Tottori Sand Dunes, Tottori

Large sand dunes along the Sea of Japan, rare in Japan. Wind-drawn ripples and the blue sea seen from a sandy ridge make a view found nowhere else.

Sunset over the Sea of Japan seen from the edge of the Tottori Sand Dunes — Photo: Takeshi Kuboki from Amagasaki, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Wide view over the sand dunes with small figures of visitors and green patches of vegetation — Photo: Kounosu, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Dunes 100,000 years in the making

The Tottori Sand Dunes stretch along the Sea of Japan coast in Tottori city. Sand carried from the Chugoku Mountains to the sea by the Sendai River was blown back ashore by strong winds and built up over a very long time. JNTO (the Japan National Tourism Organization) says they took about 100,000 years to form.

The dunes as a whole run about 16 km east to west along the coast and about 2.4 km north to south. The central area that visitors go to covers a few kilometres east of the mouth of the Sendai River. They were designated a national Natural Monument in 1955 and are part of San'in Kaigan National Park. They are also included in the San'in Kaigan Geopark, a UNESCO Global Geopark.

The Umanose ridge and wind-made patterns

Within the dunes is a large ridge of sand like a wall, called Umanose ("the horse's back"). It is one of the dunes' signature views.

Wave-like patterns called fumon (wind ripples) sometimes appear on the surface of the sand, natural designs made by wind and sand. In the hollow on the inland side of Umanose is a pool called the "Oasis", formed by springing groundwater, which changes size with the seasons.

There are activities you can only do on dunes, too, such as camel rides, sandboarding down the slopes and paragliding.

Rules that protect the dunes

A local ordinance bans writing or drawing on the sand, and offenders can be given a karyo (an administrative fine). Swimming off the dunes' beach is also banned by ordinance.

Tree planting after the war and other factors let grass spread across the dunes and shrink the area of open sand, so the prefecture, the city and volunteers carry on weeding work.

Getting there, and the seasons

From the bus terminal at JR Tottori Station, a local bus takes about 20 minutes; get off at Sakyu Kaikan or Sakyu Higashiguchi. At the entrance to the dunes is the Tottori Sand Dunes Visitor Center, where you can learn about their landforms and nature.

On summer days the sand throws back the strong sunshine, and in the evening it turns a deep madder red. In winter snow can settle, turning the dunes completely white. Depending on the season and time of day, they look entirely different.

Tips

On summer days the sand reflects the strong sun. Bring a hat and something to drink.
Writing or drawing on the sand is banned by ordinance. Don't do it, even just for a souvenir photo.
Stop at the Visitor Center at the entrance first, and you can walk the dunes knowing how they formed and about their nature.