Tottori Sand Dunes!！Japan’s largest sand dune created by wind and sand‼︎

The Tottori Sand Dunes are a natural art created by wind and sand over many years.
Every time the wind blows, “wind patterns” are carved into the ground of Tottori Sand Dunes, which can be said to be a beautiful form of nature.
The beauty of the wind patterns created by nature immerses visitors in a romantic atmosphere.

So, what exactly is Tottori Sand Dunes?
This time, we will introduce in detail the Tottori Sand Dunes, one of Japan’s largest sand dunes created by wind and sand.

What kind of place is Japan’s largest sand dune, “Tottori Sand Dunes”?

Tottori Sand Dunes are sand dunes located in Yuyama, Fukube-cho, Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture.
A sand dune is a hill-like landform formed by the accumulation of sand carried by the wind.

Tottori Sand Dunes are a type of sand dunes located on the coast.
The Tottori Sand Dunes consist of four sand dunes, from the east: Fukube Sand Dunes, Hamasaka Sand Dunes, Chiyo River, Koyama Sand Dunes, and Suetsune Sand Dunes, and one river.

If you look at the map, it is located in the eastern part of Tottori Prefecture, on the Sea of ​​Japan side.
Tottori Sand Dunes are one of Japan’s three major sand dunes, along with Nakatajima Sand Dunes in Shizuoka Prefecture and Fukiagehama Beach in Kagoshima Prefecture.
In 2007, it was selected as one of Japan’s top 100 geological sites.
Along with Mt.Daisen, it is also a symbolic tourist destination in Tottori Prefecture.

When was Tottori Sand Dunes created?

It is said that the Tottori Sand Dunes were created around 140,000 to 150,000 years ago.
Wind-borne sand has been transported from the Chiyo River over tens of thousands of years.

Shallot cultivation begins in the Edo period.

The cultivation of “Shallot” in Tottori Sand Dunes began in the Edo period.
The reason is that Shallot has a strong vitality and can grow even in sandy soil.
Today, Shallot is still grown in Tottori Sand Dunes and is a local specialty.

It was a military training ground until after the war.

Tottori Sand Dunes is currently the number one tourist spot in Tottori Prefecture.
Surprisingly, it was used as a military training ground from the beginning of the Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) until the end of World War II (1945).
However, by the beginning of the 1900s, the train service had opened and it became a popular tourist destination.

How large is the Tottori Sand Dunes?

The total area of ​​Tottori Sand Dunes is approximately 1,800 hectares.
For example, in Tokyo Dome, it would be about 385 times.
The area of ​​sandy land is approximately 550 hectares.
By the way, the Tottori Sand Dunes are 2.4km north to south and 16km east to west.

What are the activities at Tottori Sand Dunes?

Various activities are currently being held at Tottori Sand Dunes.

❶Camel ride

At Tottori Sand Dunes, you can ride a camel on the sand.
Currently, you can walk around with six cute camels on your back.

❷Sandboard

At Tottori Sand Dunes, you can enjoy sandboarding that takes advantage of the sandy slopes.
A sandboard is a sand version of a surfing board.
The exhilaration of sliding down a steep slope of approximately 30 degrees is exceptional.

❸Motor paraglider

You can ride a motor paraglider at Tottori Sand Dunes.
An electric paraglider is a paraglider with a propeller.
You can enjoy the sky of Tottori Sand Dunes to the fullest.
You can also turn off the engine mid-air and fly like a regular paraglider.

What are the tourist spots in Tottori Sand Dunes?

There are various sightseeing spots in Tottori Sand Dunes. I will introduce it here.

❶Sand Dune Center “Miharashi no Oka”

You can take a lift from the dunes. You can also go there by car.
There are also souvenirs, restaurants, and an observation space.

▲You can climb up to the sand dune center from this lift.

▲The view from the observation space! ! It is made of glass, so you can see the Tottori Sand Dunes regardless of the wind, cold, or heat.

❷Sand Museum

Artworks made of sand are on display.
The Sand Museum is located 0.8 km from Tottori Sand Dunes.

What are the Tottori Sand Dunes in each season?

Tottori Sand Dunes has different faces depending on the season. I will introduce it here.

❶Spring
Tottori Sand Dunes in spring is quite cold due to the strong sea breeze. Early spring is not recommended due to strong winds.

❷Summer
In the summer, the Tottori Sand Dunes are incredibly hot due to the temperature and the reflection from the sand illuminated by the sun.

❸Autumn
Autumn at Tottori Sand Dunes is a good time to walk on the sand, although there are still days when the lingering heat is still very strong.

❹Winter
In winter, the Tottori Sand Dunes are quite cold due to the cold wind blowing from the Sea of ​​Japan. However, when it snows, the Tottori Sand Dunes create a fantastic scenery.

Access information to Tottori Sand Dunes

The address of Tottori Sand Dunes is Yuyama, Fukube-cho, Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture.
Access information to Tottori Sand Dunes is as follows.

❶For those arriving by plane

〇Route for those coming to Tottori Sand Dunes from Tokyo (Haneda Airport)

Airport ⇒ (about 1 hour 20 minutes) ⇒ Tottori Airport ⇒ Tottori Airport taxi stand ⇒ (about 15 minutes) ⇒ Tottori Sand Dunes

❷For those coming by car

〇Route for those coming from Osaka to Tottori Sand Dunes

Osaka Suita IC ⇒ Chugoku Expressway ⇒ Sayo JCT ⇒ Tottori Expressway ⇒ Tottori IC ⇒ Tottori Sand Dunes (total 2 hours 48 minutes)

Summary

This time, we introduced the Tottori Sand Dunes, one of Japan’s largest sand dunes created by wind and sand.
When the wind blows at a speed of 5 to 6 meters or more, the Tottori Sand Dunes can create beautiful formations called “wind patterns.”

The day after a strong wind blows, go out to look for wind ripples.
Tottori Sand Dunes is a tourist spot where you can enjoy the art created by wind and sand.
When you visit Tottori Prefecture, we highly recommend visiting the Tottori Sand Dunes.

▲Tottori Sand Dunes