Tottori in three days: stay in the east or move to Kurayoshi?
Stay two nights in Tottori to give the dunes walk, Sand Museum, and city castle ruins a day each. Alternatively, combine the dunes and exhibition on day one, then change hotels to Kurayoshi for the warehouse district and Utsubuki Park. The single-base itinerary ends at Tottori Station; the hotel-change itinerary ends at Kurayoshi Station.
Choose an itinerary for 3 days, 2 nights
From the dunes to Kurayoshi
Spend one night in Tottori, then one in Kurayoshi. Visit the dunes and sand sculptures before changing hotels for a warehouse-district walk, with Utsubuki Park on the final day.
From the dunes to Kurayoshi →3 days, 2 nights BStay in eastern Tottori
Spend two nights near Tottori Station, using one hotel for an outdoor dunes walk on day one, the Sand Museum's indoor exhibition on day two, and the city castle ruins on the final day.
Stay in eastern Tottori →From the dunes to Kurayoshi
Spend one night in Tottori, then one in Kurayoshi. Visit the dunes and sand sculptures before changing hotels for a warehouse-district walk, with Utsubuki Park on the final day.
Day 1 · Dunes and the museum, then your first night in Tottori
Visit the dunes and museum before staying in Tottori
- Tottori Station or lodging → Dunes entrance
From stop 0 at Tottori Station's north-side bus terminal, take Route 39, the Sand Dunes Line, to its final stop, Sakyu Kaikan · 砂丘会館（鳥取砂丘）. Follow signs to the dunes entrance. Use the official timetable to choose both directions, allowing time to finish the dunes walk and exhibition before returning.
Operator's Route 39 timetable and fare chartNorth exit stop 0 and direction-specific boarding guidance
- Dunes entrance → The Sand Museum
Allow 60–90 minutes to walk the dunes and beach, with lunch separate. Then follow signs to the Sand Museum's main entrance. Walking time between the two sites is separate from the suggested sightseeing time.
Official Tottori Sand Dunes guideMore transport and operating details
- Sand Museum entrance → Exhibition visit
Allow 60–90 minutes for the exhibition. The current exhibition runs through January 3, 2027; the museum closes between exhibitions. Check exhibition dates in the attraction guide. The main entrance is open 9 a.m.–6 p.m., with last entry at 5:30 p.m. If your visit falls outside the exhibition period, omit the indoor visit and its ¥800 admission.
- The Sand Museum → Tottori lodging
Return on a Tottori Station-bound Sand Dunes Line bus from Suna no Bijutsukan-mae · 砂の美術館前. Choose a departure that leaves time to walk to the stop after the exhibition. Stay in Tottori tonight.
Operator's Route 39 timetable and fare chartNorth exit stop 0 and direction-specific boarding guidance
Day 2 · Move to Kurayoshi and walk the warehouse district
Change your base to Kurayoshi and walk the warehouse district
- Tottori lodging → Kurayoshi Station and new lodging
Take a Kurayoshi-bound JR San'in Line train from Tottori Station. From today, Kurayoshi is your base for the warehouse district, with a return to the station afterward. Match the intercity train and Kurayoshi local bus using official searches for your travel date.
- Kurayoshi Station → White-walled warehouse district
From Kurayoshi Station stop 2, take Route 11, the Yashiro Line, on a service via Park Square. Get off at Akagawara/Shirakabe Dozo · 赤瓦・白壁土蔵 and walk about five minutes to the district. Fares differ from services via the city center, so choose both directions using the same route.
Kurayoshi bus boarding and return guidanceRoute 11 Yashiro Line weekday and holiday timetablesOfficial Kurayoshi White Wall Warehouses guide
- Warehouse district entrance → Tamagawa and street walk
Allow 90–120 minutes for the warehouse district and Tamagawa walk, plus about 60 minutes for lunch. Gyukotsu ramen is a meal option; individual restaurant hours and prices are separate.
- Warehouse district → Kurayoshi lodging
Return to the Akagawara/Shirakabe Dozo stop and take a Kurayoshi Station-bound bus. An adult round trip via Park Square, matching the outbound route, costs ¥620. Stay in Kurayoshi tonight.
Kurayoshi bus boarding and return guidanceRoute 11 Yashiro Line weekday and holiday timetables
Day 3 · Utsubuki Park, then depart from Kurayoshi
Visit Utsubuki Park before leaving Kurayoshi
- Kurayoshi Station or lodging → Utsubuki Park entrance
From Kurayoshi Station stop 2, take Route 12, the Yokota Line, via the museum, Park Square, and City Hall. Get off at Shiyakusho/Utsubuki Koen Iriguchi · 市役所・打吹公園入口. Tourism guidance lists about 17 minutes on the bus, followed by a five-minute walk to the park. Adult fares on this route are ¥230 one-way or ¥460 round-trip.
Route 12 weekday and weekend/holiday timetablesCity guidance on park accessCurrent connecting fare chart for the Yokota LineHinomaru routes and fares
- Utsubuki Park entrance → Pond and lower park walk
Allow 45–60 minutes for the pond and lower park. This day does not include a summit hike or repeat the previous day's warehouse district visit.
- Utsubuki Park → Kurayoshi Station or lodging
Walk back to the City Hall/Utsubuki Park Entrance stop and choose a depot-bound bus that stops at Kurayoshi Station. This itinerary ends at Kurayoshi Station; a JR return to Tottori is excluded. Check the official timetable for a return you can reach after your visit and walk to the stop.
Route 12 weekday and weekend/holiday timetablesKurayoshi bus boarding and return guidanceCurrent connecting fare chart for the Yokota Line
Included: Sand Museum ¥800 + Sand Dunes Line ¥760 + Route 11 to the warehouse district ¥620 + JR Tottori–Kurayoshi ¥680 + Route 12 to Utsubuki Park ¥230 × 2 rides.
Extra costs and conditions: Lodging, meals, airport transfers, luggage storage, and unlisted transportation are separate. Paid activities and admission to other facilities are excluded. Choose outbound and return services for your travel date.
Official Sand Museum visitor informationOperator's Route 39 timetable and fare chartRoute 11 Yashiro Line weekday and holiday timetablesHinomaru routes and faresJR train and fare searchCurrent connecting fare chart for the Yokota Line
Stay in eastern Tottori
Spend two nights near Tottori Station, using one hotel for an outdoor dunes walk on day one, the Sand Museum's indoor exhibition on day two, and the city castle ruins on the final day.
Day 1 · Walk the dunes and beach
Walk the dunes and stay in Tottori
- Tottori Station or lodging → Dunes entrance
From stop 0 at Tottori Station's north-side bus terminal, take Route 39, the Sand Dunes Line, to its final stop, Sakyu Kaikan · 砂丘会館（鳥取砂丘）. Follow signs to the dunes entrance. Choose both directions from the official timetable, allowing time for the dunes walk and lunch before your return.
Operator's Route 39 timetable and fare chartNorth exit stop 0 and direction-specific boarding guidance
- Dunes entrance → Dunes walk and lunch
Allow a suggested 60–90 minutes for the dunes and beach. Plan lunch and the walk to the entrance separately. Leave the indoor exhibition for another day so you have time for the dunes.
Official Tottori Sand Dunes guideMore transport and operating details
- Dunes entrance → Tottori lodging
Return through the entrance you used and board a Tottori Station-bound Route 39 bus at Sakyu Kaikan · 砂丘会館（鳥取砂丘）. Choose a departure you can reach after the walk and lunch, then stay in Tottori.
Operator's Route 39 timetable and fare chartNorth exit stop 0 and direction-specific boarding guidance
Day 2 · Give the Sand Museum exhibition its own day
Visit the indoor exhibition separately from yesterday's dunes walk
- Tottori Station or lodging → Suna no Bijutsukan-mae bus stop
Take Route 39, the Sand Dunes Line, from stop 0 at Tottori Station's north-side bus terminal. Get off at Suna no Bijutsukan-mae · 砂の美術館前 and follow signs to the main entrance. Today is for the indoor exhibition, without repeating yesterday's climb over the dunes. Choose a return to the station for after your visit.
Operator's Route 39 timetable and fare chartNorth exit stop 0 and direction-specific boarding guidance
- Sand Museum entrance → Exhibition visit
Allow 60–90 minutes for the exhibition. The current exhibition runs through January 3, 2027; the museum closes between exhibitions. Check exhibition dates in the attraction guide. The main entrance is open 9 a.m.–6 p.m., with last entry at 5:30 p.m. If your visit falls outside the exhibition period, omit the indoor visit and its ¥800 admission.
- The Sand Museum → Tottori lodging
Return on a Tottori Station-bound Sand Dunes Line bus from Suna no Bijutsukan-mae · 砂の美術館前. Choose a departure that leaves time to walk to the stop after the exhibition. Stay in Tottori tonight.
Operator's Route 39 timetable and fare chartNorth exit stop 0 and direction-specific boarding guidance
Day 3 · A short castle-park walk, then back to Tottori Station
Walk the castle park and return to Tottori Station
- Tottori Station or lodging → Kyusho Park entrance
Take the green Kururi loop bus from Tottori Station and get off at Jinpukaku/Kenritsu Hakubutsukan · 仁風閣・県立博物館. The park below Tottori Castle Ruins is in front of the stop.
Kururi fares and date-specific servicesCity tourism guide to the castle ruins and access
- Kyusho Park entrance → Restored gates and stone walls
Allow 60–90 minutes for the restored gates, bridge, stone walls, and lower park. Jinpukaku's interior is closed for construction, and this itinerary does not include the mountain summit.
- Kyusho Park → Tottori Station or lodging
Board the same loop bus at the stop in front of the park to return to Tottori Station. On your departure day, leave time at the station to prepare for your onward journey.
Included: Sand Museum ¥800 + Sand Dunes Line round trip ¥760 × 2 days = ¥1,520 + Kururi ¥200.
Extra costs and conditions: Lodging, meals, airport transfers, luggage storage, and unlisted transportation are separate. Paid activities and admission to other facilities are excluded. Choose outbound and return services for your travel date.
Official Sand Museum visitor informationOperator's Route 39 timetable and fare chartRoute 41 timetableHinomaru routes and faresKururi fares and date-specific services
Frequently asked questions
Do the warehouse district and park use the same bus from Kurayoshi Station?
For the warehouse district, take Route 11 via Park Square to Akagawara/Shirakabe Dozo. For the park, take Route 12, the Yokota Line, to City Hall/Utsubuki Park Entrance. Their round-trip fares are ¥620 and ¥460 respectively; do not interchange them.
Route 11 Yashiro Line weekday and holiday timetablesRoute 12 weekday and weekend/holiday timetablesCurrent connecting fare chart for the Yokota LineHinomaru routes and fares
Official sources and checked dates
- Official Tottori Sand Dunes guide ·
- Official Sand Museum visitor information ·
- More transport and operating details ·
- Official Kurayoshi White Wall Warehouses guide ·
- Kurayoshi bus boarding and return guidance ·
- City tourism guide to the castle ruins and access ·
- Kururi fares and date-specific services ·
- Tourism guide to the park ·
- City guidance on park access ·
- Operator's Route 39 timetable and fare chart ·
- North exit stop 0 and direction-specific boarding guidance ·
- Route 41 timetable ·
- Hinomaru routes and fares ·
- Route 11 Yashiro Line weekday and holiday timetables ·
- Route 12 weekday and weekend/holiday timetables ·
- JR train and fare search ·
- Current connecting fare chart for the Yokota Line ·