Historic places in Tottori

Historic places in Tottori

1. See

   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

2. See

   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

3. Do

   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.

4. See

   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

5. See

   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

6. See

   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

7. See

   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

8. See

   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

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Tottori (CC BY-SA 4.0).