Tottori'''Tottori''' (____) is the capital of Tottori prefecture, on the northern coast of the main Japanese island of Honshu.
Understand
Tottori City [http://www.city.tottori.tottori.jp/top/multilang/english/sightseeing/kanko_en.htm] serves as industrial center of Tottori prefecture, with several big electronics factories such as Sanyo. The fishing industry here is quite lively. Tottori is also home to Tottori University and another agricultural university. These two schools are important sites for agricultural research, and attract agricultural students from other parts of Japan, as well as a small number of foreign students. Although the number of foreign residents in Tottori is quite low, its 250,000 locals are certainly friendly.
Get in
By air
There are three daily flights from Tokyo's Haneda airport to Tottori airport with ANA. The flight takes about 75 minutes. Tel. 0120-029-222, 0857-23-3038.
By train
From Tokyo, you can catch the Izumo night train. It leaves at 9:10_@PM and arrives in Tottori at 7:56am . The cost is about \10,200.
A JR line connects Tottori to Okayama, about 2 hours away, where you can catch the main ''shinkansen'' line.
Heading west from Tottori are both a scenic highway and a JR line which head towards Yonago
By bus
There is an express bus which runs from Tokyo's Hamamatsu-cho_@to Tottori. The cost is about \10,200 one-way. Tel: 03-3743-0022
Another express bus runs several times daily between Osaka's Namba terminal and the central Tottori bus station. One-way fare runs around \6000 and the trip takes about 2 and a half hours. Alternatively, from JR Bentencho Station, you can take a bus to Tottori for only \3600.
Buses to/from Kyoto for only \3870 (one way).
From Okayama and Nishinomiya Kita, you can take a bus to Tottori for \3000.
You can take a bus from Hiroshima for \4400.
For \9500, you can even take a bus from Fukuoka.
Get around
Central Tottori, between the train station and Mt. Kyusho, is easily navigable on foot.
By bus
There are two buses in Tottori city; The Loop Kirinjishi and the \100 Bus Kururi.
For destinations in the direction of the sand dunes and Tottori Port, take the '''Loop Kirinjishi''' bus.
The \100 Bus has two different routes, the Red Route and the Blue Route. The buses run every 20 minutes from Tottori Station and as the name suggests, have a fixed fee of \100, no matter where you get off.
The red bus begins operation at Tottori station at 8:05 am (9:00 am on weekends and holidays). The last bus departs from Tottori station at 6:00 pm.
The blue bus begins operation at 8:05 am (9:10 am on weekends and holidays) and the last bus departs from Tottori Station at 6:10 pm.
See
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. In fact, the name of the beach, Hakuto, means "white rabbit."}}
Tottori Sand Dunes. ______u ''Tottori saky?''. he easiest way to get there is by taking the special saky? bus from the central bus station. It's the one that plays the sand dunes' theme song as it goes by.. 85-726-7238. ttp://www.tottorisakyu.jp/english/index3.html. ou can visit the dunes at any time, day or night. Special activities typically begin at 9 AM. ntrance to the sand dunes is free. Camel ride, hang gliding, paragliding, and sandboarding are available for separate fees. The Tottori Sand Dunes are the most famous attraction in the city. It is Japan's largest sand dune park, 16 kilometers from east to west, bordered by the Sea of Japan. Often used by the Japanese movie industry as the set for desert scenes, the area offers camel rides, paragliding, sandboarding, and a cable car ride (\200 one way, leads to the Dune Observatory Center). The camel rides and paragliding off the dunes are particularly popular (See "Do" Section of this guide for more information about these activities). After heavy rains, particularly during the rainy season, the oasis below the ''uma no se'' (the largest dune) forms into a beautiful lake. 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.
Tottori Castle Ruins. igashi-cho. 85-722-3318. he ruins do not have a closing/opening time. Enter anytime.. ntrance to the grounds is free. Built in 1545 and destroyed in a massive siege in the 19th century, only the foundation of Tottori Castle remains. A samurai was starved to death in this castle by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Elevated in the lower reaches of Mt. Kyusho, the site offers a nice view of the city below. The castle park is the perfect place to go during cherry-blossom season.
Tottori Prefectural Museum. -124 Higashi-cho. ocated across from Jinpukaku, just below Tottori Castle Ruins. 85-726-8042. ttp://site5.z-tic.or.jp/~museum/english/. pen from 9 AM to 5 PM. Closed most Mondays. ntrance is \180 for adults, free for college students and under. 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 however, most of the other displays are real historical artifacts. Some of the museum's most unique exhibits are the squid, the largest preserved squid in the nation, and a live Giant Salamander.
Jinpukaku Mansion. -121 Higashi-cho. ocated across the street from the Tottori Prefectural Museum. 85-726-3595. losed Mondays. ntrance is \150. Just below the ruins of the castle lies this French-style mansion which was home to the remnants of the Edo-era feudal clan, Ikeda.
Kannon-in Temple. 85-724-5641. ttp://kannonin.hp.infoseek.co.jp/sub3.html. pen from 8:30 AM to 5 PM. ntrance is listed as \600 however, this charge includes tea. If you don't want the tea, you can enter for \300. The temple was constructed in 1632 and is the 32nd temple along the
Ube Shrine. 51 Miyanoshita, Kokufu-cho. y bus, get off at Miyanoshita Jinja-mae bus stop. 85-722-3318. ttp://www.ubejinja.or.jp/. ntrance is free. This is the first shrine to be built in the Inaba area, which consists of the entire eastern half of modern
'''San In Beach Party''' (''email: mailto:saninbeachparty@gmail.com ''), [http://www.clubdna.biz/saninbeachparty]. Held every year around early July, this all-weekend is rated as one of the best outdoor events in the country. The location is in a beautiful bay about 10km out of Tottori City called Kozomi (west along route 9 towards Yonago). The 2007 event gathered more than 1000 guests from all over Japan and half of those were foreigners. The event is a mixture of DJs at night, live music during the day, come-as-you-please workshops on the beach, beach game tournaments, food stalls and the famous beach bar. The event is well organized: they can organize accommodation and travel from some of the major cities. Camping facilities are also available. This event gets bigger and better every year, so plan ahead early and contact the organizers if you need specific information.
Buy
Walking east from the station you will find to the left, the 5-story Daimaru department store, and to the right, a string of small shops lining the main street.
At the southeast corner of Sakaemachi, you will find a large two-story store in which everything sold was made locally, including pottery, paper, clothing, dolls, and food items.
'''Kato Kamiten''', a stationary shop in the second block east of the station, has an colorful and interesting selection of locally-produced paper on its second floor.
There is another shopping district about 3 kilometers west of the train station which includes a sizeable bookstore and a '''DeoDeo''' electronics center, among other things. A small import grocer sits not far away.
West of the river near the coast is a shopping area anchored by the large '''Jusco''' store.
Eat
Tottori is most famous for its pears. You will find a large variety of cookies, cakes, and other sweets made from local pears. Have a look at the ''omiyage'' shop in the train station, at the local handcraft shop two blocks up the main street, or in the basement floor of the Daimaru department store across from the station. Tottori is also famous for fresh seafood, particularly its crab and white squid. Another local specialty is shallots, grown in huge fields out near the sand dunes and pickled for appetizers.
'''Source''' - Go up the main street from the station several blocks. Just before you come to the river, you'll find this cafe on the right, on the second floor. Classy atmosphere and tasty selections from an eclectic menu.
There is a reasonable '''''kaitenzushi''''' (conveyor-belt sushi) restaurant, as well as other restaurants inside the Shamine department store in the train station.
A number of popular chain restaurants can be found in Tottori as well, mostly in the city center. These include '''Wara Wara''' (____), '''Doma Doma''' (________), '''Shirokiya''' (______), and others.
'''Karoichi''' is a large seafood market with a view of the coast. There are several attached restaurants. '''Wakabayashi Sushi''' is good and cheap. An eight piece nigiri set is \700. Inside the market near the right entrance.
Drink
To find the main drinking district, walk about two blocks up the main street from the train station, take a right and go down about a block. Tottori does not have a ''gaijin'' bar, but there are plenty of ''izakaya'' and small pubs in the drinking district, which is an area about 2 blocks by 3 blocks.
'''Luz''' - right on the main street of the drinking district, across from the Lawson, this place has a nice African decor. Here you can try ''mamushi-shu'', which is sake with a drowned viper snake inside. Also, the Israelis who sell jewelry in front of the place can sometimes be a very valuable source of information.
'''Goldrush''' - Country-western-style saloon in the backstreets of the drinking district. They are rumored to serve reasonable tacos.
'''DD''' - This spacious ground floor pub across from Goldrush is very foreigner-friendly.
'''Bridge Club''' - This dance club is located in a warehouse district west of the river and is infamously hard to find the first time, so you should take a taxi. The club doesn't always have regular events, so you should check first at Luz for flyers of any upcoming events.
'''Big Apple''' - By day it is a diner for the neighborhood's factory workers, but on weekend nights they often bring in DJs and clear the tables from the dancefloor. It is best to take a taxi.
'''DNA''' - Located in the heart of the entertainment area, DNA is THE nightclub in Tottori. They have 3 rooms (main hall, dining & a VIP room) that can hold up to 250 people. DNA serves a number of imported beers. Main events are held at the weekend, including national & internationally recognised artists, while their mid-week schedule also includes 'lower key' events such as quiz nights, dance lessons, fashion shows.... The DNA event schedule and food menu can be found on their website www.clubdna.biz The owners are an English guy and an Israeli guy and they've lived in Tottori for a decade, so they have tons of info if you're in Tottori for a visit.
Sleep
Budget
'''Yanagijaya Campground _u_______L_____v___v''' Free campsite right next to _u___________v(Kodomo no kuni, or Kids' Land), located west of the sand dunes. It seems like you can take showers for free in the next door Cycling Terminal building (for cyclers), too.
Oasis Minshuku. 083 Yuyama, Fukube-cho. 85-723-0227. ttp://site4.tori-info.co.jp/site/page/fukube/guide/spots/shop/oasis/. osts \4000 (with breakfast \4500, with two meals \6500) . A nice minshuku (privately owned hotel) just a five minute walk away from the Tottori Sand Dunes.
Green Hotel Morris. -107, Ima-cho. 85-722-2331. :00 PM. 0:00 AM. rices start from \4500 per night. Very clean with onsen and sauna available to guests. Delicious Buffet style breakfast for extra 500 yen is well worth the price. American Express JCB VISA accepted.
Ladies Inn Tottori. 02-5 Eirakuonsen-cho. three minute walk from the north exit of Tottori Station. 85-723-8161 . ttp://travel.rakuten.co.jp/HOTEL/43994/43994.html. :00 PM. 0:00 AM. 4500-5300. A '''women only''' hotel. Coin laundry and internet service available.
Wel City Tottori. 76 Ogi-machi. two minute walk from the south exit of Tottori Station. 85-722-8100. ttp://www.kjp.or.jp/hp_29/. :00 PM. 0:00 AM. 4273 and up.
Mid-range
Tottori City Hotel. 71 Ebisu-machi. minute walk from the north exit of Tottori Station. 85-727-6211. ttps://www.web-nihonkai.com/hotel/indexs.htm. :00 PM. 1:00 AM. 5000 and up.
Hotel Alpha One Tottori. 59 Suehiroonsen-cho. five minute walk from the north exit of Tottori Station. 85-729-9188. ttp://www.alpha-1.co.jp/tottori/index.html. :00 PM. 0:00 AM. 5100 and up.
Toyoko Inn. -153-3, Tomiyasu. ust outside the South Exit of Tottori Station. 85-736-1045. ttp://www.toyoko-inn.com/e_hotel/00046/. :00 PM. 0:00 AM. ingle room \5460, double room \7,560, twin room \8,190. Offers free wireless LAN internet in the lobby, PCs and color printer, coin operated washing machines, free iron rentals, and free breakfast. Women may ask for a free cosmetics set. Every room has a television, air conditioner, green tea, and refrigerator.
Tottori Washington Hotel Plaza. 02 Higashi Hongi-Machi. xit Tottori Station from the north exit and turn left. 85-727-8111. ttp://tottori.wh-at.com/. :00 PM. 0:00 AM. 6,900 and up.
Super Hotel Tottori Ekimae. Ogi-cho. two minute walk from the south entrance of Tottori Station. 85-722-9000. ttp://www.superhotel.co.jp/en/s_hotels/tottori.html. nytime from 3 PM to midnight. 0:00 AM. ingle room \5280, Super room \7280.
Hotel Monarque. 85-720-0101? . ttp://hotel-monarque.jp/.
Splurge
Hotel New Otani. -153 Ima-Machi. nly a block from JR Tottori station.. 85-723-1111. ttp://www.newotani.co.jp/en/tottori/index.html. ingles from \9,500, Doubles/Twins from \18,000.
Contact
'''Tottori Prefectural Tourism Division''', Tel. 0857-22-7070
There is an internet cafe behind the train station. Go out the west exit, around to the right. The internet cafe is above the travel agency in the curved building just past the Lawson convenience store.
Get out
Misasa - Home to the mysterious cliff temple, Mitokusan Nageiredo and a nice hot spring.
Kurayoshi Home to a well-preserved historic district.
Daisen A great place for hiking in the warm months and skiing in the winter.
Wakasa A nearby town with a nice ski resort.
Tsuyama One of the best places in the entire Chugoku region to view cherry blossoms in the spring and autumn leaves in the fall.
Okayama Famous for its historic Kibi region, Momotaro, and Korakuen Garden, of of Japan's top three gardens.
Many of Tottori prefecture's famous hot springs are easily accessible as day trips: '''Togo Hot Spring''' in Togo-cho, '''Shikano Hot Spring''' in Shikano-cho, '''Iwami Hot Spring''', '''Hamamura Hot Spring''' in Ketaka-cho, '''Sekigane Hot Spring''' in Sekigane-cho, '''Hawai Hot Spring''' in Hawai-cho