Tottori attractions
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The White Rabbit of Inaba
Just offshore at Hakuto Beach is a small island that is part of a local folktale. The story goes that a rabbit was trapped on the island, longing to return to his family on the mainland. He tricked a family of sharks into lining up so he could hop on their backs to the shore, but as he reached the last shark, he sneered that he had deceived them; enraged, the sharks tore off all the rabbit's fur. To make matters worse, some cruel gods told the rabbit he would be cured if he bathed in the sea, which he did, only to find that the salt stung his wounds quite badly. The youngest brother of the gods, Okuninushi no Mikoto, felt sorry for the crying rabbit, and told him to bathe in fresh water and dry off with cattails. The rabbit was cured and predicted that the god would become the ruler of the Inaba region, which came true. Reminders of this story abound in the Tottori area, and you will see the white rabbit on everything from bridges to sewer grates to flower arrangements, sometimes accompanied by a rather fat god carrying a big sack.
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Tottori Sand Dunes (鳥取砂丘 ''Tottori sakyū''), ☎ +81 0857-26-7238, . Open 24 hours. Special activities typically begin at 9AM. 16km from east to west, the Tottori Sand Dunes are a favorite target for climbing, exploring, and more. The main portion of the dunes are much smaller than 16km (about 2km, east to west), but they can still be impressive. If you arrive very early in the morning, you can see the unique patterns carved by the wind before they get trampled by the scores of people who come to climb the biggest dune. If you'd prefer not to get sand in your shoes, a cable car ride (¥200 one way) leads to the Dune Observatory Center. After heavy rains, the oasis below the uma no se (the largest dune) forms into a beautiful lake. The 200¥ loop bus is the cheapest way of getting to the dunes from Tottori station; the local bus will cost 360 ¥. Free. �
Tottori Castle Ruins, Higashi-cho, ☎ +81 0857-22-3318. Enter anytime. Built in 1545, Tottori Castle was destroyed in a massive siege in the 19th century, and only the foundations remain. The site offers a nice view of the city below from the lower reaches of Mt. Kyusho. The surrounding park is the perfect place to go during cherry-blossom season. Free. �
Tottori Prefectural Museum, 2-124 Higashi-cho, ☎ +81 0857-26-8042, . Tu-Su 9AM-5PM. A two-story museum that displays the flora and fauna of Tottori, regional rocks and minerals, historical artifacts, festival and local cultural artifacts, and a variety of art produced in the city. (Be aware that most, but not all, of the prehistoric artifacts are reproductions; most of the other displays are real, though.) Some of the standouts are the largest preserved squid in Japan and a live giant salamander. ¥180 adults, college students and under free. �
Jinpukaku Mansion, 2-121 Higashi-cho, ☎ +81 0857-26-3595. Tu-Su. This French-style mansion was home to the remnants of the Edo-era feudal clan, Ikeda. It's about 11 minutes on the blue bus from JR Tottori Station. ¥150. �
Kannon-in, ☎ +81 0857-24-5641, . 8:30AM-5PM. Constructed in 1632, this is the 32nd temple along the Chugoku 33 Kannon Temple Pilgrimage. While the temple itself does not look particularly special, the garden inside is what makes this such a great place to visit. The temple doors are removed upon entering so that you can sit and enjoy the beautiful pond garden from inside. The garden is quite peaceful, as the only sounds you can hear are the birds in the trees. It's easy to forget you're in a city. Entrance is listed as ¥600, but this charge includes tea. If you don't want the tea, you can enter for ¥300. �
Ochidani Shrine, 87 Uemachi (¥100 bus to Ochidani Kouen Yamabikokan-mae), ☎ +81 0857-22-3318. Built in 1650 by Mitsunaka Ikeda, the first lord of Tottori. The god worshipped here is the same worshipped at Toshogu Shrine in Nikko. It's a popular place to watch fireflies at night in the late summer. Free. �
Warabekan (Children's Museum), 3-202 Nishimachi, ☎ +81 0857-22-7070, . 9AM-5PM, closed the 3rd Wednesday of every month. This museum features a re-creation of an old school building and many interesting tin toys. It's about 5 minutes on the blue bus from JR Tottori Station. ¥500, high school students and younger are free. �
Tottori Mingei Museum of Folkcrafts (鳥取民藝美術舘 tottori mingei bijutsukan), 651 Sakae-machi, ☎ +81 0857-26-2367. Th-Tu 10AM-5PM. Despite the name, this small, two story museum displays mainly pottery and glass, but also has some textiles, woodwork, and bamboo work. The Ushinotoyaki pottery is the highlight of the collection. Just outside the museum, there is a place (the hexagonal structure) to pray for and make offerings to deceased orphans. With the stained-glass, it has an interesting Christian-Buddhist fusion feel. It's about 25 minutes on the blue bus from JR Tottori Station. ¥500 adults, free for students and elderly. �
Genchuji, 176 Shinhonji-cho, ☎ +81 0857-22-5294. 9AM-4PM. This temple is the site of the grave of Araki Mataemon, a legendary swordsman. In a famous story, he came to the aid of a man who was seeking in vengeance; the actual sword he used is displayed on the temple grounds. Rakan (paintings of high ranking Buddhists) are painted on the fusuma (screen doors) inside the temple by Keitaro Takagi. While traditional priest paintings are stoic, these paintings are quite candid, with rather comical appearances. ¥300. �
Tottori City History Museum (やまびこ館), 88 Uemachi, ☎ +81 0857-23-2140, . 9AM-5PM. Interactive multimedia and digital displays about the city's history and culture. It's about 15 minutes on the red bus from JR Tottori Station. ¥500 adults, high school and under free. �
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Tottori
