The area surrounding Tottori City has tourist attractions such as Tottori Sand Dunes, Honganji Temple, and Suwa Shrine; sightseeing events such as the Cherry Blossom Festival, Tottori Shanshan Festival, and Chizu Dodan Festival; and local delicacies such as ozoni (rice cake), brandy cake, and white rose coffee.
The most famous sightseeing spot in the area surrounding Tottori City is the Tottori Sand Dunes, which face the Sea of Japan. Tottori Airport is located in the vicinity of Tottori City, and is connected directly to nearby metropolitan areas and Tokyo, making it a very convenient area for transportation.
Kozan Pond, a brackish lake in the northern part of the area, is the largest in Japan. In winter, the catch of Matsuba crab is abundant, and eating crab and soaking in hot springs in the deep snow is one of the best parts of a trip to this area.
Chigusa is a town that retains the atmosphere of an old-fashioned inn town street that has become "Chigusa-juku" of the "Bizen Kaido" road, which is mostly forested with mountains.
The "Tottori Sand Dunes" receive many tourists every year and are one of the largest coastal sand dunes in Japan. Visitors can experience the exotic atmosphere of the dunes by taking a camel ride. There is also a "sightseeing carriage," so if you would like to experience it, you should definitely take a ride.
The dunes are dotted with monuments to poets such as Akiko Yosano, Gyosui Morikawa, Kyoshi Takahama, Tomoyoaki Edano, and Takeo Arishima. You can take a walk around the area in search of these monuments. The entire dune was designated as a natural monument in 1955.
This Chigashirajuku is also the road connecting the Inaba-kaido and Bizen-kaido roads, and was also the road of "Sankyo Koshoku". This traffic in Chigashira has been selected as one of the "100 best roads" and "100 best walking trails" in history.
The town is also home to temples, shrines, and townhouses, which can still be seen in their original form. The Ishitani Family Residence, a National Important Cultural Property, is one of the largest townhouses in the area. Seven of the houses, including the main house, are included in the list, and the garden on the grounds is also a registered monument.
In addition, the Shimo-cho and Nakamachi Community Centers are both registered as Tangible Cultural Properties. Several other buildings are also treated as cultural properties and play an important role in preserving the atmosphere of the time.
Many of the local specialties in the area surrounding Tottori City are associated with the dunes, such as "Sunatamago (sand egg)," "Sunagoka Nagaimo (dune potatoes)," "Sunagoka Rakko (dune rakkyo)," and "Daiei Suika (watermelon). However, crab, a winter specialty, is still the most famous local food.
The Tottori Sand Dunes are among the largest coastal dune systems in Japan, offering a striking landscape that feels worlds away from the country's familiar cities and lush countryside. Formed over approximately 100,000 years, the dunes stretch across an area about 16 kilometers from east to west and 2 kilometers from north to south. Shaped by the wind, the sand creates ever-changing patterns, inc...»
Uradome Coast, located at the eastern edge of Tottori Prefecture along the Sea of Japan, is a spectacular coastal landscape stretching approximately 15 kilometers from east to west. This rugged ria coastline has been shaped by the erosive forces of the sea, creating dramatic granite cliffs, unusual rock formations, sea arches, and caves. Numerous islands and rocks of different sizes rise from the ...»
The Ishitani Residence is a magnificent historic mansion located in Chizu Town, Yazu District, Tottori Prefecture. Built by the Ishitani family, a prominent merchant family whose history dates back to the Edo period (1603–1868), the residence occupies an extensive site of approximately 10,000 square meters. Its buildings and gardens reflect the evolution of Japanese residential architecture from t...»
Located beside the famous Tottori Sand Dunes, the Sand Museum offers a fascinating introduction to the art of sand sculpture. It is known for its remarkable displays of sand sculptures, or sand art, created using only sand and water. Intricately carved figures, monumental architectural scenes, and dramatic compositions transform this simple natural material into extraordinary works of art. The mu...»
Overlooking Hakuto Beach on the Sea of Japan, Hakuto Shrine is associated with one of Japan's best-known myths, the story of the White Rabbit of Inaba. The shrine enshrines Hakuto-no-Kami, the deity identified with the legendary rabbit, and is widely worshipped for blessings related to matchmaking, romantic relationships, and the healing of skin conditions. Surrounded by greenery and filled with ...»
Jinpukaku is an elegant Western-style mansion located in Hisamatsu Park, on the grounds of Tottori Castle Ruins. Built as a secondary residence for the Ikeda family, the former feudal lords of the Tottori Domain, it is celebrated for its French Renaissance-inspired architecture and refined white exterior. Completed in 1907 to accommodate the visit of Crown Prince Yoshihito, who later became Emper...»
Tottori Prefecture is famous for its vast sand dunes, among Japan’s largest. The unique natural environment around the dunes is also ideal for growing rakkyo, a small bulb related to the onion that is commonly eaten pickled in Japan. Tottori’s sand dune rakkyo is known for its particularly white appearance and fine fibers, which give it an exceptionally crisp, clean bite. Sand dune soil is genera...»
Fudoin Iwayado is a remarkable Buddhist temple hall built within a natural rock cavern in Wakasa, Tottori Prefecture. Often called a “cave hall,” this unusual structure blends traditional Japanese temple architecture with the rugged landscape surrounding it. The natural cavern measures approximately 13 meters high, 7 meters wide, and 10 meters deep, providing a dramatic setting for the wooden buil...»
Warabekan is a museum in Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture, dedicated to Japanese children's songs, nursery rhymes, and toys. Housed in a charming retro-style building that incorporates the former Tottori Prefectural Library, constructed in 1930, the museum has a nostalgic atmosphere that transports visitors back to an earlier era. This cultural facility brings together two main attractions: the T...»
Kani meshi, or crab rice, is a popular Japanese dish that celebrates one of the Sea of Japan’s most prized seafood delicacies: crab. Often regarded as a highlight of the winter food season, it is prepared by boiling crab and serving the meat over rice or mixing it directly into the rice. Depending on the recipe, the rice may be plain steamed rice, vinegared sushi rice, or seasoned rice cooked with...»
Tottori Horumon Yakisoba, often affectionately called “Horusoba,” is a regional noodle dish from eastern Tottori Prefecture that replaces the usual slices of pork belly with beef offal, known in Japanese as horumon. This distinctive ingredient gives the dish a rich, savory flavor and a satisfyingly chewy texture, creating an appealing combination with classic Japanese stir-fried noodles. Horusoba...»
Tottori Prefecture is renowned for its love of curry, ranking first in Japan for household consumption of curry roux per household. Around the Tottori Sand Dunes, where Japanese pickled rakkyo shallots are widely produced, curry has become an increasingly popular local specialty and an important part of the region’s food culture....»
Tottori Jidori Piyo is a premium local chicken developed in Tottori Prefecture for its distinctive flavor and high meat quality. The prefecture began developing a specialty chicken in 1987, aiming to create a product that could become a regional delicacy. After years of experimentation, Tottori Jidori Piyo was introduced in 1991, using the Shamo breed as its foundation....»
Babachan Nabe is a traditional hot pot dish from Tottori Prefecture made with a deep-sea fish known as Tanaka-genge (often nicknamed “baba,” or “old woman,” in Japanese because of its unusual appearance). During the winter fishing season, the fish is sometimes caught in nets used for harvesting Matsuba snow crabs and then sold at local markets as a regional delicacy. In the past, the fish’s rathe...»
Shiroika squid is one of Tottori Prefecture’s signature summer seafood delicacies. On summer nights, fishing boats bobbing on the rough waters of the Sea of Japan create a romantic scene, their bright squid-fishing lights glowing against the darkness. July and August mark the peak of the shiroika fishing season, when this prized squid is especially popular at local restaurants....»
Tottori rock oysters are a popular summer seafood delicacy from Tottori Prefecture, known for their large, rugged shells and rich, satisfying flavor. Unlike the more familiar oysters that are typically in season from autumn to early spring, rock oysters reach their peak in summer. They are sometimes called “summer oysters” and are a highlight of the region’s seasonal seafood....»
Akagarei, or red sole, is a popular flatfish caught in the waters off Tottori Prefecture along the Sea of Japan. It is a familiar ingredient in local winter cuisine, commonly prepared as simmered fish, deep-fried fish, or meunière. Its mild, delicate white flesh and tender texture make it particularly well suited to everyday home cooking. When exceptionally fresh, akagarei can also be enjoyed as ...»
Shinkan-sen is a premium pear variety developed in Tottori Prefecture, attracting attention as a new signature fruit for the region. While Tottori has long been famous for its Nijisseiki, or 20th Century pears, Shinkan-sen offers a distinctive combination of intense sweetness and a satisfyingly crisp bite....»
Saijo persimmons are a traditional Japanese fruit cultivated in Tottori Prefecture, one of Japan’s leading persimmon-producing regions. Persimmons have been enjoyed in Japan for centuries and are so closely associated with the country that the Japanese word kaki is also used in the fruit’s scientific name. Tottori grows several varieties of persimmons, including Saijo, Fuyu, and Hanagosho. Among ...»
Hiokizakura Special Junmai Seisui Ryokuzan is a premium junmai sake produced by Yamane Shuzō Brewery, which was founded in 1887. The brewery is located in Aoya, Tottori City, an area blessed with beautiful coastlines, scenic mountain valleys, and abundant natural water. Its brewing philosophy places the flavor of rice above all else, allowing the ingredients to express their full character. One o...»
Baumkuchen from Oenosato Natural Farm is a carefully crafted cake that combines the rich flavor of high-quality eggs with traditional German baking techniques. Located amid the natural surroundings of Tottori Prefecture, Oenosato Natural Farm is a destination dedicated to agriculture, food, and the enjoyment of nature. It is particularly well known for its Tenbiran eggs, produced by free-range chi...»
Sankoen Pear Gelato is a refreshing frozen dessert that showcases the natural sweetness of pears grown at Sankoen, a historic fruit farm in Tottori Prefecture. Established in 1904, Sankoen has specialized in pear cultivation for generations, combining the skills of experienced growers with careful attention to quality. The farm cultivates more than 10 varieties of Japanese pears, each with its ow...»
Tottori Brandy Cake is a popular Western-style confection made by Kamekoya, one of Tottori Prefecture’s oldest traditional Japanese confectionery shops. Founded in 1868, the shop is well known for local specialties such as Kikko Monaka and Nijisseiki, and this distinctive cake reflects its long-standing dedication to quality sweets. Made with eggs from Tottori Prefecture, the cake is generously i...»
Kamekoya Nijisseiki is a charming traditional sweet inspired by Nijisseiki pears, one of Tottori Prefecture’s most famous local specialties. Made by Kamekoya, a historic confectionery shop in Tottori, this distinctive treat has been produced using the same traditional method since 1922 (Taisho 11). The confection is made from an amber-syrup-based jelly mixture shaped to resemble cross-sections of...»
Sakyū no Fūmon, created by Kyoya Kaho, is an elegant traditional Japanese sweet inspired by the delicate patterns known as fūmon that form when the wind sweeps across the sands of the Tottori Sand Dunes. These natural ripples and curves transform the landscape into a beautiful work of art, and this confection captures that beauty in a form that can be enjoyed with tea. Made as rakugan, a traditio...»
Inabayama is a traditional baked confection made by Kyoya Kaho in Tottori City. It takes its inspiration from Mount Inabayama, a gracefully shaped mountain that has long been familiar to local residents and is celebrated in Japanese poetry, including the classical anthology known as the Hyakunin Isshu, or One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each. The sweet is shaped like a gently curved, semicircular mou...»
Pon-gashi is a traditional Japanese snack made by puffing grains such as rice under pressure and then releasing the pressure rapidly, causing the grains to expand. Known by various names, including don-gashi, ponpon-gashi, and panpan-gashi, these light, crispy treats have been enjoyed in Japan for generations. In Tottori City, Fukasawa Seika, a long-established confectionery maker founded in 1946...»
Tenbir an Eggs, produced at Oenosato Natural Farm in Tottori Prefecture, are prized for their rich flavor and exceptional freshness. Nestled at the foothills of the Chūgoku Mountains and surrounded by lush greenery, Oenosato Natural Farm is a natural resort dedicated to agriculture and food, with a site covering approximately 3,500 square meters. The farm raises chickens in a spacious, floor-rear...»
20th Century Pear Curry is a distinctive retort-pack curry that combines the familiar comfort of Japanese curry with the refreshing sweetness and texture of Tottori's famous 20th Century pears. It is made with pears grown at Sankoen, a historic pear orchard near the Tottori Sand Dunes that has been cultivating 20th Century pears since its founding in 1904. One of the oldest established pear orcha...»
Tōfu chikuwa is a distinctive regional food from the central and eastern parts of Tottori Prefecture. While ordinary Japanese chikuwa is typically made primarily from fish paste, this local variation combines tofu with fish to create a lighter, more delicate flavor. It has been enjoyed by local residents since the late Edo period (1603–1868) and remains a familiar staple of everyday meals in Totto...»
Tottori 20th Century Pear Vinegar is a distinctive fruit vinegar made exclusively from fully ripened, freshly harvested 20th Century pears. It reflects Tottori Prefecture’s long-standing reputation for pear cultivation and offers a delicious way to enjoy the refreshing fragrance and gentle sweetness of this famous Japanese fruit. The vinegar is produced using ripe pears that do not meet the usual...»