Tottori (鳥取)

Map

Getting There

• train
• bus
• car
• plane

Best Times to Visit

• spring: Mild weather suits dunes, gardens, and coastal walks; cherry blossoms at Kyusho Park are a major seasonal attraction.
• summer: Warm weather supports coastal sightseeing, swimming, boat trips, and sampling seasonal white squid; summer festivals add cultural appeal.
• autumn: Pear picking peaks from late August through September, while autumn foliage and dune shallot flowers enhance seasonal scenery.
• winter: Matsuba crab season runs from early November through March, making winter especially appealing for distinctive local seafood.

What's There

• architecture: Jinpukaku and historic temple gardens showcase distinctive Western-style and traditional Japanese architecture.
• art: The Sand Museum features large temporary sand sculptures, while the Folk Crafts Museum displays artistic folk objects.
• beach: Hakuto Coast and beaches near Uradome offer coastal walks, swimming, and scenic seaside recreation.
• castle: Tottori Castle Ruins preserve important medieval and early-modern fortification remains.
• cherry blossoms: Kyusho Park is a prominent spring cherry-blossom viewing location beside Tottori Castle Ruins.
• coast: The Tottori and Uradome coastlines provide dunes, cliffs, caves, islands, beaches, and broad Sea of Japan views.
• crafts: Tottori Folk Crafts Museum presents pottery, woodworking, metalwork, bamboo, textiles, dyeing, and Japanese paper.
• culture: Museums, historic sites, legends, traditional gardens, regional foods, and folk crafts represent Tottori culture.
• festival: Seasonal events include cherry-blossom celebrations, the summer Shan-Shan Festival, and an annual Matsuba Crab event.
• fishing: Karoichi Fish Market connects visitors with fresh catches and the coastal fishing culture of the Sea of Japan.
• flowers: Seasonal scenery includes cherry blossoms in spring and reddish-violet shallot flowers in autumn.
• food: Local specialties include Nijisseiki pears, tofu chikuwa, white squid, Matsuba crab, and regional sake.
• garden: Horyuin Garden and Kannon-in Temple Garden provide carefully arranged landscapes for viewing and contemplation.
• hiking: Visitors can walk across Tottori Sand Dunes and explore rugged coastal scenery along Uradome.
• history: Tottori Castle Ruins, Jinpukaku, Hakuto Shrine, and traditional gardens reflect the city’s historical heritage.
• market: Karoichi offers fresh seafood, dried goods, gifts, restaurants, and regional food products.
• museum: The Sand Museum and Folk Crafts Museum are major cultural attractions, with changing exhibitions and extensive collections.
• nature: Dunes, geopark coastlines, cliffs, caves, beaches, gardens, and seasonal agricultural landscapes provide varied natural scenery.
• park: Kyusho Park surrounds the castle ruins and combines historic remains, elevated views, and seasonal blossoms.
• port: Tottori Port supports Karoichi seafood shopping and links the city to its maritime food culture.
• sake: Tottori breweries use local rice and mountain-associated mineral-rich water to produce regional sake.
• seafood: Matsuba crab, white squid, and fresh Sea of Japan catches are central specialties of Tottori cuisine.
• shrine: Hakuto Shrine is associated with the White Rabbit of Inaba legend and matchmaking traditions.
• temple: Kannon-in Temple Garden represents Tottori’s historic Buddhist temple and garden heritage.
• views: The dunes, Mount Kyusho, Uradome Coast, and Jinpukaku area provide expansive scenic viewpoints.
• farm: Pear orchards near the dunes offer seasonal picking, especially Nijisseiki pears from late August through September.

Specialties

• Twenty-Century Pear (二十世紀梨): Tottori is Japan’s best-known region for Asian pears, including the long-cultivated Nijisseiki variety. The fruit is prized for its crisp texture, juiciness, and delicate sweetness.
• Matsuba Crab (松葉ガニ): Matsuba-gani is the local name for mature male snow crab and is a signature winter food of Tottori. It is caught in the Sea of Japan from early November through March and is commonly boiled, grilled, or served as sashimi.
• Tottori Sake (鳥取の酒): Tottori sake is made with local rice and mineral-rich water associated with the prefecture’s mountain environment. Regional breweries produce a range of traditional Japanese sake.
• Tofu Chikuwa (とうふちくわ): Tofu chikuwa is a distinctive Tottori fish-cake specialty made with tofu and fish paste. It is sold among the local foods and regional products at Tottori Port Karoichi Fish Market.
• White Squid (白いか): White squid is a seasonal seafood specialty of Tottori’s coastal waters, especially from early summer through autumn. It is valued for its fresh flavor and soft, sweet flesh.