Tottori Station to Jinpukaku/Kenritsu Hakubutsukan (仁風閣・県立博物館), directly in front of the park. Adults JPY 100 per ride, JPY 200 for two rides.
- Walking scopeAllow 60–90 minutes for restored gates and the lower park. Distinguish the official roughly 10-minute park-to-Ninomaru walk from the roughly 40-minute summit walk.
- WorksJinpukaku has been closed long-term since 2023-12-29. Its exterior is covered for works too, so no interior visit is included.
City tourism castle ruins and access informationCity park fee listKururi fares and date-specific services
Utsubuki Park
打吹公園
Walk Utsubuki Park among cherry blossoms and azaleas in spring. Allow 45–60 minutes for the park without climbing the summit. Check flowering times before travelling.
- Admission and hoursTourism information does not specify a common fee or opening hours for ordinary walks. The listed JPY 400 wish-paper activity is separate from walking and excluded from the itinerary.
- Getting thereFrom stand 2 at Kurayoshi Station, take Yokota Line route 12 via the 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 5 minutes on foot separately. Adults JPY 230 each way, JPY 460 return. Return on a depot-bound service via Kurayoshi Station.
- Time at the parkAllow a suggested 45–60 minutes for the pond and lower park. Walking to the return stop and bus waits are extra; check both services in the official timetable for your date.
Tourism organisation’s park introductionKurayoshi bus stands and return informationCity’s park access descriptionYokota Line current linked fare tableHinomaru routes and fares
Yonago Castle Ruins
米子城跡
Stone walls and the former keep site remain at Yonago Castle Ruins, rather than a keep building. Walk among traces of the old castle; the summit route is uphill.
- Getting thereWalk about 15 minutes from Yonago Station to Masugata entrance (枡形入口), then follow the ascent trail for about 20 minutes to the keep site. Do not count 15 minutes as station-to-summit time.
- Visit timingThis route visits the keep site and returns in daylight. The official FAQ says night access is possible, but requires lighting because there are no streetlights. The itinerary does not climb after sunset.
- Time at the summit and returnAllow a suggested 20–30 minutes for summit views. Descent and returning to the station are extra; the roughly 20-minute ascent is not a whole return-trip estimate. There are no toilets on the mountain, so use those near Sannomaru car park first. Shorten walks if rain worsens the path.
- LuggageTourism information says there are no coin lockers on site. Arrange storage at the station or hotel before leaving.
Castle ruins’ official accessCity tourism and luggage informationYonago Castle official FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit the Sand Museum any time in winter?
The current exhibition runs from 24 April 2026 to 3 January 2027. It closes between exhibitions. For 4 January 2027 onwards, check the next exhibition’s opening date and operating days officially.
Is Yonago Castle Ruins’ summit 15 minutes from the station?
The roughly 15 minutes covers the station to Masugata entrance. Add about 20 minutes uphill to the keep site, with separate time for descent and the station return.
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 ·
- Tottori tourism and access ·
- City tourism castle ruins and access information ·
- City park fee list ·
- 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 ·
- JR official search entry point ·
- JR train and fare search ·
- Yokota Line current linked fare table ·
- Yonago Castle official FAQ ·
- Shrine office and access ·
- Shrine worship FAQ ·
- JR Tottori–Matsue Pass coverage and eligibility ·