Tottori Prefecture at a glance
Tottori sits between the Sea of Japan and the Chugoku mountains. The name belongs both to the prefecture and to the city of Tottori in its east, so a search for tottori japan or tottori city can mean either one. This guide covers the whole prefecture: Mount Daisen, the onsen towns, the port of Sakaiminato with its yokai road, the old town of Kurayoshi and Tottori City with its castle ruins.
Official figures describe an area of 3,507 square kilometres that ranks 41st among Japan's prefectures by size. By population it is the smallest prefecture in the country, with 516,273 residents on 1 October 2026. For orientation we split the prefecture into an east, a centre and a west, which is a travel shortcut and not an administrative level.
Our picks: tours in Tottori and around
From a port-town stop in Sakaiminato to a night of izakayas in Yonago, a bike ride on Mount Daisen and a winter snowshoe tour. Arriving by cruise ship, the tours from the port fit; for food, take the Yonago izakaya round.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Small-group tour from Sakaiminato to Matsue Castle and Adachi Museum
- Semi-private small-group tour
- Matsue Castle ticket
- Adachi Museum of Art ticket
A five-hour tour for cruise passengers. The stops, Matsue Castle and the Adachi Museum of Art, lie in neighbouring Shimane, and both tickets are in the price.
Check availability →
Evening food tour through three eateries in Yonago
- Food at three eateries
- Izakaya and bar visits
- English-speaking guide
Three hours through local izakayas and standing bars with an English-speaking guide. Additional food and drinks cost extra, and the tour is aimed at adults.
Check availability →
Group day trip from Sakaiminato port for cruise guests
- Transportation
- English, Japanese and Chinese guide
A seven-hour group tour for passengers whose cruise calls at Sakaiminato. Attraction tickets are not included and paid separately, so carry yen in cash.
Check availability →
Snowshoe tour in Tottori Prefecture
- Friendly local guide
About four and a half hours in the snow with a local guide. Snow conditions depend on the season and weather, so check that the tour runs before you book.
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Half-day bike ride on Mount Daisen with tea sweets
- Bike and helmet
- Tea sweets making at a local home
A two-and-a-half-hour bike activity around Mount Daisen. It includes making traditional tea sweets with local ingredients at a local home.
Check availability →
Private guided walk through Kurayoshi's Shirakabe district
- Private local guide
- Taiyaki tasting
- Craft beer tasting
About two hours on foot with a guide through the whitewashed storehouse district. You visit a traditional everyday-goods store and the Kurayoshi-gasuri craft gallery, with tastings along the way.
Check availability →Tottori tours and experiences
Walking tours in Kurayoshi, an evening food walk in Yonago, a bike ride near Mount Daisen and excursions for cruise guests from the port of Sakaiminato.
East, centre and west: where to go
Three bases, each with its own sights and its own transport hub.
East: Tottori City and the coast
Tottori City is the eastern hub, with the ruins of Tottori Castle, the seafood market at the port of Karo and the hot spring town of Hamamura. The Iwami coast around Uradome also belongs to the east.
Tottori City →Centre: Kurayoshi, Misasa and Lake Togo
Kurayoshi has the white storehouses along the Tamagawa canal. Misasa Onsen and Mount Mitoku with the Nageiredo hall lie a short bus ride away, and Hawai and Togo sit on Lake Togo.
Kurayoshi →West: Yonago, Daisen and Sakaiminato
Yonago is the rail and airport hub of the west and the starting point for the bus to the Daisen-ji temple. Sakaiminato, the port of the Mizuki Shigeru Road, is the port where cruise excursions start.
Yonago and Kaike Onsen →Onsen towns in Tottori
Hot springs on the coast, by a river and beside a lake.
Misasa is a hot spring town in the centre of the prefecture. The town has a riverside bath below the Misasa bridge, and the public bath Kabuyu charges 400 JPY for adults. From Misasa you can reach Mount Mitoku with the Nageiredo hall. Our page on Misasa Onsen explains the climb, the fees and the rules.
Kaike is the coastal onsen district of Yonago on the Yumigahama peninsula, with salty sodium and calcium chloride springs. The day bath OU Land costs 550 JPY for adults, and its house rules apply to that facility only. More on the Yonago and Kaike Onsen page.
Hamamura Onsen lies in Tottori City next to Hamamura Station, about two minutes on foot from the tourist centre. Hawai and Togo are two more onsen areas on Lake Togo in Yurihama. Despite the name, Hawai is not related to Hawaii in the United States. For places to sleep, see where to stay in Tottori.
Mount Daisen
The big mountain of the west, with a temple and a trail that needs preparation.
Mount Daisen is the landmark of the western prefecture. The highest summit, Kengamine, reaches 1,729 m, while the regular hiking goal is the Misen peak at 1,709 m. Police warn against the crumbling ridge toward Kengamine. The tourism organisation puts the summer route at about three hours up and two and a half hours down, roughly six hours in total with breaks.
Please note the current closure: according to the prefecture, the main wooden boardwalk near the summit is closed because of construction work that began on 18 May 2026, while the Ishimuro course remains passable. No end date has been announced. Everything else about the climb, the Daisen-ji temple and the Ogamiyama shrine is on our Mount Daisen page.
Tottori Sand Dunes
A short overview, with the details on our sister site.
The dunes near Tottori City stretch about 16 km from east to west and 2.4 km from north to south. The dunes, the sand museum and the activities on the sand have a guide of their own: Tottori Sand Dunes.
Uradome Coast
East of Tottori City, the Iwami coast around Uradome belongs to the San'in Kaigan Geopark, which has been recognised as a Global Geopark since October 2010. Rocky islets rise out of deep blue water along the shore. Our sister guide describes the coastline in detail: Uradome Coast.
Explore Tottori
One page for each place and each question.
Tottori tours
Shore excursions, yokai walks and private guides.
Things to do in Tottori
Daisen, onsen towns, yokai, old towns and crafts.
Mount Daisen
Natsuyama trail, Daisen-ji and the closure near the summit.
Misasa Onsen
Riverside bath, Mount Mitoku and Lake Togo.
Yonago and Kaike Onsen
Day bath, food tours and the gateway to Daisen.
Sakaiminato
Mizuki Shigeru Road, the museum and the seafood market.
Kurayoshi
White storehouses and a figure museum.
Tottori City
Castle ruins, Karo port and Hamamura Onsen.
Tottori crab and local food
Matsuba crab, pears, wagyu and gyukotsu ramen.
How to get to Tottori
Trains, buses, flights and car hire.
Yonago and Tottori airports
Flights from Tokyo Haneda, buses and rental cars.
Where to stay
City, coast or onsen town.
Weather and best time to visit
Monthly climate values, snow and crab season.
Tottori history
Castle siege, Daisen temples and old Kurayoshi.
Good to know before you go
Four points that can change a plan.
Summit trail on Daisen
The main boardwalk near the summit is closed and the Ishimuro course is passable. No end date has been announced, so look at the current notice of the prefecture before you set out.
Mount Daisen →Jinpukaku is closed
The Western-style villa in Tottori City has been closed since 29 December 2023 and has been covered by construction sheeting since the end of September 2025. A reopening date has not been set.
Tottori City →Reserved seats on express trains
Since 16 March 2024 the Yakumo, Super Hakuto and Super Inaba trains run with reserved seats only. Book your seat before you board.
Getting there →Crab season
The prefecture sets the dates of the Matsuba crab season each winter. In 2025/26 it ran from 6 November to 20 March, so ask for the dates of your own season before you plan around crab.
Tottori crab →More independent guides to Tottori
Separate guides from the same team.
Tottori: frequently asked questions
What is Tottori known for?
Tottori is known for Mount Daisen with its temple, for the onsen towns of Misasa and Kaike, for the Mizuki Shigeru Road with its yokai figures in Sakaiminato, for the white storehouses of Kurayoshi and for the Matsuba crab in winter. The dunes near Tottori City are covered by our overview of things to do and by the sister guide.
How big is Tottori Prefecture?
The prefecture covers 3,507 square kilometres and had 516,273 residents on 1 October 2026. Measured by population it is the smallest prefecture in Japan, and by area it ranks 41st.
How do I get to Tottori from Osaka?
The Super Hakuto express takes about 2 hours 30 minutes from Osaka to Tottori and runs with reserved seats only. A highway bus from Osaka to Tottori Station costs 4,200 JPY for adults. See how to get to Tottori for trains from Okayama, flights and car hire.
When is the best time to visit Tottori?
Spring (April and May) and October bring milder temperatures than July and August, which is our own reading of the climate averages. Winter has snow and crab. The weather page lists the monthly values.
Is the trail to the top of Mount Daisen open?
According to the prefecture, the main boardwalk near the summit is closed because of construction, and the Ishimuro course is passable. The ridge toward Kengamine is dangerous and should be avoided. Check the current notice before you go, and read more on the Mount Daisen page.
Is visit-tottori.org the official website of Tottori?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not the official website of Tottori Prefecture, the City of Tottori or a tourism association, and it is not connected to any tour operator or hotel.