When visiting Tottori Prefecture, a visit to the Tottori Sakyu (Tottori Sand Dunes), part of Sanin Kaigan National Park, is mandatory! These sand dunes stretch along 16 kilometers of the Sea of Japan’s coastline. They, the biggest sand dunes in Japan, were formed when sediment carried from the nearby Chugoku Mountains by the Sendaigawa River was washed out to the Sea of Japan. The dunes themselves were formed as the sand was redeposited on shore.

The Sand Dunes in Tottori are breathtaking. Unfortunately, they are not located in the most accessible area. It is twenty minutes by train from Tottori City or three to five hours from Kyoto or Okayama depending on the road and the time of the year. It is, however, a gem which took the designated driver seven hours to drive to from Gifu city.

The raw crab legs sat on the mountain of crushed ice along with slices of fresh salmon and yellow tail. Dipping the crab sashimi in the soy sauce, it was soft, delicate yet bouncy. No wonder, it is a pride of Tottori prefecture.

Tucked away on the south western coast of Japan’s main Honshu island, Tottori is one of Japan’s smallest prefectures. It is sandwiched by Shimane to the south, Okayama to the east and the Sea of Japan to the west.

Illuminating an illusion in the Sand dunes at Tottori is the Tottori Sand Dune Illusion, an event charming a huge audience since 12 years.