What other travelers are saying about The Sand Museum
An amazing exhibition! The craftsmanship and detail in each sculpture are incredible. I really appreciated how much information was provided about each piece, which made the experience even more interesting.
In my opinion, the entry price is very fair - I would have happily paid more for something of this quality. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in Tottori!
Insanely pretty! Must visit spot if going to the sand dunes! Relaxing after a long hike as well. Staffs are super helpful too and there’s toilets!!! When we went to the staff to get a locker, they offered us to keep our luggage’s with them! They were super dupe friendly. There’s also a bus nearby, I think 4 lines total so it’s pretty flexible if you want to get to Tottori station or surrounding towns. Would recommend a lot.
Absolutely amazing experience! The museum was so well put together — every exhibit was fascinating and beautifully displayed. I learned so much and genuinely enjoyed every minute of it. The staff were friendly, and everything was super organized. I would highly recommend visiting if you get the chance — definitely one of the highlights of my trip!
This world’s first indoor sand museum doesn’t do your average beach sandcastles. Think massive faces, amazing life-sized human figures, towering structures, even detailed entire cities. All sculpted from JUST SAND and WATER. Unreal. 🏰🇯🇵 #SandMuseum #Tottori
I really enjoyed this. I'm a history teacher and the history shown here was amazing. The talent of the sculptures was really awe inspiring. I highly recommend coming to visit here. When I went, it was japanese history. It changes every year.
The Sand Museum is open daily from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with last admission at 5:30 PM. The museum closes between exhibitions for preparation of new displays. Current exhibition runs from April 25, 2025 to January 4, 2026, though schedules are subject to change.
Photography is allowed throughout the museum. Visitors are advised to be careful not to damage the sculptures with clumsy movements while taking photos, as this happens quite often. The delicate nature of sand sculptures means guests should maintain appropriate distance while capturing their memories.
Each themed exhibition typically runs for approximately eight months, from April through early January of the following year. At the end of each exhibition, all sculptures are completely dismantled and returned to their original sand form. The same sand is then recycled and reused to create entirely new works for the next exhibition, making each year's display a unique, once-in-a-lifetime viewing experience.
Regardless of weather conditions, visitors can admire the exhibits comfortably since the museum is entirely indoors. In case of stormy weather, outdoor exhibitions are covered with protective sheets. This makes it an ideal year-round attraction, particularly useful on rainy days when outdoor activities at the nearby sand dunes may be less enjoyable.
Group discounts are available for parties of 20 or more people. Persons with disabilities are admitted free along with one accompanying person each, upon presentation of identification at the ticket booth. The museum offers parking for both regular vehicles and buses, with spaces at both the front lot and observation parking area.
