Tottori Sand Dunes

Tottori Sand Dunes

The Tottori Sand Dunes are sand dunes located along the Sea of Japan coast in Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture, in the Chūgoku region of Japan. Stretching 16 kilometers from east to west and 2.4 kilometers from north to south, the tallest dunes feature drops of about 90 meters. They belong to the Special Protection Area of the San’in Kaigan National Park and are Japan’s largest sightseeing sand dunes. In 1955, the Japanese government designated them as a Natural Monument, and in 2007 they were selected as one of Japan’s Top 100 Geological Sites.

Extending from Shichiriyama in the east to Keta Cape in the west, the Tottori Sand Dunes are a natural masterpiece shaped over 100,000 years by the wind and waves of the Sea of Japan acting on volcanic ash from Mount Daisen that settled on the sediments of the Sendai River. The dunes feature hollows as deep as 40 meters and hills as high as 50 meters, as well as patterns known as “wind ripples” and “sand curtains” shaped by strong winds, and avalanches of sand cascading down the dune surfaces like snowfalls—these magnificent “flowing sand artworks” are ever-changing and never still. Additionally, during winter, the “Tottori Sand Dunes Fantasy” event is held, where 200,000 colorful lights decorate the area around the dunes, creating a stunningly romantic atmosphere.

To fully experience the charm of the Tottori Sand Dunes, walking is the best way. But if visitors get tired, they can also ride a camel or take a horse-drawn carriage and let them roam freely across the vast sands. Moreover, enjoying activities such as sandboarding or paragliding on the slopes of the dunes is great fun.

Tottori Sand Dunes

Must-visit reason: Japan’s largest sightseeing sand dunes

Continent where the attraction is located: Asia【Asia】

Country/region where the attraction is located: Japan[Japan]

Province/state where the attraction is located: Tottori Prefecture [Tottori Prefecture]

City where the attraction is located: Tottori City [Tottori]