Mizuki Shigeru Road
📍 Address: Taisho-machi, Sakaiminato City, Tottori Prefecture 684-0004, Japan
Mizuki Shigeru Road, stretching approximately 800m from JR Sakaiminato Station, is a rare shopping street in Japan where visitors can feel as if they’ve stepped into the world of the manga ‘GeGeGe no Kitaro’. Starting with just 23 bronze statues in 1993, this street overcame numerous challenges, continuously adding statues, and after a major renovation in 2018, it has evolved into a major tourist spot lined with over 170 yokai (supernatural beings).
The greatest charm here isn’t just admiring the statues; ‘interactive play’ is incorporated throughout, allowing visitors to sit beside yokai on benches or even touch them. Taking narrative-rich photos with your own figures or plush toys is also popular. Moreover, the best time to visit is actually at night. As the sun sets, silhouettes of yokai are projected onto the streets, accompanied by mysterious and fantastical illumination. Coupled with the quiet ambiance when crowds thin out, you can experience a slightly eerie atmosphere, much like a real yokai road, making it especially recommended for adults seeking a thrill.
Tottori Sand Dunes
📍 Address: 2164-971 Yuyama, Fukube-cho, Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture 689-0105, Japan
The Tottori Sand Dunes, often considered the symbol of Tottori tourism, are a natural masterpiece shaped by the Earth’s breath. Granite from the Chugoku Mountains crumbled, flowed down the Sendai River, and was blown inland over tens of thousands of years by the waves of the Sea of Japan and the northwest winds. The biggest highlight is the steep 47m slope known as ‘Umanose’ (Horse’s Back, or the Second Dune Ridge). After struggling through the sand to reach the top, you’ll be greeted by a refreshing breeze from the Sea of Japan and a magnificent ocean view stretching out before your eyes.
Travelers often fall into the trap of ‘daytime heat and crowds’. The best time to visit is undoubtedly ‘early morning’. Especially after a rain shower, the sand will contain just the right amount of moisture, making it easier to walk, and you can enjoy the beautiful, untouched sand ripples, reset from the previous day’s footprints, all to yourself. After your walk, a classic move is to slurp local beef bone ramen at a nearby diner, then refresh your parched throat with the delightfully sweet ’20th Century Pear Soft Serve Ice Cream’.
The Sand Museum, Tottori Sand Dunes
📍 Address: The Sand Museum, 2083-17 Yuyama, Fukube-cho, Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture 689-0105, Japan
Located close to the Tottori Sand Dunes, ‘The Sand Museum’ is a rare museum worldwide that specializes in exhibiting sand sculptures created solely from ‘sand and water’. Since its opening in 2006, with the concept of ‘Travel Around the World in Sand’, the museum changes its theme annually, showcasing the skills of world-class sand sculptors. The 17th exhibition, themed ‘Spain’, brilliantly captures the complex forms of Gaudi’s architecture, including the Sagrada Familia, through the subtle shadows of sand. Its overwhelming scale and intricacy will undoubtedly take your breath away.
The greatest romance of this museum lies in its ‘once-in-a-lifetime art’ – even masterpieces that took months to create are completely dismantled and returned to their original sand once the exhibition period ends. As an air-conditioned indoor facility, it offers a significant advantage for travelers, allowing them to escape the strong winds and sun of the dunes and enjoy the art regardless of the weather. We recommend experiencing both the natural grandeur of the dunes and the delicate sand sculpture expressions crafted by human hands.
Tottori Hanakairo Flower Park
📍 Address: 110 Tsuruta, Nanbu-cho, Saihaku-gun, Tottori Prefecture 683-0217, Japan
Tottori Hanakairo Flower Park, which opened in 1999, is one of Japan’s largest flower parks, featuring the magnificent Mt. Daisen as a borrowed landscape. Its vast grounds offer endless attractions, including beautiful tulip fields in partnership with the Netherlands’ Keukenhof Gardens, and the only facility in Japan to exhibit all 15 wild lily species native to the country. The panorama of seasonal flowers interwoven with Mt. Daisen is a breathtaking view that can only be captured here.
To efficiently explore the vast park, a smart move is to first take the ‘Flower Train,’ which provides an overview of the entire park in about 15 minutes. Furthermore, the impressive design includes a covered observation corridor spanning 1km, allowing visitors to stroll through the park even on rainy days without an umbrella. The staff’s high level of hospitality is also renowned; you can experience heartwarming service, from their earnest response to lost items to their friendly greetings during gardening work.
Flower Dome
📍 Address: 185 Tsuruta, Nanbu-cho, Saihaku-gun, Tottori Prefecture 683-0217, Japan
Rising at the heart of Tottori Hanakairo Flower Park, the ‘Flower Dome’ is a gigantic armillary sphere-shaped greenhouse boasting a diameter of 50m and a height of 21m. The dome’s interior is kept consistently warm, with tropical and subtropical plants like palm trees, and a wide variety of orchids, including beautiful phalaenopsis, blooming all year round. The chance to encounter rare plants not commonly seen, such as the African-native ‘Coral Hibiscus’ (Fuurin Bussouge) and the ‘Mickey Mouse Plant’, is another unique charm of this dome.
The glass-paneled architecture with its beautiful geometric patterns is a sight to behold in itself, and taking photos from outside with Mt. Daisen in the background is also recommended. The dome remains warm even in winter, making it a perfect oasis on chilly sightseeing days. The friendly atmosphere, where you can chat with staff working in the park and learn interesting plant facts, is truly delightful. The famous 20th Century Pear Soft Serve Ice Cream is also sold here, and taking a short break while surrounded by the sweet scent of flowers is a local favorite way to enjoy it.
Tips and Tricks to Enjoy Tottori Tourism 120%
Tottori Prefecture’s tourist spots each boast unique themes and passionate energy depending on the area. The Sakaiminato area presents ‘Yokai’, the Tottori area offers ‘Sand and Earth’s History’, and the Nanbu-cho area showcases ‘Flowers and Nature’ – the significant appeal lies in these completely different facets.
The key to efficiently touring Tottori with a limited itinerary is ‘controlling your visit times’. Since the Tottori Sand Dunes offer no shade, the golden rule is to visit in the cool morning hours to conquer the magnificent ‘Umanose’ (Horse’s Back), then retreat to indoor facilities like the adjacent ‘Sand Museum’ or the air-conditioned ‘Flower Dome’ when temperatures rise during the day. Conversely, ‘Mizuki Shigeru Road’ and ‘Tottori Hanakairo Flower Park’ are beautifully illuminated from dusk into the night. Scheduling them as the culmination of your day will allow you to experience a deep sense of wonder unlike during daytime.
