Tottori Sand Dunes

The Tottori Sand Dunes span over 16 kilometers along the coast of the Sea of Japan and is part of the Sanin Kaigan National Park. It is located in the city of Tottori and is the largest sand dunes in Japan. The sand dunes can reach the size of two meters wide to 50 meters high. With the continual movements of the tides and coastal winds, the landscape of the area is constantly changing. It took thousands of years to form the sand dunes in which the sediment came from the Sendaigawa River that deposited out to the sea.

While visiting the Tottori Sand Dunes you can enjoy the many attractions in the surrounding area. The main sightseeing area covers about half a kilometer and starts from the visitor center to the sea. You can ride a camel and horse pulled cart to traverse the area. There are also activities for the adventurous types like paragliding or sandboarding. From the Sakyu Center, which has an observation deck, you can see the sand dunes. Close by is The Sand Museum where you can see large sand sculptures by different artists from around the world. The exhibition changes every year with different themes just like the sand dunes themselves.