This is a place like Tottori Dunes! The highlights, how to play, walking advice, surrounding spots, etc.

The "Tottori Dunes", the country's only designated as a natural monument as a coastal sand dune, is a leading attraction in Tottori Prefecture that you want to visit once. The highlights of the Toritori dunes, which were born over 100,000 years, how to play, walking advice, etc. Let's experience nature of overwhelming scale!

The largest coastal dunes in Japan!

Tottori Dunes is a leading tourist attraction in Tottori Prefecture. Its size is 16km east-west and 2.4km north-south, and its center is about 150ha, which is said to be Japan's best sand dunes for sightseeing. It became a national park in 1963, and almost the entire sand dune was designated a national natural monument. There are large undulations within the sand dunes, each of which has its own distinctive location with names such as "the back of the horse" and "Oigo-suribachi".

The Tottori Sand Dunes are sand dunes that were born over 100,000 years in the making. The rocks in the China Mountains weathered and became sand, and were transported from the river to the Sea of Japan, and the sand deposited on the sea floor moved to the shore by the force of the waves. Further that sand was carried by the north-west seasonal winds, which accumulated inland and took over 100,000 years of time to take the shape it is now.

To get to the Tottori Dunes, if you use public transport, take the bus from the bus terminal which is right after taking the north exit of Tottori Station; if you are a car, the Tottori Motorway Tottori IC will be the nearest interchange.

In addition, the Tottori Sand Dunes is one of the Sanin Coast Geopark, which spans Kyoto Prefecture, Hyōgo Prefecture, and Tottori Prefecture. A geopark is a natural park that contains multiple scientifically valuable topography, geology, etc. Here, the terrain and climate involved in the formation of the Japanese coast, and the lives of people can be seen.

If you want to enjoy a beautiful wind print, it is recommended that the early morning or evening, when the day is tilted. Especially in the early morning when people are not walking, the wind print is easy to appear and you can enjoy fantastic scenery.

How to walk in the dunes? Enjoy the dynamic scenery

1. GO from the dune entrance to the dune!

We will introduce you to a course where you can walk around the dunes, such as the perfect scenery of the horses, the plants of the dunes, and the spots where you can feel the history of the natural beauty. Let's go to the dunes, which show various expressions depending on the season and time.

From the “dune entrance” adjacent to the parking lot to the dunes! If you go up the stairs at the dune entrance, the land of sand is in front of you. It is also recommended to collect information at the “Tottori Dune Visitor Center” first.

2. Discover the Oasis!

As you progress through the dune entrance, you discover an oasis of the water basin at the foot of the horse's back, where rain has sprung up as groundwater, and it appears from late autumn to early spring.

3. Arrived at the back of the horse!

From the entrance to the dune, it is about 400m in a straight line, and it arrives at the back of the horse. If you climb a steep slope of about 47m in height, it is an amazing spot where the majestic landscape of the Sea of Japan spreads under your eyes! The "wind print", in which a wave-like pattern is drawn by the wind, is a dynamic beauty. In the evening, you may be able to meet a fantastic sight where the sunset shines in orange all over the sand dunes.

4. To the hermao colony

There are several places in the sand dunes where the burghers grow. Let's see the beautiful flowers that bloom in the sandy area during the season! The time of the flowers is May-June.

5. Also check volcanic ash exposed areas

Some of the sand dunes are exposed to volcanic ash that flew in from about 60,000 years ago, such as Oyama. You can touch the mystery of the ancient earth, so take a walk.

6. Oigo Suribachi

The end of the walking course is to the "Oigo-Suribachi", a slip-shaped depressed terrain created by the strong winds. There is a steep slope of about 32 degrees and a depth of about 20m. You can experience the wonder of nature with its unique terrain on a powerful steep slope. I am surprised by the big power of nature!

A great dune walk info

Shoes that are easy to walk, such as sneakers, or sandals are the best feet. Avoid shoes with pumps or heels because they will be buried in the sand. However, summer sandals are NG. The surface temperature of the sand can also be as high as close to 60 °C! In addition, a foot washing site has been set up at the Tottori Dune Visitor Center. After the walk, let's drop the sand in the water supply and then go home.

Can only be seen at that moment!

In the Tottori dunes, you can meet the exquisite scenery that can only be seen at that moment. If you are lucky, you can also take pictures like Uyuni Salt Lake in the Tottori dunes. You can also visit the sand dunes and mountain roads around the dunes, exhilarating activities through the Sea of Japan on a fat bike.

It's also nice to shoot with an oasis that has sprung up in the sand. The contrast between the water surface and the dunes is beautiful.

In addition, the magnificent view of the Sea of Japan extends below the eyes, and the spectacular view of the Sea of Japan is easy, at the end of the steep slope of about 47m high, which is called the back of the horse.

After the rain, you can also see a beautiful rainbow over the dunes. The magnificent natural scenery is sure to impress!

Meet beautiful moments! How to enjoy the four seasons

Depending on the four seasons, the Tottori dunes change their facial expressions. If you visit with different seasons, you may be able to meet different aspects again.

Spring

In spring, you can see plants that are unique to the sand dunes. The combination of sand dunes and flowers is a rare and beautiful sight.

Summer

The sight of summer when the sun sets over the Sea of Japan in front of you. This time of year is best for watching the sunset and shooting silhouettes.

Autumn

In autumn, the dune-like flowers of the specialty are celebrated. It usually blooms in late October, and the harvest is in the early summer of the following year. The red-purple flowers are cute!

Winter

Tottori Prefecture, which has a large amount of snow, and when snow piled up, all sides of the sand dunes turn white, exuding a mysterious beauty.

■ Tottori dunes

Address: Yuyama, Fukube-cho, Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture
TEL:0857-22-0021
Opening hours: Freedom to walk
Closed: free to walk
Price: free to walk

Recommended stop SPOT is here!

The "Sanin Coast National Park Tottori Dune Visitor Center" introduces the charms of sand dunes through exhibits and commentaries. The guide provides an easy-to-understand commentary on how to create a wind print using only one device in the world.

■ Sanin Kaigan National Park Biratori Dune Visitor Center

Address: 2164-971 Yuyama, Fukube-cho, Tottori
TEL:0857-22-0021
Fee: Free admission
Time: 9 to 17
Closed: No Closed

The "Iem Electronics Tottori Dunes Children's Country" is a large playground equipment and sand workshop, a woodworking workshop, and a swimming pool (only in summer) on a vast site of about 19ha. It is a spot you want to visit with your family before and after dune sightseeing.

■Iem Electronics Tottori Dunes Children's Country

Address: 1157-1 Hamasaka, Tottori Prefecture
TEL:0857-24-2811
Price: 500 yen for entry
Time: 9-17 (16:30 final entry)
Closed: Second Wednesday (no August)
Access: 10 minutes walk from the bus stop children's country entrance

The "Dune Onsen Fureai Kaikan" boasts a location where views can be seen from the large glass windows of the bathhouse. You can enjoy the Sea of Japan and the Tottori dunes in front of your eyes while soaking in the hot water. Towels can be purchased so you can stop by empty-handed. Let's stop after the dune sightseeing.

■ Sakyu Onsen Fureai Kaikan

Address: 1013-1 Amou, Fukube-cho, Tottori Prefecture
TEL:0857-75-2316
Price: 570 yen to enter
Time: 10 to 21 o'clock (10 to March from 20 o'clock, Saturday and Sunday, and holidays from 9 o'clock)
Closed: Thursday

• This article is created based on the contents of "Rurubu Information Edition" or "Rurubu & more." "Rurubu +".
• The data listed are as of March 2025. Prices, business hours, regular holidays, menus, etc. may change or may not be available due to temporary holidays. Please check in advance when using it, as the content may change.
• The holiday of stores and facilities omits the year-end holiday, Obon holiday, Golden Week, and temporary holidays in principle.
• The published fees are in principle the fee including consumption tax that we have confirmed at the time of the interview, and the entrance fee is the adult fee if there is no special mention.
• In principle, the published times are open (hall) to closed (hall). Please note that the last order or entrance (hall) time is 30 minutes to 1 hour before the normal closing (hall) time. The last order is denoted LO.
• For the spring quality and efficacy of the hot springs listed, manuscripts are prepared based on answers from each facility.