Yonago, the western gateway to Tottori
Yonago in Tottori Prefecture, Japan, is the main rail and bus hub of the western region. Visitors usually come for one of three reasons: the coastal hot spring district of Kaike, the food tours that start in the city, or the bus that climbs to the temple town below Mount Daisen. The airport is also close, so many trips begin or end here. Together with Daisen and Sakaiminato, Yonago makes up the west of the prefecture, a tourist grouping rather than an administrative one.
If you only have a day, spend the morning on a bus to the mountain and the evening in town. With two or three days, add a soak in Kaike and a trip to Sakaiminato.
Our picks: food and trips in Yonago
An evening izakaya round, a sushi class and a two-day trip by car from Osaka. For local eateries take the izakaya round; to make and eat your own, the sushi class fits.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. 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.
Two days by car from Osaka through Tottori and Shimane
- One night with breakfast
- Vehicle with fuel and tolls
- Driver service
Two days by car from Osaka into Tottori and Shimane, so you skip planning train connections. The driver does not accompany you into the attractions, and meals other than breakfast cost extra.
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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.
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Sushi-making class in Yonago
- Sushi-making class
- Ingredients
- 7 pieces of sushi
Ninety minutes of making sushi, then eating the seven pieces you made. Tea or water comes with it, and a sake tasting is an optional extra.
Check availability →Food tours and day plans around Yonago
A sushi class, an izakaya walk and a two-day trip from Osaka that stops in Yonago, with live prices and availability.
Kaike Onsen
A seaside hot spring district on the Yumigahama peninsula.
Kaike is a coastal onsen area in Yonago on the Yumigahama peninsula. The springs are salty, of the sodium and calcium chloride type, and the district is a western place to stay in the prefecture, with ryokan in the district. The wide sandy beach in the photo at the top of this page belongs to the same stretch of coast. For the choice between onsen towns see our guide to where to stay in Tottori.
OU Land day bath
If you are not staying overnight, a public day bath is the simple way to try the water. At OU Land an adult from upper secondary school age pays 550 JPY, a lower secondary pupil 350 JPY, a primary pupil 200 JPY and younger children including babies 100 JPY. Adding the sauna brings the adult price to 800 JPY. The operator lists opening hours from 10:00 to 23:00 with last entry at 22:30, and on the third Monday the doors open only at noon, so check the calendar before you go.
The house rules apply to this facility only. No soap or shampoo is provided, the operator excludes guests with tattoos as well as people who are drunk, pets are not allowed, and you need a new ticket if you leave the bath and want to return. Other baths set their own rules, so ask at each one.
Yonago as a base
Yonago works well as a base because the transport lines meet here. The airport bus to JR Yonago costs 640 JPY and takes about 25 minutes; a separate local bus is listed at 600 JPY. Details for the two airports are on our airports page. The Yakumo line runs from Okayama through Yonago and Matsue to Izumoshi, so it is not a direct link from Okayama to Tottori city. Train and bus options from Osaka and Okayama are on the getting there page.
For Mount Daisen, take the bus from JR Yonago to the Daisen-ji area, which takes about 50 minutes. From the temple precinct it is roughly another 20 minutes on foot to the mountain shrine. By car, the route runs from Yonago IC along prefectural road 24 to the Bakuroza car park in about 15 minutes. These are guide times, not guaranteed connections. Read the full hiking notes, including the closure near the summit, on our Mount Daisen page.
Sakaiminato and its yokai street are the other short trip from here; see Sakaiminato for the museum and the harbour.
Eating and drinking in Yonago
Two hands-on formats start in the city.
Sushi-making class
The class in Yonago lasts about 1.5 hours. Ingredients are included, you make and eat seven pieces of sushi, and tea or water comes with it; a sake tasting is optional. Getting to the venue is not included, so check the booking details for the exact address.
Izakaya and bar walk
The bar hopping tour takes about 3 hours with an English-speaking guide and visits three local eateries for street food, izakaya dishes and traditional plates. Extra food and drinks are not covered. The meeting point is the tourist information desk on the ground floor of JR Yonago station.
Two days from Osaka
A two-day minivan trip from Osaka includes one night with breakfast, fuel and tolls, and a driver who does not accompany you into the attractions. The programme stops in Yonago. Other meals are extra.
Local specialities
For crab, pears and gyukotsu ramen, see Tottori crab and local food.
Yonago and Kaike: questions
Is Kaike Onsen part of Yonago?
Yes. Kaike is the hot spring district on Yonago's coast, on the Yumigahama peninsula. It is not the same area as the station and city centre, so check which one your accommodation is in.
How much is a day bath in Kaike?
At OU Land an adult pays 550 JPY, or 800 JPY with the sauna. Rules such as soap, tattoos and re-entry belong to that facility and do not apply to every bath.
How do I get from Yonago to Daisen-ji?
Take the bus from JR Yonago, about 50 minutes to the temple area. By car it is about 15 minutes from Yonago IC to the Bakuroza car park along prefectural road 24. Confirm the timetable before you leave.
How far is the airport from the station?
The airport bus to JR Yonago costs 640 JPY and takes about 25 minutes. A cancelled flight can also mean a cancelled bus, so allow some margin.