
Travel
Tottori - A really different Japan
Unlike the lively Tokyo or the historique Kyoto, Tottori is cloaked in softness, casualness, honesty, and last but not least, attractiveness.
Whether your goal is to look for an experience or the quintessence of historical culture or simply to learn more about the endless beauty of nature, Tottori will definitely not disappoint you. Let's find out what's so special about Tottori!
Where is Tottori?
Tottori is a prefecture of the Chugoku region, surrounded by seas and mountains. You can easily get there by car, air or shinkansen. Getting there from Osaka is the shortest way because Tottori is only 3 hours drive from Osaka. To move between tourist attractions here, you can take a bus or electric train.
But what's so interesting about Tottori?
1. Tottori Sand Dunes
When you ask a Japanese what is special about Tottori, the first thing they remember is Tottori Sand Dunes. The Sand Dunes may not be so unfamiliar, but you will be impressed by the camels strolling on the Sand Dunes and how people conserve the Sand Dunes.
Every tourist coming here is required to put on a pair of boots so as not to "hurt" the sand. You can only take a tour and take photos without leaving any trace behind, not even your footprints.


2. The Sand Museum
800m away from the Sand Dunes stand the Sand Museum. At first sight, I giggled and thought "Great, even sand has its own museum". However, once I entered the museum, I was stunned, and I didn't do anything but shoot photos of every nook and cranny of the area.
This is the one and only, and also the biggest place in the world where competitions and sculpture exhibitions from sand are held.
Every year, famous sculptors around the world gather here, and with their great hands and minds, created appealing works of art. I was filled with admiration for the creativity, industriousness, and above all, the way they nurture and conserve what is natural.



3. The white-wall and red-roof warehouse "Kurayoshi Shirakabe Dozogun"
These are buildings constructed from the Edo period to act as storages, then appointed to be a conservation area. It was so quiet and clean there that KOI fish swam freely under the sewers.
I like taking a stroll on the street here, watching white walls and red roofs, and enjoying the delicious Mochi hotpot. I would never forget such Japanese-vibe experiences!


4. The home of Japanese manga
Japan is famous for mangas. Do you know where the hometown of the father of the world-renowned Detective Conan and Gegege no Kitaro is?
It is right here, in Tottori prefecture.
I was excited because I had been a genuine fan of Detective Conan since 6 or 7. This is the one and the only museum on Detective Conan and Gegege no Kitaro manga, exhibiting the characters in a lively way. It was as if I had been living with the characters in the manga. Do anime fans wish to come here for just once?!








"Travelling first leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller." – Ibn Battuta.
This is my favourite saying. I hope that I can see you again in the next parts of the series Exploring Japan - Tottori: A really different Japan!
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