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.
Historical timeline
Key moments that shaped Tottori.
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1
The Aoya Kamijichi settlement operates as a Yayoi-period harbor and trading community, exchanging bronze mirrors and goods across the Sea of Japan
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2
Ube Shrine is traditionally said to be founded, later becoming the ichinomiya (highest-ranked shrine) of Inaba Province
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3
Mitokusan Sanbutsuji is founded on Mount Mitoku as a center of Shugendo mountain asceticism; the cliffside Nageiredo hall becomes one of Japan's most striking religious structures
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4
The Yamana clan constructs the first fortifications of what becomes Tottori Castle on Mount Kyusho
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5
Toyotomi Hideyoshi lays siege to Tottori Castle, cutting off supply lines and starving the garrison into surrender — one of the Sengoku period's most notorious sieges
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6
Ikeda Mitsumasa is transferred from Himeji Domain to Tottori Domain (325,000 koku); over his 16-year tenure he rebuilds Tottori Castle in stone with moats and lays out the castle town
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7
The Tottori Domain Ikeda clan cemetery is established in Kokufu-cho as the burial ground for successive daimyo of the domain
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8
A magnitude-7.0 earthquake strikes Tottori, destroying roughly 80 percent of the city's structures and killing over 1,000 people; relief arrives from across the Japanese empire despite the ongoing war
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9
The Tottori Folk Crafts Museum (Mingei) is established by mingei-movement advocate Yoshida Shoya, cementing Tottori City's craft heritage
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10
The San'in Kaigan Geopark, including the Tottori Sand Dunes, is designated a UNESCO Global Geopark
Historical sites
Places where Tottori's past comes alive.
Tottori Castle Ruins (Kyusho-en)
Where: Higashi-machi, Tottori City
Admission: Adult: Free (park and ruins) | Child: Free
Aoya Kamijichi Historic Park
Where: Aoya, Tottori City
Admission: Adult: Free | Child: Free
Mitokusan Sanbutsuji Temple and Nageiredo Hall
Where: Misasa, Tohaku District
Admission: Adult: ¥400 ($2.70) temple; additional ¥800 ($5.30) to climb to Nageiredo | Child: Reduced rates available; children under elementary age generally not permitted on the Nageiredo climb
Ube Shrine
Where: Kokufu-cho, Tottori City
Admission: Adult: Free | Child: Free
Kamo Shrine (Nanbu)
Where: Nanbu, Saihaku District
Admission: Adult: Free | Child: Free
Shikano Castle Ruins
Where: Shikano, Tottori City
Admission: Adult: Free | Child: Free
Tottori Domain Ikeda Clan Cemetery
Where: Kokufu-cho, Tottori City
Admission: Adult: Free (exterior) | Child: Free (exterior)
Kurayoshi Shirakabe Dozogun (White-Walled Storehouse District)
Where: Uomachi, Kurayoshi
Admission: Adult: Free to walk the district | Child: Free
Museums
Curated collections that tell Tottori's story.
Tottori Prefectural Museum
Hours: 9:00–17:00 (until 19:00 during some special exhibitions); closed Mondays and Dec 29–Jan 3
Admission: Adult: ¥180 ($1.20) permanent exhibition; special exhibitions priced separately | Child: Reduced or free for students, varies by exhibition
Tottori Folk Crafts Museum (Mingei)
Hours: Hours vary seasonally; closed Wednesdays (or following day if Wednesday is a holiday) — confirm via official listing before visiting
Admission: Adult: ¥500 ($3.30) | Child: ¥300 ($2.00) students; free for ages 70+ and preschoolers
Mizuki Shigeru Museum
Hours: 9:30–18:00 daily (last entry 30 min before close); some days have extended hours
Admission: Adult: ¥1,000 ($6.70) | Child: ¥500 ($3.30) junior high/high school; ¥300 ($2.00) elementary; ¥300 ($2.00) visitors with disabilities
Tottori Sand Museum
Hours: 9:00–18:00 daily (last entry 17:30); closed periodically between exhibition changes — confirm current dates before visiting
Admission: Adult: ¥800 ($5.30) | Child: ¥400 ($2.70) elementary–high school; free below elementary age