Tottori Sand Dunes

The Tottori Sand Dunes are a super unique spot in Japan — not something you’d expect to find here! While it’s often called “Japan’s desert,” it’s not a real desert and definitely smaller than you’d imagine from photos online. Still, the scenery is gorgeous and totally different from the rest of the country. The dunes stretch along the coast, and you can climb to the top of the largest one for an awesome ocean view. It only takes about 10–15 minutes to walk across, but the wind-sculpted patterns in the sand and the wide, open sky make it feel really special. Just don’t expect endless miles of sand like in a real desert. There are camel rides and activities like sandboarding if you want more adventure, and the Sand Museum nearby is incredible — detailed sculptures made entirely from sand, changing themes every year. If you’re already in the area or passing through Tottori, it’s definitely worth a stop. Just wear comfy shoes (the sand is deeper than it looks), and don’t forget your camera — especially at sunset!

The Tottori Sand Dune walk from the entrance to the peak and enjoy the panorama view of the sea & dessert. Take about an hour for the tour here. The quality of sand after a rainy day is not beautiful. Recommend to visit on consecutive sunny days.

A vast expanse of desert stretches endlessly. Just walking isn't enough to explore it all. The combination of desert and the vast sea is truly beautiful. I didn't expect to be able to ride a camel too. Such a beautiful experience!

Since there were no early morning buses from Tottori Station to the Sakyu Kaikan, I took the 7:20 bus bound for Kabushima from platform ③. I got off at the Kodomonokuni Iriguchi stop and walked along the road past the parking lot on the west side of the sand dunes before entering the dunes from there. I walked eastward across the dunes and arrived at the main parking lot on the east side just before 9:00 a.m., which was perfect timing as the Visitor Center had just opened. The west side was quiet and uncrowded, so I was able to see beautiful, undisturbed wind patterns in the sand. In contrast, the sand on the crowded east side was trampled and messy. It was a hot day for June, so I was glad I had brought a parasol and a water bottle.

A desert by the sea. You can sit on camels, do paragliding at this place. If you take a walk around the entire desert expect to spend about 2-3 hours at this place. There's also a cable car / gondola to the sakyu observation Centre which is on higher ground where you can take photos with views of the desert and the sea