6 Unique Things to do in Tottori, Japan

Traveling to Tottori, the most remote prefecture in Japan, is like stepping out into the technicolor environment of The Wizard of Oz. It is disorienting.

Japan is a state famed for lots of things: temples, shrines, sumo wrestling, the world’s best sushi, Great Buddhas, and a penchant for robots and pet cafes. It’s an island nation recognised for amazing mountains, meditative gardens, cherry blossom time, and natural scorching springs.

But sand dunes?

More than a couple of eyebrows will raise in surprise. But that’s just one of the main joys of getting the time to vacation all around Japan – this is a nation bursting with unanticipated surprises. Tottori is Japan’s most rural place. With significantly less than 150,000 citizens, it is the minimum populated of Japan’s 47 prefectures. Situated on the Western Coastline of Japan, Tottori is recognised for its nashi (Japanese pears) and Matsubi snow crab.

Make no mistake, it takes arranging and effort to get to this portion of Japan. It certainly demands a good volume of self-confidence. Nevertheless, all those who courageous a journey to Tottori, Japan, will locate an natural environment in contrast to any other.

Here are six memorable encounters to try if you venture to Tottori.

1. Stop by the Sand Dunes

Tottori is most famous for its 1-mile broad, 9-mile lengthy stretch of sand dunes. Who would have thought a region with a perfectly-described wet season and luscious inexperienced rice fields would also have a desert?

The Tottori sankyu (sand dunes) ended up fashioned more than 100,000 years back courtesy of sediment from the Chugoku mountains deposited by the Sendaigawa River. The area’s unique functions resulted in its classification in 2015 as an official UNESCO World wide Geopark. Immediately after climbing up the stairs of the 1st sand dune, site visitors are rewarded by the sight of golden-hued sand dunes established from the deep blue ocean. It’s very little small of magical.

The Japanese exercised cleverness and humor in choosing how to make the greatest use of all that sand. They came up with two extremely imaginative options:

1. They developed the Tottori Sand Museum, the world’s very first museum devoted completely to sand sculpture artwork.
2. And they specified a specific portion of the dunes for camel driving.

2. Ride a Camel

Those who have a burning and insatiable drive to trip a camel in Asia can do so in fantastic model in Tottori. The cost for the privilege varies based on the amount of conversation you want to have with the camel. Just getting a picture of (or by) the camel charges ¥100. The rate to just take a image whilst on a stationary camel is ¥600. And if you want to ride the camel on a selected a few-moment route, the price is ¥1500.

The Japanese are known for their devotion to cleanliness and order. The method for camel using displays their appreciation for composition. Following shelling out the charge for the company you want, you are handed a coloration-coded ticket. It does not issue if you are the only particular person in line you will however get a ticket.

After sanitizing your hands and presenting your ticket, you are directed to a cleanse and wonderful-hunting camel. People who have ridden camels in the Middle East and North Africa may perhaps be familiar with the excellent balance a rider has to have if boarding a camel from a reclining place.

The Japanese stay away from all awkwardness by preserving the camel upright and possessing guests mount it from a stationary elevated system.

While Japan even now at the moment operates beneath strict COVID guidelines, and the large majority of Japanese nonetheless don masks in public, exceptions are built for friends driving the camel. In recognition of the actuality that camel driving is a Big Deal and that persons enjoy to acquire selfies, company are permitted to eliminate their masks.

Some may be a bit let down that the camel follows a selected and very limited route that is above in a lot less than 5 minutes. Having said that, the natural beauty of the natural environment alone and the novelty of a camel journey in Japan is these types of that I doubt any disappointment can final extensive.

Take note: The camels seem to be sturdy, healthful, and well-cared for. The Japanese have incredibly strict procedures in put governing passenger bodyweight constraints, and they additional guard the camels by limiting the quantity of rides per day.

3. Vacation Around the Environment at the Tottori Sand Museum

Japan is a country that enjoys museums. Scenario in stage – Tottori has a PEAR museum not additional than 5 miles from the sand dunes. Provided Japan’s adore for reveals and collections, it can make best perception they would decide to assemble a facility focused exclusively to sand sculptures. When you’ve received it, flaunt it.

Each individual year, the world’s biggest sand artists are invited to Tottori to create function made all around a central concept – “Travel All over the Environment in Sand.” Each individual year’s theme focuses on a distinctive place/region and a precise period. The countries that have beforehand been selected include Nordic nations around the world, Africa, South The us, Russia, the U.S., and U.K. The 2022 show theme facilities on scenes from historic Egypt.

Twenty artists hailing from 11 international locations produced do the job that leaves people shocked by the hugely specific craftsmanship and by the sheer scope of the artists’ eyesight. Readers can admire the painstaking perform from the ground ground and see the over-all result by climbing to the third ground indoor balcony.

There is also an outside sand show with sculptures secured from the factors by a tarp. Having said that, the ideal sculptures are those that are at the indoor facility.

The Tottori Sand Museum went all in on making an immersive encounter, working with electronic screens, lighting, and new music to make a particular natural environment.

4. Sample Some of The Famed Culinary Specialties of Tottori

Tottori’s renowned Matsubi snow crab is offered for the duration of the wintertime months, from early November to early March. The crab is hauled from the deep waters of the Sea of Japan and is famed for its sweet and tasty meat.

Mid-August to November is the primary pear-picking period. Tottori provides far more nashi than any other prefecture in Japan. There is actually a “Pear Road” and pear museum committed to the fruit. In addition to acquiring variations of pear in practically each pastry and dessert, visitors can choose their have fruit at area orchards.

The Japanese pears are decadent and extremely-juicy. The fruit tends to make for a delightful take care of, no matter whether you eat them on the location or as a compote atop a cup of delicate product.

5. Pay a visit to Hakuto Shrine

Hakuto Shrine is carefully intertwined with the legend of the White Rabbit. In accordance to the legend, a white rabbit on an island placed a bet with a team of sharks as to which species experienced the higher quantity. When the sharks assembled in a line to be counted, the white rabbit hopped across the drinking water on their surfaced backs. Regrettably, the rabbit manufactured the oversight of bragging about his trick to the sharks before he was safely ashore. The infuriated sharks tore the rabbit up.

The good thing is, the white rabbit came throughout the god Okuninushi. The god took pity on the pitiful creature and furnished instruction as to how the rabbit could restore its fur. Entire of gratitude, the white rabbit gave the god a matchmaking prediction on his future spouse.

For this reason, Hakuto Shrine has an abundance of rabbit statues positioned on the route major up to the shrine. Dependent on its association with matchmaking and really like, it continues to be a very well-known spot for sweethearts and newlyweds to stop by.

6. Vacation Like a VIP in a Tottori Tourist Taxi

As a distant location of Japan, quite a few of Tottori’s best attractions are positioned 10-20 minutes from central inns. In an work to stimulate tourism, Tottori’s tourism board made a exceptional plan identified as the “Tourist Taxi.”

Listening to that phrase will inadvertently leave a sour style for some. Lots of tourists have had horrific ordeals abroad in taxis that overcharged or the place surly motorists took unneeded routes to pad the fare.

Rest assured, Tottori’s Vacationer Taxi plan is the polar reverse of a rip-off. This is Japan.

The tourism initiative software was made below the assumption that tourists who do not travel would have trouble experiencing all Tottori has to give with out a motor vehicle. In addition, community transportation to particular locations runs irregularly. Some cities would decide on to shrug off the troubles a foreigner would have having all over. Not Tottori. This prefecture wishes to be witnessed and cherished.

For ¥3000 ($20.75), foreign visitors can rent a spotless taxi – that comes with a experienced accredited driver – for Three Hours as they stop by the area’s most beloved landmarks. It’s an extraordinary offer.

To guide a tourist taxi, basically head to the Vacationer Information Heart positioned outdoors the practice station and opt for the established route you want to take from a brochure. There are a lot of different variations to pick from, ranging from “Historical” to “Handicrafts and Arts.”

Following completing a vacationer registration kind and voucher, 1 of the personnel will make a connect with to the taxi firm. A neatly attired driver comes in minutes. The vacationer staff will advise the driver of your range, and the driver normally takes you to the selected locations. Once the tour is complete, you spend ¥3000 directly to the driver.

Reward Round. 6. Visit The Most Harmful Nationwide Treasure in Japan

The bodily match and tourists craving strong jolts of adrenaline could consider a hike to Nageiredo, a Buddhist temple on Mt. Mitoku. The devoted have a 1300-yr record of checking out this sacred wood temple erected on the facet of Mt. Mitoku, which is accessible only by using set iron chains to enable navigate up the slippery rocks.

Truly worth noting: this certain pilgrimage is perilous enough that you are requested to vacation with one more particular person. The Tottori Tourist Taxi does NOT (at existing) go to Nageiredo. People are required to dress in sure footwear, and if your sneakers are established not to have the important traction, you may perhaps be asked to dress in waraji (straw) sandals. Visits to the temple can be secured in the function the weather is undesirable.

Know before you go

People who are probably to take pleasure in Tottori the most are these who are looking for a split from rapidly-paced metropolis daily life or perhaps are recovering from a temple/shrine go to overload. Traveling from Tokyo, the most populated city in the entire world with a inhabitants of 37 million, to Tottori was one thing of a shock.

While there are direct flights from Tokyo to Tottori, the journey by means of the different geographic locations is so gorgeous that it is worth looking at traveling by rail. If traveling from Tokyo, expect a 5-hour rail journey by Shinkansen and convey educate.

Mainly because Tottori is a smaller prefecture, resorts are likely to fill up extremely quickly on the weekends. As this sort of, the finest time to journey is all through the weekdays, when clean, at ease rooms around a train station can be booked for less than $50.

Tipping is a widespread observe in several countries. In Japan, tipping is regarded as an insult, and any try to give a tip will probably end result in confusion. If you want to convey your gratitude, the very best thing to do is learn a couple terms in Japanese and thank them sincerely.

Eventually, although it is constantly a excellent strategy to master a several phrases in the nearby language, even a amateur can safely get all around in Tottori.

I have a strong hunch that Tottori’s straightforward, special, and unpretentious allure is only heading to keep on to expand.