This time I visited Tottori Sand Dunes, one of Japan’s most famous coastal sand dunes, so I’m sharing what it was actually like along with how to get there.
If you’ve seen photos of Tottori Sand Dunes in magazines and wondered what it’s really like in person, or want to know how to get there, I put this guide together with you in mind — hope it helps with your trip planning.
What Is Tottori Sand Dunes?
Tottori Sand Dunes is Japan’s premier coastal sand dune, known for its bowl-shaped depressions and wind ripples, with dramatic undulation across a genuinely beautiful landscape.
Designated a national natural monument in 1955, it’s since become one of Tottori Prefecture’s top sightseeing spots.
Where Are Tottori Sand Dunes?
The dunes stretch from Hakuto Coast in Tottori City to Iwato in Fukube-cho, Tottori City — about 16km east-west and 2km north-south.
(The dunes are so large that the default map view ends up showing the entire area as Tottori Sand Dunes.)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 2164-661 Yuyama, Fukube-cho, Tottori, Tottori 689-0105 |
| Phone | 0857-22-0021 (Tottori Sand Dunes Visitor Center, 9 AM–5 PM) |
| Hours | Open for walking anytime |
| Closed | Never |
| Admission | Free |
| Parking | 320 spaces, 500 yen per day |
How to Get to Tottori Sand Dunes
Now let’s look at how to get to Tottori Sand Dunes. There are two options.
Here’s each one in detail.
Option 1: By Car
Driving gives you the most flexibility, letting you also visit nearby spots like Hakuto Shrine and Urasu Coast, so it’s the route I’d recommend.
The typical route runs from the Tottori IC on the Chugoku Expressway to the sand dunes, taking about 20 minutes.
Option 2: By Bus
From the bus terminal at Tottori Station, take the “32/33 Iwami/Iwai Line” or the “39 Tottori Sakyu Line” and get off at the nearest stop, either “Sakyu Kaikan” or “Sakyu Higashiguchi.” It takes about 20–30 minutes and costs 380 yen.
If you don’t have a car or rental car and plan to sightsee mainly around Tottori Station, the bus is your only option.
Best Parking Near Tottori Sand Dunes
There are several parking lots around Tottori Sand Dunes.
The Tottori City-run lot is free and has great access to the dunes, so it’s the one I’d recommend.
It’s about a 3-minute walk from the parking lot to the entrance of the dunes.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 2083 Yuyama, Fukube-cho, Tottori, Tottori 689-0105 (for GPS) |
| Fee | Free |
| Hours | 8:30 AM–8:30 PM |
| Capacity | 250 spaces |
How Much Time Should You Plan For?
Plan for about an hour at Tottori Sand Dunes.
If you’re also planning on activities like Segway tours or camel rides, budget an extra 1–2 hours on top of that.
If it’s your first visit, you’ll probably want to stop by the Tottori Sand Dunes Visitor Center first to learn about the dunes’ history and the best spots to see. There are staff certified as official San’in Coast Geopark guides, so don’t hesitate to ask them anything!
What Are Tottori Sand Dunes Actually Like?
Photos of Tottori Sand Dunes always look stunning, so it’s no wonder everyone wants to visit.
Here are some photos I actually took during my visit.
This is the entrance to the dunes.
There are no restrooms once you’re out on the dunes! Go before you head out — you really don’t want to be caught needing one out there.
Your shoes will get sandy, so sandals can sometimes be borrowed for free near the visitor center, though availability isn’t guaranteed — bring your own sandals or water shoes just in case.
Marine shoes dry fast, so they turned out to be the best choice for walking on the dunes!
The day I visited had thick clouds with occasional sunny breaks.
With no reflected heat, it didn’t feel too hot, but without clear skies, the photos came out a bit lackluster…
In summer, surface temperatures can top 60°C, so sandals plus socks will help you deal with the heat. The sand itself is fine and dry, so unlike mud, there’s no risk of it staining your shoes.
Past the entrance, a gentle downhill slope leads to a small hill called “Uma-no-se” (Horse’s Back)!
It’s almost 50 meters high, and from the top you get a beautiful view of the Sea of Japan!
Most people climb the steep slope, but there’s also a gentler detour route, so you’ll be fine even without strong legs!
It takes about 10–15 minutes from the entrance to reach the top.
The beautiful Sea of Japan as seen from the top of Uma-no-se. Some people were even walking down to the shoreline. It’d probably look even better at sunset.
This is the view facing northeast — a shot capturing the mountains, dunes, and sea all together in one natural scene.
You can also see people making their way down Uma-no-se.
Here’s a look back at the Uma-no-se slope I’d just climbed. People look tiny from up here.
I found the only pool of standing water in the dunes. It sits below the south-facing slope of Uma-no-se and is apparently known as an “oasis.”
When it rains, the sand usually absorbs the water, but this particular area seems to have an impermeable layer underneath that keeps the water from soaking through.
I also made my way to the southwest side. Climbing Uma-no-se’s steep slope is really the main event here.
Hardly anyone visits this side.
Camel Rides at Tottori Sand Dunes
Japan obviously doesn’t have wild camels, but the dunes are home to a few imported and raised there.
Plenty of people have ridden a horse, but very few have ridden a camel — it’s a genuinely rare experience.
If you’re visiting Tottori Sand Dunes, I’d definitely recommend trying an actual camel ride.
Here are the pricing plans offered by “Rakudaya”:
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Photo with the camel only | 100 yen |
| Photo standing next to the camel | 100 yen |
| Photo sitting on the camel | 600 yen |
| Ride experience (1 rider) | 1,500 yen |
| Ride experience (2 riders) | 2,600 yen |
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 2164-449 Yuyama, Fukube-cho, Tottori, Tottori |
| Phone | 0857-23-1735 |
| Hours | 9:30 AM–4:00 PM (Mar–Nov), 10:00 AM–4:00 PM (Dec–Feb); photos allowed until 4:30 PM |
Segway Tours at Tottori Sand Dunes
The vast dunes offer all kinds of activities — camel rides, paragliding, sandboarding, guided photo tours, and more — but the Segway tour is the one I’d recommend most.
Riding an off-road Segway lets you glide comfortably across the dunes, taking in scenery and views you can only see from out there. You can even get close to the shoreline!
On a Segway, you see everything from about 20cm higher than usual — there are views and natural details you simply wouldn’t catch otherwise.
A certified Segway Japan instructor walks you through everything carefully, so it’s beginner-friendly.
*Under Japan’s Natural Parks Act and vehicle restrictions, driving a car, bicycle, or Segway onto the dunes without authorization is prohibited.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Experience fee | 9,000 yen (about 120 minutes) |
| Time slots | ① 9:45, ② 13:00, ③ 15:20 (Nov–Dec: ① 9:00, ② 11:30, ③ 14:00) |
| Age | 16 to roughly 70 |
| Weight limit | 45–105 kg |
| Same-day payment | PayPay only at check-in |
| Meeting time | 10 minutes before, at Tottori Sakyu Ichirimatsu (Tottori Sand Dunes rest house) |
| Closed | Never (may close temporarily in severe weather) |
Wrap-Up
So, what did you think of this look at the famously photogenic Tottori Sand Dunes, based on my actual visit?
Ask anyone what to see on a Tottori trip and nearly 100% of the time the answer is Tottori Sand Dunes — that’s how popular a sightseeing spot it is.
I took these photos on a day with clouds and occasional sun, but the dunes look different in the rain, in snow, or on a windy day, so it’s well worth visiting more than once to see it in different conditions.
Tottori Sand Dunes looks great in photos, but climbing Uma-no-se yourself and seeing the Sea of Japan from the top is an experience that’s even better in person!
—
About the author
Joe
I love hotels, hot springs, and saunas across the whole country!!
I’ve made it to 40 prefectures so far.
Around 100 hotel stays and 50+ saunas visited, and the count keeps climbing.
My hobbies are travel, golf, snowboarding, saunas, and the gym.
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