Tottori

Aoya Kamijichi Site Museum

青谷上寺地遺跡展示館 aoya kamijichi iseki tenjikan

One of Japan's most famous archaeological sites. Thousands of Yayoi Period relics were excavated here, including human remains, and even tissue from 3 brains (out of only 6 in the world). The artifacts indicate that the settlement here was involved in trade with much of Western Japan, Korea, and even China.

Tue-Sun 09:00-17:00 (last admission 16:30)·Free

Big Apple

ビッグアップル

By day, Big Apple is a diner for the neighborhood's factory workers, but on weekend nights they often bring in DJs and clear the tables from the dance floor.

Tue-Sun 18:00-02:00

Cafe Source

カフェソース

Classy atmosphere and tasty selections from an eclectic menu. If you're not up for a full meal, stop in for the drinks and desserts.

noon-midnight·Lunch sets from ¥850, dinner from ¥2950

Genchū-ji

玄忠寺

This temple is the site of the grave of Araki Mataemon, a legendary swordsman. In a famous story, he came to the aid of a man who was seeking in vengeance; the actual sword he used is displayed on the temple grounds. Rakan (paintings of high ranking Buddhists) are painted on the fusuma (screen doors) inside the temple by Keitaro Takagi. While traditional priest paintings are stoic, these paintings are quite candid, with rather comical appearances.

Closed · opens 9 am·¥300

Goldrush

ゴールドラッシュ

Country-western-style saloon in the backstreets of the drinking district. They are rumored to serve reasonable tacos.

Mon-Sat 19:00-03:00

Hakuto Beach

白兎

Famous for its association with the White Rabbit of Inaba; in fact, the name of the beach means "white rabbit". This beach was the rabbit's destination after his shark-hop.

Hakuto Shrine

白兎神社, hakuto-jinja

Hakuto Shrine is the shrine of the Inaba rabbit. The rabbit is said to have washed itself in the shrine's pond.

Idegahama Beach

井手ヶ浜

So nice the sand will sing to you (narisuna). The sand at Idegahama is made of silica, and when you walk on it, it makes a pleasant sound. The sand at Idegahama was even worshipped long ago because of the melodies that rang from the sand. To hear the sand at its best, come when it is hot.

Inaba Man-yō History Pavilion

因幡万葉歴史館

Located in Kokufu-cho, this museum houses many Inaba-area artifacts from the Nara and Heian eras.

Tue-Sun 09:00-17:00 (last admission 16:30)·Adults ¥300, free for seniors, high school students, and children

Jinpukaku Mansion

仁風閣

This French-style mansion was home to the remnants of the Edo-era feudal clan, Ikeda.

Tue-Sun·¥150

Kaiten Sushi Hokkaido Ekinanten

回転すし北海道 駅南店

Moderately priced conveyor belt sushi chain store. Located a bit outside the city center, reachable by foot in 15 minutes from JR Tottori Station. Although their menu features only Japanese text, all items also have pictures. Be aware that daily specials are written on whiteboards above the counter, illegible for non-Japanese readers.

Closed · opens 11:30 am·1500¥-3000¥, cash only

Kannon-in

観音院

Constructed in 1632, this is the 32nd temple along the Chugoku 33 Kannon Temple Pilgrimage. While the temple does not look particularly special, the garden inside is what makes this such a great place to visit. The temple doors are removed upon entering so that you can sit and enjoy the beautiful pond garden from inside. The garden is quite peaceful, as the only sounds you can hear are the birds in the trees. It's easy to forget you're in a city.

Closed · opens 8:30 am·Entry with tea ¥600, without tea ¥300

Karoichi Fish Market

鳥取港海鮮市場かろいち

A large seafood market with a view of the coast. Among the several restaurants, Wakabayashi Sushi is good and cheap — an eight piece nigiri set is ¥700. It's inside the market near the right entrance.

Most restaurants 11:00-16:00, 17:00-22:00

Katō Paper Shop

加藤紙店

The second floor of this otherwise ordinary stationery shop has a wonderful array of locally-produced washi (Japanese artisanal paper) in a variety of fibers, texture, colors, and prints. Has a branch in Matsue.

Closed · opens 10 am

Kawahara Castle

河原城, Kawahara-jō

About 12 km south of central Tottori, near where the Hatto River joins the Sendai River, the castle offers a spectacular view. It is said that Toyotomi Hideyoshi stopped here and dreamed about a peaceful, united Japan prior to uniting the nation himself. The current observation tower (based on Inuyama Castle in Aichi Prefecture) was opened in 1994, and houses a modest museum.

Tue-Sun 09:00-17:00 (Apr-Sep: Sat to 21:00)·Free

Kyoto Air Sports

All-day hang gliding lessons suitable for beginners. Reservations required.

Courses are offered daily from April through November·¥11,000

Maruyu Department Store

丸由百貨店

Formerly known as Daimaru. Five story department store just east of the station. Aside from the usual fashion, there's a food court in the basement and a rooftop family beer garden in the summer, with a tent for the rainy season.

Closed · opens 10 am

Mt. Kyusho

久松山, Kyūshō-zan

Starting from the castle ruins, climbing takes around half an hour and offers a great view of the city and surrounding area, all the way out to the sand dunes. But watch out for the ghosts of those who starved at the top during the castle siege.

Nagashibina Doll Museum

流しびなの館, Nagashibina-no-yakata

Displays hina dolls (for girls) throughout history, mostly from the Edo-period. The museum is named after the 'doll floating' which takes place every spring on the Sendai River outside as part of Hina-matsuri (but using the old lunisolar calendar, so not March 3).

Thu-Tue 09:00-17:00·Adults ¥300, free for junior high school students and children

Natsudomari Beach

For more than 400 years, these waters have been worked by female divers with their own special method of fish-catching. If you are lucky, you may even see them today.

Ochidani Shrine

樗谿神社

Built in 1650 by Mitsunaka Ikeda, the first lord of Tottori. The god worshipped here is the same worshipped at Toshogu Shrine in Nikko. It's a popular place to watch fireflies at night in the late summer.

Free

Rakudaya

らくだや

Anyone who knows anything about sand dunes knows that they're meant to be traveled atop a camel. You'll find the camels by the main entrance in front of the lift. The actual riding time is quite brief. You may want to watch other riders make the 10-minute circuit before paying for a ride.

Closed · opens 9 am·Single rider ¥1800, double ¥3000, picture ¥500, includes dune entrance

Shikano Castle Ruins

鹿野城, shikano-jō

Although none of the original castle remains, the inner and outer moats and stone columns can still be seen. It's most popular during cherry blossom season with approximately 500 trees scattered throughout the castle grounds.

Enter anytime·Free

Tottori Castle Ruins

鳥取城

Built in 1545, Tottori Castle was destroyed in a massive siege in the 19th century, and only the foundations remain. The surrounding park is the perfect place to go during cherry-blossom season. The site offers a nice view of the city below from the lower reaches of Mt. Kyusho, or you can climb to the top for a view of the whole valley. Some locals say that the mountaintop is haunted by ghosts of people who were forced to resort to cannibalism during the siege of the castle.

24 hr·Free

Tottori City History Museum

やまびこ館

Interactive multimedia and digital displays about the city's history and culture. It's about 15 minutes on the red bus from JR Tottori Station.

Closed · opens 9 am·¥500 adults, high school and under free

Tottori Mingei Museum of Folkcrafts

鳥取民藝美術舘 tottori mingei bijutsukan

Despite the name, this small, two story museum displays mainly pottery and glass, but also has some textiles, woodwork, and bamboo work. The Ushinotoyaki pottery is the highlight of the collection. Just outside the museum, there is a place (the hexagonal structure) to pray for and make offerings to deceased orphans. With the stained-glass, it has an interesting Christian-Buddhist fusion feel.

Thu-Tue 10:00-17:00·¥500 adults, free for students and elderly

Tottori Prefectural Museum

鳥取県立博物館, tottori-kenritsu hakubutsukan

A two-story museum that displays the flora and fauna of Tottori, regional rocks and minerals, historical artifacts, festival and local cultural artifacts, and a variety of art produced in the city. (Most of the prehistoric artifacts are reproductions; most of the other displays are real, though.) Some of the standouts are the largest preserved squid in Japan and a live giant salamander.

Tue-Sun 09:00-17:00·¥180 adults, college students and under free

Tottori Sakyu Sandboard School

鳥取砂丘サンドボードスクール

This is by far the best place in Japan to experience sandboarding. Each course lasts 2 hours, reservations required. There must also be at least 10 people signed up for that day, or the course will be cancelled.

Thu, Apr 15 to Nov 30·¥2,500 per course

Tottori Sand Dunes

鳥取砂丘 Tottori sakyū

16 km from east to west, the Tottori Sand Dunes are a favorite target for climbing, exploring, and more. The main portion of the dunes are much smaller than 16km (about 2 km, east to west), but they can still be impressive. If you arrive very early in the morning, you can see the unique patterns carved by the wind before they get trampled by the scores of people who come to climb the biggest dune. If you'd prefer not to get sand in your shoes, a cable car ride (¥200 one way) leads to the Dune Observatory Center. After heavy rains, the oasis below the uma no se (the largest dune) forms into a beautiful lake. The ¥300 loop bus is the cheapest way of getting to the dunes from Tottori Station; the local bus will cost ¥380, or ¥330 if you stop at "kodomo no kuni" stop, where you can walk right away on the dunes from the west side. For other activities that can be enjoyed at the sand dunes, see the "Do" section.

24 hr; special activities typically begin at 09:00·Free

Ube Shrine

宇倍神社, ube-jinja

The first shrine to be built in the Inaba area, which consists of the entire eastern half of modern Tottori Prefecture. Praying at this shrine is believed to bestow fertility, long life, and wealth.

Free