Tottori Sakyu or Tottori Sand Dunes are located in Tottori. It is not a desert but the largest sand dunes in Japan so Tottori Sand Dunes is famous sightseeing place in Tottori. I visited Sand Dunes in summer. Although it's cloudy but windy. The nearby sightseeing place is The Sand Museum. I did not visit the museum because my plan was change due to the typhoon. If I miss the train, I need to wait for an hour to catch the next train.
Access
The access from Osaka and Okayama to Tottori, you can travel by bus and train. Coins lockers are available at Tottori Station, please visit this link.
I take Loop Kirinjishi Bus from Tottori Station to Sakyu Center and had lunch, then take lift to Sand Dunes. Take regular bus to Tottori Station.
Here is the map around Tottori Station.
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| Map: Tottori City International Tourist Support Center |
Tottori City Tourist Taxi 2,000 yen
If you are tired of waiting for the bus or come with family, tourist taxi can help you. The fare is calculated by the person.
Service Period: 1st April 2018 - 31st March 2019
Time: 08:30-17:30 (Close on 31st Dec and 1st Jan)
Fare: 2,000 yen per person
No. of passengers: up to 4 persons per taxi
Time: 3 Hours
Contact: International Tourist Support Center on the right side from Tottori Station, North exit
By Bus
Get off at Tottori Station, North Exit. Please go to the bus stop no. 0
You can take either regular bus or Loop Kirinjishi Bus. JR-West Rail Pass covers Loop Kirinjishi Bus fare. Just show the pass when you get off. The pass also give you some special discount or gift
Regular bus runs everyday. Loop Kirinjishi bus runs only weekends and holidays except in August. Loop Kirinjishi bus runs daily in August (1st-31st Aug). The fare of two buses are different. Loop Kirinjishi bus fare is cheaper but some bus takes more time to Tottori Station.
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| Loop Kirinjishi Bus |
Loop Kirinjishi Bus Timetable (1st April 2018)
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| Loop Kirinjishi Bus: Torican |
Fare: Adult 300 yen, Child (over 6, under 13 years old) 150 yen
Pay when you get off
Free Wi-fi on bus
One Day Pass: 600 yen
Sales Counter: Tottori Bus Terminal, On the Bus, Tottori City Tourist Information Center
If you buy a 1 day pass and show it at the International Tourist Support Center, you can keep your baggage for free until 17:30．
When you buy one day pass, get stamp on bus and will get the discount or free gift.
Samples
1. Sakyu Center
Adult chair-lift round trip 300 yen ⇒200 yen
Child chair-lift round trip 200 yen ⇒150 yen
2. The Sand Museum
Free sand museum post card
Regular Bus
Regular bus runs everyday from Tottori Station. Fare is more expensive than Loop Kirinjishi Bus. Travel between Tottori Station to Sand Dunes (including The Sand Museum) bus fare is 370 yen and takes 20 minutes.
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| In Front of Tottori Sand Dunes Bus Stop |
Tottori Regular Bus Timetable (April 2018)
Tottori Station -> Tottori Sand Dunes
Tottori
Station
|
Sand
Dunes Center
|
The
Sand Museum
|
Tottori
Sand Dunes
|
09:10
|
09:30
|
09:31
|
09:32
|
09:40
|
10:00
|
10:01
|
10:02
|
10:50
|
11:10
|
11:11
|
11:12
|
11:30
|
11:50
|
11:51
|
11:52
|
12:30
|
12:50
|
12:51
|
12:52
|
13:00
|
13:20
|
13:21
|
13:22
|
14:10
|
14:30
|
14:31
|
14:32
|
14:40
|
15:00
|
15:01
|
15:02
|
15:50
|
16:10
|
16:11
|
16:12
|
16:20
|
16:40
|
16:41
|
16:42
|
17:30
|
17:50
|
17:51
|
17:52
|
18:00
|
18:20
|
18:21
|
18:22
|
Tottori Sand Dunes -> Tottori Station
Tottori
Sand Dunes
|
The
Sand Museum
|
Sand
Dunes Center
|
Tottori
Station
|
09:40
|
09:41
|
09:42
|
10:02
|
10:10
|
10:11
|
10:12
|
10:32
|
11:20
|
11:21
|
11:22
|
11:42
|
12:00
|
12:01
|
12:02
|
12:22
|
13:00
|
13:01
|
13:02
|
13:22
|
13:30
|
13:31
|
13:32
|
13:52
|
14:40
|
14:41
|
14:42
|
15:02
|
15:10
|
15:11
|
15:12
|
15:32
|
16:20
|
16:21
|
16:22
|
16:42
|
16:50
|
16:51
|
16:52
|
17:12
|
18:00
|
18:01
|
18:02
|
18:22
|
18:30
|
18:31
|
18:32
|
18:52
|
I took Loop Kirinjishi Bus from Tottori Station to Sakyu Center (Sand Dunes Center). I showed San'in Okayama Area pass when get off the bus so it's free. I wanted to take Sakyu Lift and had lunch before going to Sand Dunes. If you would like to go to Sand Dunes, just get off at Sand Dunes bus stop.
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| Sakyu Center |
Sand Dunes view from Terrace in front of Sakyu Center.
Restaurant on the 1st floor. Buy the ticket at vending machine and wait.
I tried this one かに玉丼 set (Crab). Set includes miso soup, 900 yen. It's yummy.
Next, going to Sand Dunes by taking sakyu lift. Before that, let's buy the ticket at ticket vending machine which is at Sakyu Center (near the bus stop). If you buy one day pass, you will get the discount as the above mentioned. I bought one way fare because I would take the bus from Sand Dunes stop to Tottori station.
Sakyu Lift
Opening Hours: 09:00-17:00 (last admission 16:40)
More information,click here
Round trip
Adult 300 yen
Child 200 yen
One way
Adult 200 yen
Child 150 yen
Go to chairlift stop. If you take the lift from Sakyu Center, you will see Sand Dunes view. The another side has photo shoot stop while taking the lift (the lift stops few seconds).
Tottori Sand Dunes Map
If you take the bus, get off Sand Dunes (Tottori Sakyu) bus stop.
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| Map: Tottori City International Tourist Support Center |
Tottori Sand Dunes
Activities at Sand Dunes
Camel Riding
Fee: [ Ride ] 1.300 yen per person / 2,500 yen per 2 people
[ Memorial photo ] 500 yen per person
Horse Cart on Tottori Sand Dunes
Fare: [ Adult ]1,000 yen [ Child ] 600 yen
Paragliding Experience over Tottori Sand Dunes
Fee: Half-day Experience 7,500 yen
One-day Experience 12,500 yen (including Safety Management Fee, Reservation required)
Sandboarding Experience
Fee: 3,000 yen (Reservation Required)
Pear-picking farms
Tottori Sand Dunes are so big. You may get tired because of the slope. I was also tired especially when I walked back to the bus stop. If you visit Tottori Sand Dunes around November-December, the sand dunes will lit up with the Christmas decoration and it the snow falls, sand dunes will cover with snow and you will see the white path.
On the way from Sand Dunes to bus stop. You can wash your feet in the area provided (next to car parking). Although I wore sneakers, the sand was also in my shoes. Bus stop is opposite side with car parking. The souvenir shop is near the bus stop.
I take the regular bus to Tottori Station. I would like to pick the ticket before going on board but it's not available so I asked local people on the bus. He said that sometimes there was no ticket but I realized that after this bus stop, the ticket were available.
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