TOTTORI A WHOLE NEW JAPAN [ TRAVEL SPOT GUIDE ] Tottori. At first, even the name was unfamiliar to me. Little did I know that what awaited me was the adventure of a lifetime full of sights, tastes, moments, and memories that I would treasure forever... Tottori, Uniquely Yours Tottori Official Website Tottori Tourism Guide www.tottori-tour.jp/en/ Facebook Visit Tottori, Japan www.facebook.com/ tottoritouren/ Instagram TOTTORI Awesome www.instagram.com/ tottoriawesome/ Traveling to Tottori Majestic sand dunes shimmer under resplendent Tottori is an 80-minute flight from Tokyo starry skies. Old-growth forests enshroud mountain and a few hours by train from Osaka and sanctuaries long protected as the dwelling place Kyoto. Nestled between the Sea of Japan and the Chugoku Mountains, this region of of gods. Cultural legacies passed down through unparalleled natural beauty blessed with the ages lives on in historical shrines and temples. the fruits of the land and bounty of the sea Sapporo Here, local delicacies prepared with fresh seasonal is an ideal destination for travelers seeking to venture off the beaten path. ingredients punctuate every outdoor adventure. Here, a veritable mountain of unique discoveries awaits. Here, you don’t have to settle for the sights Kyoto Tottori that everyone has already seen. Nagoya Come to Tottori and find a whole new Japan. Fukuoka Tokyo Osaka Hiroshima Tottori The stage is set for your adventure. 2 3 9:00 a.m. Mizuki Shigeru Road Fantastical creatures from Japanese folklore called Yokai will delight children and adults alike at this popular site dedicated to the famous manga artist Mizuki Shigeru. A road stretching around 800 meters from JR Sakaiminato Station into the city proper, it features 177 bronze statues of Mizuki’s characters. At nightfall, light bathes the statues and creates Yokai silhouettes which make for an otherworldly stroll. ©Mizuki Productions 1:00 p.m. Sprawling hills and valleys blanketed with flowers bloom in every season at one of Japan’s largest flower parks. The main draw is the year-round exhibit of lilies showcasing 15 varieties — the largest collection of its kind in Japan. Another sublime spectacle is the 14,000 Tottori Hanakairo flowers across 80,000 square meters set elegantly aglow in the Moonlight Flower Garden. 3:00 p.m. Flower Park Mt . Daisen [ Kitanizawa Mountain Stream ] In the heart of the deep forests of Oku-Daisen lies this site of natural splendor, home to pristine mountain springs and old-growth Japanese beeches. Walk the secluded mountain path and open your ears to the gentle murmur of the brook and the singing of the songbirds, and allow yourself to be transported to another time and place. A sacred site that is beautiful in all four seasons, it’s sure to revitalize both mind and body and wash the stresses of modern life away. For those looking to explore the area to the fullest, guided tours including birdwatching in spring and snowshoeing in winter are available. DAY 1 A Once-in-a-lifetime Mizuki Shigeru Road The Journey Begins Western Area MAP 1 From Taisho-machi until Hon-machi, Our first stop brought us to the Mizuki Shigeru Road and into a Sakaiminato-shi, Tottori (Approx 800 meters long beginning at JR Sakaiminato Station) TOTTORI ADVENTURE world of supernatural creatures as depicted by one of Japan’s most celebrated manga artists. Next, we strolled through a rainbow of Tottori Hanakairo Flower Park blossoms in the expansive Hanakairo Flower Park. From a hillside Sweeping vistas of nature in all its glory, treasures of historical Western Area MAP 2 blanketed in scarlet blooms, we gazed up at our next destination: the and cultural significance, and unforgettable delicacies found only 110 Tsuruda, Nanbu-cho, Saihaku-gun, Tottori snow-kissed summit of Mt. Daisen pierced through a layer of clouds. here; a sense of fascination overwhelmed us from the very start Hiking through deep forests painted in fiery red and brilliant golden Mt. Daisen of our visit to Tottori. Over the course of just a few days, we came hues, we discovered the beautiful Kitanizawa Mountain Stream. The (Kitanizawa Mountain Stream) face-to-face with a Japan we had scarcely even imagined existed murmuring of its pristine waters seemed as if an invitation for us to Western Area MAP 3 — a whole new Japan that captured our hearts... return and rediscover today’s magic in all four seasons. Mitsukue, Kofu-cho, Hino-gun, Tottori 4 5 9:00 a.m. Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory Meet Detective Conan in Tottori! The Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory features a host of attractions and exhibits designed to immerse visitors in the world of the popular manga and anime series Detective Conan. Opened in 2007, the Manga Factory has a wealth of information and guides available in multiple languages so guests from all over the world can enjoy the facility. ©GOSHO AOYAMA/SHOGAKUKAN 2:00 p.m. DAY 2 To Another World and Back Again Our second day began in Conan Town (the town of Hokuei) where we Mitokusan found a treasure trove of original artwork and interactive exhibits featuring characters from the beloved Detective Conan series in the Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory. Next, a stroll through the traditional streetscape of Sanbutsuji Temple Kurayoshi’s carefully preserved White Wall Storehouses District had us Temples of the Sanbutsuji compound stud the steep feeling as if we’d been transported back to Japan’s olden days. After lunch, 11:00 a.m. rocky slopes of Mt. Mitoku. Climb the mountain path we donned pilgrim’s sashes and braved the treacherous paths of Mt. Mitoku that has long served as a training site for mountain in a climb through primeval forests, up nearly vertical slopes, and passed ascetics and surround yourself with the splendor of nature as you cleanse your impurities and sins. At the sacred sites that culminated in breathtaking vistas of the valley below and end of this pilgrimage awaits the Nageire Hall, clinging an up-close look at a thousand-year-old feat of architectural magic. Kurayoshi’s as if by spiritual power to the side of a sheer precipice, where it has stood for over a thousand years. Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory Central Area Shirakabe Storehouses Meet Detective Conan in Tottori! MAP 4 [White Wall District ] 1414 Yurashuku, Hokuei-cho, Tohaku-gun, Tottori Designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Historic Buildings, Kurayoshi’s White Wall Kurayoshi’s Shirakabe Storehouses Central Area (White Wall District) District faithfully retains the ambience of its origins MAP 5 in the Edo and Meiji periods. Stone bridges and red Vicinity of Shinmachi 1 chome,Higashinaka-machi, tile roofs contrast beautifully with the white mortar Uo-machi,and Togiya-machi,Kurayoshi-shi, Tottori of the storehouses to create an elegant townscape seldom seen today. Formerly used as breweries and Mitokusan Sanbutsuji Temple Central Area soy sauce breweries, the buildings here are now 1010 Mitoku, Misasa-cho, Touhaku-gun, Tottori home to a variety of local goods shops, teahouses MAP 6 and cafes, galleries, and more. 6 7 9:00 a.m. Tottori Nijisseiki Pear Museum Learn all about pears, which are Tottori’s local specialty product, through 1:00 p.m. interactive exhibits and informative displays. A massive pear tree with branches fanning out some 20 meters stands in the main hall as a symbol of the museum and a testament to local growing expertise. Visitors can enjoy tasting three varieties of Tottori’s pears year-round, treat themselves to pear soft-serve ice cream, and purchase something for the road. Uradome Coast [San’in Kaigan Geopark ] The Sea of Japan toiled through the millennia to sculpt the stark rocky outcrops, tall cliff arches, and deep caves that adorn the Uradome Coast. Furthermore, the tireless working of the waves over the years has created beaches of the softest white sand making it an ideal destination for a summer trip to the seaside. 4:30 p.m. Tottori Sand Dunes The Tottori Sand Dunes are the most renowned destination in the prefecture. Measuring over forty meters from trough to crest, these coastal dunes stretch over such an expanse as to create the illusion of being transported to a vast desert. Winds blowing in from the Sea of DAY 3 Japan imprint unique markings atop the sands. Visitors are welcome to try a wide variety of activities including hiking, paragliding, camel Singularly Sweet Delights for the rides, and fat-tire bike tours. Tastebuds and Eyes Alike Our third day began at the Nijisseiki Pear Museum where, in the span of an hour, we learned more about Tottori’s emblematic product than we ever dreamed possible. Most memorable was the pear tasting exhibit where the friendly staff encouraged us to try three varieties of locally grown pears to find our favorite — a surprisingly difficult task! Next, while traversing the Uradome Coast, we chanced upon a walkway that took us to a cove tucked between sheer sea cliffs and stood on a white beach just watching the waves crash upon mighty rocks adorned with black pine trees. The day’s activities culminated in a climb up a hill of sand at the Tottori Sand Dunes. Out of breath, we sat on its peak and watched in awe as the sun set somewhere across the Sea of Japan. Tottori Nijisseiki Pear Museum Central Area 198-4 Dakyoji-cho, Kurayoshi-shi, Tottori (In Kurayoshi Park Square) MAP 7 Uradome Coast Eastern Area (San’in Kaigan Geopark) MAP 8 Uradome, Iwami-cho, Iwami-gun, Tottori Tottori Sand Dunes Eastern Area 2164-661 Yuyama, Fukube-cho, MAP 9 Tottori-shi, Tottori 8 9 12:30 p.m.