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.
Tottori City, Kurayoshi, and Yonago/Sakaiminato form Tottori Prefecture's transport spine, linked by the JR San'in Main Line running along the coast. Tottori has no direct Shinkansen service — travelers connect via the Sanyo Shinkansen to Okayama, then the JR West Limited Express Super Hakuto or Super Inaba to Tottori City and Kurayoshi, or via the Shinkansen to Okayama and onward to Yonago on the Limited Express Yakumo (the same line serving Shimane). Two small regional airports serve the prefecture: Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport (TTJ) near Tottori City, and Yonago Kitaro Airport (YGJ), also called Miho Airport, near Yonago and Sakaiminato in the west. Rural western Tottori — Mount Daisen, Misasa Onsen, Hawai Onsen, and the Yumigahama Peninsula — is served by infrequent local buses, making a rental car close to essential for travelers who want flexibility beyond the Tottori City–Kurayoshi–Yonago corridor.
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
There is no Shinkansen station in Tottori Prefecture — plan the Okayama transfer (Sanyo Shinkansen to Super Hakuto/Super Inaba or Yakumo) into arrival timing, allowing at least 15–20 min to change platforms
Reserve limited express seats in advance during Golden Week, Obon, and the November–March Matsuba crab season, as unreserved cars fill quickly on weekends
Rent a car for Mount Daisen, Misasa Onsen, Hawai Onsen, and the Uradome Coast beyond Tottori City/Yonago — rural bus frequency (often hourly or less) makes multi-stop days difficult without one
The Kirinjishi Loop Bus day pass (¥600/$4.00) is worthwhile for any Sand Dunes visit that also includes the Sand Museum or Geopark Learning Center
The JR Sakai Line between Yonago and Sakaiminato is itself part of the Mizuki Shigeru sightseeing experience, with yokai-decorated trains and station names