Tottori 鳥取

In 1907, a western-style mansion was built at the foot of the mountain to replace the fortress. This Jinpukaku house was the first in the city to be equipped with electricity. Today it's both communal space and a museum that traces the history of the Ikeda clan and the town.

Wakasa Street, running from the station to Mount Kyushu, resembles Nawate Shimio street in Matsue, its charms reminiscent of nineteenth-century Japan. Feel free to wander this road to the castle ruins.

Tottori's culinary specialties:

Pears:

Japanese pears, called "nashi " look a lot like apples but have a flavor all of their own. 

It is customary for Tottori residents to shop for nashi, Asian pears, during fall. Nashigari (pear picking) is a common activity practiced in the fields around the city on some of the farms during this time. Like the pears of Okayama, Tottori has some very tasty ones too. Don't hesitate to try them in the form of one of the many dessert dishes available in the area.

Crabs:

Blessed with a rich coast, the shellfish, especially crabs, of Tottori are a local delicacy, with the seasonal species changing throughout the year. In winter, especially, crabs are a beloved dish throughout the prefecture, especially oya-gani, female crabs harboring eggs that are famous for their rich texture and sweet meat.

The legend of the Hakuto shrine

Hakuto Shrine, to the west of Tottori City, is dedicated to the god Inaba-no-shirousagi. According to legend, the little white rabbit who lived on the Oki islands wanted to visit the main island of Honshu but was incapable of such a big journey crossing the sea, so he had an idea to trick the sharks that lived in the sea, asking them to line up so he could count them and compare their number to the rabbits. As he pretended to count, he jumped from one shark to the next, eventually reaching Honshu Island.

But he couldn't help gloating over having tricked the sharks as he reached the end. Suddenly aware of the mockery the rabbit had made of them, the sharks attacked him for revenge, biting at his fur. A dying Inaba-no-shirousagi still reached the beach where he met the god Hakuto Okuninushi. He advised the rabbit to swim in the cool clear water of a pond and dry in the reeds. Inaba-no-shirousagi followed his advice, healed his fur, and became a god. He is still honored today at this well-known shrine in the region.

What to see in and around Tottori

Tottori is a true gateway to the frontier and its natural parks, which occupy no less than 15% of the total area of the prefecture. 

Mount Daisen Park, the coast of Radome, Utsubuki park, Yonago Bird Park, but especially Tottori's sand dunes in the beautiful San'in Kaigan Geopark are among the main attractive points of the region. Stretching over 16 km from west to east, these dunes have existed for millennia and culminate at 47 meters high.

A few kilometers to the northwest is Misasa, a pleasant onsen spa town, but more noteworthy for Nageire-do Temple in Sanbutsu-ji, literally hanging over a cliff.

The Tottori Sand Dunes and Sand Museum:

By far, Tottori's most recognizable attraction is the rolling sand dunes off the coast. Finding a desert on the Japanese Archipelago is something unexpected for most visitors. Even furthering their unique aesthetic, Tottori's winter often sees snow, creating a unique scene of golden sand, crisp white snow, and a vibrant blue sea at the sand dunes. There is also a chance to take camels for a ride through the dunes.

Nearby, the sands are put to creative use at the Tottori Sand Museum, featuring an impressive array of detailed sand sculptures with different themes that change every year. This is the perfect accompaniment to the dunes, seeing the sands of Tottori in their natural environment as well as through the artistic lens of the people of Tottori.

• The Tottori Prefecture Museum. 2 Chome-124 Higashimachi, Tottori, 680-0011
• The Hakuto Shrine. Address: 603 Hakuto, Tottori, 689-0206
• Near Tottori are several beaches: Hakuto and Idegahama beaches.