Tottori Prefecture stretches along Japan's San'in coast on the Sea of Japan, home to the Tottori Sand Dunes, the country's largest coastal dune system, and the yokai-themed Mizuki Shigeru Road in the port town of Sakaiminato. Japan's least populous prefecture, Tottori pairs a dramatic, uncrowded coastline with Mount Daisen's hiking trails, the white-walled storehouse district of Kurayoshi, and radium-rich hot springs at Misasa and Kaike Onsen.
Family activities
Engaging experiences for travellers of every age.
Tottori Sand Dunes camel rides and sandboarding
Camel rides (¥1,500/$10 single rider, ¥2,600/$17 two riders, 9:30–16:00 Mar–Nov, 10:00–16:00 Dec–Feb) are a highlight for young children, who can ride with an adult from about age 4. Sandboarding lessons (¥4,500–5,500/$30–37 plus ¥500/$3.30 insurance) run three sessions a day and offer 'sand sliders' (sleds) for children too young to stand on a board. A gondola-style chairlift (¥480/$3.20 round trip, ¥240/$1.60 children) carries tired legs to the top ridge. Address: Fukube-cho Yuyama, Tottori 689-0206.
Tottori Sand Museum
Adjacent to the dunes, this indoor exhibition hall displays massive sand sculptures by international artists on a rotating annual theme — a good rainy-day or hot-midday alternative to the open dunes. Address: 2083-17 Yuyama, Fukube-cho, Tottori 689-0105. Admission: ¥800 ($5.30) adults, ¥400 ($2.70) elementary–high school students, free below elementary age.
Mizuki Shigeru Road and Museum
A pedestrian shopping street in Sakaiminato lined with over 100 bronze yokai (folklore spirit) statues from Shigeru Mizuki's GeGeGe no Kitaro manga, ending at the Mizuki Shigeru Museum with hands-on exhibits and character displays children enjoy regardless of familiarity with the source manga. Address: 5 Honmachi, Sakaiminato 684-0025. Museum admission: ¥1,000 ($6.70) adults, ¥500 ($3.30) junior/high school, ¥300 ($2.00) elementary.
Tottori Hanakairo Flower Park
One of Japan's largest flower parks, with stroller- and wheelchair-accessible paved paths, a large glass-domed floral hall for rainy or cold days, and seasonal flower fields children can walk directly through. A free shuttle bus runs from JR Yonago Station (about 25 minutes). Address: 110 Tsuruta, Nanbu-cho, Saihaku-gun 683-0006. Admission: ¥1,000 ($6.70) adults, ¥500 ($3.30) children Apr–Nov; ¥700 ($4.70) adults, ¥350 ($2.30) children Dec–Mar; 50% discount for international visitors with passport.
Aoya Kamijichi Historic Park
An open, mostly flat archaeological park built on a reconstructed Yayoi-period settlement, with an exhibition hall of excavated bronze mirrors and pottery — a gentle outdoor stop that pairs history with running-around room for younger children. Free entry to the outdoor site. Address: 17 Aoyacho Yoshikawa, Tottori 689-0534.
Yumigahama Beach and Kaike Onsen coastline
A long, gently sloping sand beach near Yonago suited to family swimming in summer, with the adjacent Kaike Onsen ryokan district offering easy family-friendly hot spring stays after a beach day.
Family-friendly hotels
Accommodation designed with families in mind.
Kaike Onsen family ryokan (e.g. Tokiwagi, Kaike Ichibankan)
Several Kaike Onsen ryokan near Yonago offer family rooms, kid-friendly set menus, and both communal and private (kashikiri) baths. ¥14,000–26,000 ($93–173) per person per night with two meals.
Dormy Inn Tottori
Rooftop hot spring bath, central location near Tottori Station, and family/twin rooms at moderate rates — a convenient base for the Sand Dunes and central Tottori City sights.
Misasa Onsen family ryokan
Misasa Onsen's small-town ryokan district, near Mitokusan Sanbutsuji, offers quieter, less expensive family accommodation than the coastal cities, with radium hot-spring baths said locally to have therapeutic qualities.
Dining with kids
Eating out as a family.
Family restaurant chains (Joyfull, Gusto, Bikkuri Donkey) near Tottori Station and Yonago Station have kids' menus and high chairs, open into the evening
Convenience stores (7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart) are reliably stocked in Tottori City, Yonago, and Kurayoshi for quick, familiar meals
Tottori beef (Tottori wagyu) and matsuba-gani (snow crab, in season November–March) set meals at mid-range restaurants are generally mild enough for children and easy to share
Nijisseiki pear soft-serve and pear-based sweets, sold at roadside stands and the Sand Dunes visitor center, are a reliably kid-friendly local treat
Family travel tips
Practical advice for stress-free family trips.
Build downtime into every day — over-scheduled kids melt down faster than tired adults.
Carry snacks, water, and a small first-aid kit at all times.
Many attractions offer discounted family tickets — ask at the ticket window.